Meet Our Pastor & First Lady
In 2016, Pastor Liggins' wife of 26 years, Jamie Brown-Liggins, and mother of their two children, Taylor Liggins of Cincinnati, Ohio and Terrance Liggins, of Charlotte, NC, passed unexpectedly. In the aftermath, Pastor's friends and congregation members all across the Third district stood in faith that God would once again bless him with a beautiful, God-fearing helpmate.
That day came in early 2019 when God allowed Timothy Liggins' and Toni Johnson's paths to cross a second time. The first time was 37 years prior, on the campus of Michigan State. In November 2019, Pastor Liggins proposed and they set their wedding date for April 04, 2020.
Recently, the coronavirus pandemic led to a "stay at home" order across the state and in most states across the nation, forcing their celebration of matrimony to become a quick and ultra-small event on March 23, 2020, officiated by Rev. Ruth McCants. While the event was drastically smaller than planned, the day remained an extremely large and joyful celebration of love in the hearts of these two newlyweds.
Introducing, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy E. Liggins, aka Rev. Timothy E. Liggins and Dr. Toni Johnson Liggins!
Rev. Timothy E. Liggins, M.Div
Pastor
Reverend Timothy E. Liggins is Pastor of the historic Bethel A.M.E. Church in Columbus, OH. A fourth generation pastor, he was born in Columbus, OH a child of the parsonage. He attended elementary schools in Delaware, OH, Steubenville, OH, and Columbus, OH. While attending Columbus East High School, he was selected to be the school's representative to the prestigious Hugh O' Brian Youth Leadership Congress.
Following his sophomore year at East High, he was awarded a scholarship to the A Better Chance (ABC) Program, where he attended and graduated from Hanover High School, in Hanover, NH.
Pastor Liggins studied Engineering at Michigan State University. While at Michigan State, he held a position as a Legislative Assistant for the Michigan House Democratic Research Staff. He graduated from The Ohio State University, with a B. S. in Business Administration, majoring in Production and Operations Management.
Growing up at the historic St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Columbus, Pastor Liggins was active in choir, youth usher board, Y.P.D., Christian Endeavor, the bus ministry, and the drama ministry. He also served as the Chairman Pro-Tem of the Trustee Board until his calling to the ministry. He attended Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce OH, where he earned his Master of Divinity degree in 2005.
While at Payne, Pastor. Liggins received several awards including Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, and the Jayme and MacDonald Williams Annual Scholarship award. Also, as part of his commitment to youth, he worked for 2 years with the Ohio Youth Advocate Program. He enjoyed a career of over 25 years in the field of International Logistics.
Pastor Liggins answered the call to the ministry in 1998, and was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in 2004, and an Itinerant Elder, in 2006 at Bethel A.M.E. Church, Columbus, OH. He has been blessed to pastor St. Paul A.M.E. - Circleville, OH; Payne Chapel A.M.E. - Kenton, OH; Central Chapel A.M.E. - Yellow Springs, OH; and was appointed pastor of the historic Bethel A.M.E. Church in December of 2016. He is an instructor in the Ohio - South Ohio Conference Board of Examiners, and actively works towards social and economic justice.
His lovely wife of 26 years, Jamie Brown-Liggins, who recently departed to be with the Lord, was an active partner in his ministry. They raised two outstanding children, Taylor and Terrance.
Pastor Liggins enjoys music, as well as traveling. His passion is uncovering and teaching the biblical truth treasures of God's Word. His prayer is that his ministry brings glory to God and that his work for God's Kingdom will be powerful in the lives of God's people.
Dr. Toni Johnson Liggins
First Lady
Dr. Toni Johnson Liggins attended Michigan State University and then graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed specialty training in psychiatry at the Cleveland Clinic where she was also chief resident. She served as Vice Chair of Psychiatry and Program Director for the Department of Psychiatry at MetroHealth System/ Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH for several years.
Dr. Liggins then joined the faculty of Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina before relocating to Columbus. She currently serves as the Director of Graduate Medical Education for the Mt. Carmel Health System in Columbus, OH.
