About Gaines Chapel
Our Mission
The Mission of the Gaines Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed.
At every level of the Connection and in every local church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church shall engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the AME Church evolved: that is, to seek out and save the lost, and serve the needy.
Our Beliefs
The Motto “God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family” is a great summary of what the A.M.E. Church believes.
Essentially, the tenets of our faith are captured in the following credo statement:
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. The third day he rose and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the church universal, the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sin; The resurrection of the body: And the life everlasting. Amen.
Salvation is as easy as "ABC"
Are you part of the Body of Christ? If not, please don’t let another day go by without accepting the free gift of God’s saving grace for your life. You can receive salvation by accepting Jesus Christ; this means that you:
Admit that you were a sinner separated from God.
Believe in Jesus Christ and his ability to reconcile us to God through his death and resurrection.
Confess your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and accept him as your personal Savior.
Then you must develop and maintain an ongoing relationship with Christ and fellow believers.
Therefore, we recommend that you become a part of a bible-based church that will help you to grow in your salvation.
As a new Christian, it is necessary that you find a church to help you to grow in spiritual maturity so that you can develop a lifestyle that includes:
- Bible Study
- Church/Sunday School
- Prayer Meetings
- Ministry to Men
- Ministry to Women
- New Members’ Classes
- Ministry to Youth and Young Adult
These programs will help you to:
- Cultivate a meaningful relationship with the Lord, which is the responsibility of those who have accepted Christ.
- Understand that this journey lasts a lifetime.
- Remain focused and headed in the right direction.
- Stay connected and develop relationships that will encourage you to remain faithful in your walk with Christ.
Our Leadership
"One thing I have desired of the Lord and that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
Reverend Karen A. Myers
Reverend Karen A. Myers serves as the pastor of Gaines Chapel AME Church in Elkridge, Maryland, the Washington Conference Christian Education Director and as the Director of Christian Education for the Capital District of the Washington Conference. She is also a Public Affairs Specialist with the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, serving in Federal government for over 32 years.
She is a native of Baltimore and a product of the Baltimore City Public School System. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland College Park and earned a Master of Arts Degree in Church Ministries, with a specialization in Congregational Leadership from The Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University. She is the proud and blissful wife of Rev. Aaron D. Myers, Sr., and the joyful mother of remarkable adults, Adam, Ava, and Aaron, Jr. and his wife, Christian.
Rev. Myers passionately believes in studying and applying God’s word to our lives. She seeks to promote spiritual maturity by providing a network of enriching experiences through bible study, ministry sessions, conferences, retreats, workshops, and seminars, which she develops and facilitates. She truly cherishes the Word of God and believes that it must have priority in the lives of Christians. Nothing compares to the nourishment God and his Word supplies.
At Gaines Chapel, she established A.N.C.H.O.R.E.D. (Anointed and Committed to Honoring our Redeemer Daily) Ministries for Men and Women, initiated Vacation Bible School for youth and adults, re-energized Wednesday nights with the Pastor’s Bible Study, implemented a new members’ course of study, re-instituted Sunday morning church school and recently added a Discipleship Course of Study. She works diligently to enrich the church membership and the worship experience and to foster outreach, adding such ministries as the Youth and Young Adult, Health, Prison, Nursing Home, Prayer and Visitation, Social Media, and Seniors. Her utmost desire is to be a sincere servant of the Only Wise God, our Savior and Redeemer. Rev. Myers earnestly believes that everything that has breath should Praise the Lord. Praise Ye the Lord!
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Reverend Aaron D. Myers
As the first gentleman at Gaines Chapel AME Church he serves with His wife Pastor Karen A. Myers. As part of his ministerial duties, he serves as Christian Ed. Director and head of the men’s ministry.
Rev. Myers has been teaching discipleship for many years. His knowledge of the various disciplines we practice for a closer fellowship with God has marked his walk of faith! His love for the ministry of nurturing others plays a key role in leading the Class Leaders at Gaines Chapel AMEC and his part of a prison ministry that saves and feeds the souls of the inmates through worship and the preached Word of God!
Rev. Myers is a native Baltimorean and product of the Baltimore City Public School System. He is a Lieutenant with the Baltimore City Fire Department, serving the community for nearly 30 years. This was a new career path having previously worked in private industry as a certified steamfitter/pipe fitter for 8 years.
Before Gaines, he was a member of Falls Road African Methodist Episcopal Church for over 29 years and served under the leadership of Rev. Raymond F. Edmonds, Jr., and his father in ministry, Rev. Arthur B. Glover. Rev. Myers studied with the Washington Annual Conference Board of Examiners and was ordained a local Deacon in the AME Church in September 2009.
At Falls Road, he served as President of the Class Leaders’ Ministry, Director of the Discipleship Program, and Superintendent of the Church School. He faithfully served on the Trustee Board for well over a dozen years.
Rev. Aaron and Pastor Karen are the proud parents of three very fine young adults, Aaron Jr. (AJ), Ava, and Adam Myers.
“I Will Bless The Lord At All Times; His Praise Shall Continually Be In My Mouth.”
