New Bethel AME Church
"Kingdom Transformers"
Reverend Dr. Elaine J. Eskew
Rev. Dr. Elaine J. Eskew was born in Lexington (The Hill) to Arnette and Hester Johnson. She graduated from Lexington High School in 1969. Rev. Dr. Eskew continued her education at Benedict College, graduating in 1973. Her parents taught her at a very young age to respect everyone. This training and love for people was the reason Rev. Eskew worked as a social worker for the Department of Social Services (DSS) in the child protective services department until retirement. Rev. Dr. Eskew was married to the love of her life Mr. John H. Eskew in 1971. To their union, they have two lovely daughters, Rev. Kayla Eskew and Mrs. Patera Eskew-Martin (Toby). They have been blessed with six (6) grandchildren, Alyssa Batten, Jonathan, Erin, Jeremiah, and Emma-Rose Martin and Zion Geiger.
Rev. Dr. Eskew’s spiritual formation began at St. Paul Baptist Church. She attended Sunday School and worship services regularly. After marriage Rev., Eskew joined St. Paul AME, Irmo. Rev. Eskew began to study the word of God with zeal, participating in community and church ministries all in preparation for a higher calling. When Rev. Dr. Eskew answered her calling into ministry she furthered her education at Lutheran Theological Seminary earning a Masters of Religion in 2004 and received a DMin from Wesleyan Seminary in 2014. Between those educational milestones in 2008, she became a Board Certified Chaplin. Rev. Eskew’s ministry has been a long but fulfilling journey. A journey that has come full circle, her spiritual formation began in Lexington and now she is the proud pastor of Historic New Bethel AME Church in Lexington. Regardless of her education, all that anyone needs to really know about the extremely accomplished Rev. Dr. Elaine J. Eskew is that she loves the Lord and is his child.
Rev. Sandra Black
Sandra F. Rawls Black is the daughter of the late Charles and Corene Wise Rawls. She is a 1974 graduate from Lexington High School in Lexington, South Carolina. In 1977 she received an Associate Degree in Human Service/Mental Health from Midlands Technical College. Sandra is a lifelong member of New Bethel African Methodist Church, Lexington, South Carolina. On July 31, 2011, she did her initial sermon at New Bethel African Methodist Church, Lexington, South Carolina. In 2012 she received a Certificate in Theology from Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2017 she was ordained a local Deacon by the African Methodist Seven Episcopal District. Reverend Black currently serves as an Assistant Pastor at New Bethel African Methodist Church in Lexington, South Carolina.
She is the mother of two wonderful children and one beautiful granddaughter whom she loves spending family time with. She has a webpage called Sandra Inspirations that has approximately 120 followers.
Her motto is “If I can help somebody…then my living will not be in vain”
Evangelist Claudietta Davis
Evangelist Claudietta DeVae Gates Davis is a native of Lexington, South Carolina she grew up on “The Hill” within the town of Lexington. She graduated from Lexington High School.
At an early age, she became a member and was baptized at New Bethel AME Church, Lexington South Carolina under the Reverend Yeadon. At the age of 17 (seventeen), she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior, and during this time she knew she had a calling to share her ministry with others. She started attending Holy Gospel Tabernacle Church, Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina where she was able to gain some more knowledge of understanding the different types of religions. As she continued to grow stronger with the Lord, she started ministering to the prisoners at the Lexington County Jail and various churches around South Carolina. Under the Pastoral leadership of Reverend Dr. Orlando McCauley, Jr. at New Bethel AMEC, she started to received formal training and call to ministry through the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Reverend Dr. MaCauley recognizes the anointing and calling upon her life, and appointed her to various positions within the church, which included the following: Adult & Youth Bible Study Teacher, Church School & Vacation Bible Teacher, Community Evangelist, and she also sang on the choir, Ushered, Women’s Missionary Society, Praise and Worship Team. After working in the church faithfully she was ordained as an Evangelist under Dr. Reverend McCarley. She continued to serve faithfully under several other Pastors and is now an Evangelist under the Reverend Dr. Elaine J. Eskew.
After twenty-six years of service with the County of Lexington, she retired and know to enjoy, reading, going to Evangelist classes, supporting the New Light Community Care, spending time with family, and volunteering in the community.
Evangelist Davis is the proud mother of three sons, Keturah, Cleveland, and Rodman. She has five beautiful grandchildren whom she enjoys spending time with.
She loves the Lord and relies on the Holy Spirit for guidance to grow stronger and the Grace of God.
Her favorite Scriptures are Psalm 37 and 91