Dr. Liggins is a nationally recognized educator and speaker who has published and presented on various topics including mental health and the African American community, diversity in medicine, and social determinants of health.
She has been honored with the Jeanne Spurlock Minority Fellowship Achievement Award from the American Psychiatric Association, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Cleveland Clinic, and the Master Educator Award from the Brody School of Medicine.
Dr. Liggins is the mother of four wonderful adult children, Craig 'CJ' Johnson (and wife, Gina Johnson) of Holland, MI, Antonio Johnson of Minneapolis, MN, Trey Johnson (and fiance, Taylor) of Gurnee, IL, and Brianna Johnson of Raleigh, NC.
Our History. Continued from Home Page.
During the 1950s, plans were under construction to move the church to a new location at 477 Lehman Street. In November 1954, the Rev. R.H. Reid, Jr. came to Bethel and it was then, by the grace of God, that the church congregation began to grow in membership as well as spiritually in their newly purchased building. Bethel dedicated the new church home in 1954 under Pastor Reid. Those present to help lay the cornerstone of the building included The Late Rev. Thomas E. Liggins, Assistant to Rev. Reid (Presiding Elder, retired), Rev. E.R. Robinson, Presiding Bishop A.J. Allen, Rev. F.H Mason, Presiding Elder.
In 1966, the area of Columbus, where the church was located, was undergoing great changes with the construction of the freeway. Bethel then moved and worshiped at the Poindexter Village Auditorium. It was from this location, following the sale of the old building at 477 Lehman Street that the congregation was relocated to 2021 Cleveland Avenue, our present location.
On July 23, 1967, a motorcade of 100 automobiles assembled at Poindexter Village on Champion Avenue and proceeded to the new address.
In 1973, Rev. S.M Cooper was assigned to Bethel. For the two-year period of his stay, the congregation continued to grow. Rev. Roy L. Daniels, shortly after his appointment passed away as a result of his illness. During this time the Presiding Elder Page along with Assistant Pastor Rev. John Cotton and ministers from Wilberforce University served the congregation.
In 1975, Rev. Dr. David Todd came to Bethel. He was the youngest person appointed as Pastor. He set out on a well-traveled road trip to help build Bethel into a church for the people. His outreach ministries included providing clothing for those in need, assisted community leaders in creating the first church-based program against crime and violence in the community.
In 1982, under his leadership, the mortgage was retired, a thirty-two-year mortgage was paid off in fifteen years. Rev. Todd served the congregation faithfully and retired from the A.M.E. Church.
In 2007, Rev. Dale Snyder, Sr. was appointed to Bethel. Under his leadership, many improvements were accomplished. Some of these improvements included the sale of the old parsonage, purchase of a new parsonage, two chair lifts were installed, new front doors, new floor in the undercroft, new undercroft windows, air condition units were installed and a wheelchair ramp was constructed.
In December 2016, Rev. Timothy E. Liggins was appointed to Bethel. He is the son of the late Presiding Elder (Retired) and former St. Paul A.M.E. Pastor Thomas E. Liggins. "Pastor Tim," as he is affectionately known, is just beginning his tenure, yet already church attendance has increased and members are enthusiastically attending Wednesday’s Biblical Truth, Treasure Seeking Life Transforming Bible Study. Emphasis is being placed on the youth and the music department. These Choirs have been reinstated: the Senior, the Youth choir, and the Mighty Men of Bethel. The Contemporary Choir is newly formed. An exciting youth liturgical dance team, known as "Warriors of Worship," has also been established.
On July 23, 2017, Bethel observed the 50th anniversary of our move to our current location by hosting a "Comin’ Home to Bethel" reunion weekend. It included a limo ride from Poindexter Village, a motorcade, a reunion cookout, and worship service.
In July 2018, Bethel celebrated its 100th church anniversary. Bishop McKinley Young was our speaker. Sadly, he went home to be with the Lord in January 2019.
Bethel has a rich and glorious history because of its dedicated members and pastoral leadership. We stand on the shoulders of our fore-parents in "Continuing the Journey, From Glory to Greater Glory".