Reverend Jaimie A. Harvey
Reverend Jaimie A. Harvey was licensed to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) on September 30, 2006. He was ordained a Local Deacon on September 21, 2007, and he currently assists Pastor, Rev. Karen A. Myers, on the ministerial staff at Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church in Elkridge, Maryland.
Immediately following high school, Rev. Harvey joined the U.S. Army and served for seven years. He worked for 30 years and retired from Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) as Manager of Support Operations–Bus Maintenance.
While working full-time Rev. Harvey attended Catonsville Community College and Coppin State University on a part-time basis to further his education and has received numerous certificates in religious studies and training.
Most importantly, Rev. Harvey wants you to know that he is saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior. He has been called to preach the Gospel and is committed to serving the Lord.
Rev. Harvey is a cancer survivor (8 years in June 2021) and gives all praise and glory to God who is the guiding force in his life. Rev. Harvey is the youngest of four children of Rev. H. Lorraine Harvey and the late John Harvey, Sr. He is married to Mrs. Linda Harvey and together they are blessed with five sons and one daughter, and thirteen plus grandchildren.
“Order my steps in thy word; and let no iniquity have dominion over me.”
Reverend Verna W. Queen
Rev. Verna Wilson Queen was born and raised in Baltimore Maryland. She is the oldest child of Edward and Ethel Collic. She was educated in Baltimore City Public Schools and attended the University of Maryland University College and the Community College of Baltimore County. She is a classically trained singer who studied voice at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland and has an Associate of Arts degree in Worship Arts from the Worship Arts Conservatory in Seattle Washington.
Rev. Queen accepted her call to preach in October 1998 and in December of that year received her Exhorter’s License. She received her Preacher’s License in January 2000 and was ordained a Local Deacon on September 28, 2001.
A lifelong member of Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church in Elkridge Maryland, she served in many areas including Assistant Sunday School Superintendent, Youth Church School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Steward, Choir Director for two choirs, and Christian Education Director.
Currently, she leads the A.N.C.H.O.R.E.D. Women’s Ministry and is the Director of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry. She also works and sings with the Senior choir; she is a Church School and Vacation Bible School Teacher.
In addition to serving at her home church, she has served as the assistant pastor at St. Paul AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; Primm Tabernacle AME Church in Seattle, Washington; Kirkland Community Fellowship AME Church in Lakewood, Washington; Ebenezer AME Church in Bremerton, Washington; and St Paul AME Church in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Rev. Queen’s main goal in life is to live a life that honors God by serving Him and His people.
Rev. Queen was married to Bryan Queen, and together they had a wonderfully blended family of three children and eight grandchildren. Brother Queen was called home to be with the Lord in October 2021.
“But, Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God And All His Righteousness And All These Things Shall Be Added To You.”
Reverend Tonya A. McCleary
Rev. Tonya A. McCleary is the oldest daughter of Leroy Anderson and Rev. Shirley Anderson of Newark, New Jersey. Her parents moved the family to Maryland when she was 8 and God has given her the privilege of being in a loving family of believers. Her family lives by the mantra “A family that prays together, stays together”, and this truly describes the path God has for them.
She was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in April 2010, and an Elder in May 2014, in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. She received her Master’s of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio in May 2014, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Virginia State University. She is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Human Resource Development from University of Maryland University College. Rev. Tonya is currently employed by Infors USA, as a Human Resource Generalist, after 15 years in the accounting field. She was blessed to start Eagles Networking, LLC. in 2010, an organization built out of her love and passion for finances, community outreach and church relationships. Her career has afforded her the opportunity to work in the private; non-profit; local and state, and federal government and the educational arenas since 1995.
She has served on the staff of Wayman Goodhope AME church as Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, and Director of Christian Education; Payne Memorial A.M.E. Church, as Minister to Young Adults, Coordinator of Vacation Bible School. She now serves at Gaines Chapel AME Church, as Minister to Youth and Young Adults, Assistant Director of Christian Education, Coordinator of Social Media, and Community Liaison under the anointing and dynamic leadership of Rev. Karen Myers. She believes in service to the others and allowing the Lord to use all her gifts and talents to encourage believers and introduce Christ to the lost, in whatever capacity he sees fit.
Rev. Tonya has been a single parent and had the privilege of raising Kristal Marie Anderson, who currently resides in New York. Kristal is the best part of her and a constant reminder that her experiences has been well worth the struggle. She believes if one-person see’s, hears and understands that “with God all things are possible” then her living has not been in vain. Turning one’s life over is not a sacrifice, but an opportunity to give back what he has already given. Her proudest accomplishment is watching her daughter, Kristal develop into the young women, God has called her to be. Her most cherished ministry is the responsibility of being Kristal’s mom.
On March 26, 2021, God blessed Rev. Tonya Anderson to marry the one who God made her for, Mr. Brain C. McCleary. Together, they have a blended family and love spending time together. They love to travel and cherish each day God allows them to breathe fresh air. They truly believe that miracles still do happen and their lives in an example of his grace and mercy because he allowed them to connect and become one, living and witnessing of his promises. Above all these things, the one thing she believes is that she’s just a willing vessel being used by God. There is nothing I could ever do to be worthy of this calling.
