Bro. Bishop Wilfred Messiah - AME Church

[Professor]

Brother Darryl A. Peal takes this time to salute and congratulate his dear friend and our Brother Bishop Wilfred Jacobus Messiah. Brother Messiah who became a member of our beloved fraternity at the historic Xi Chapter at Wilberforce University is a trailblazer in the AME Church. Alpha Phi Alpha has a long legacy of leadership in the Church. In that tradition, Brother Bishop Wilfred Jacobus Messiah was recently appointed the President of the Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Brother Peal was in attendance at the investiture of Brother Bishop Wilfred Jacobus Messiah at the 51st Session of the General Board and Bishop's Council in Columbus, Ohio. Brother Messiah asked to have his investiture in Columbus because of his ties to Wilberforce University and Payne Theological Seminary. Bishop Messiah presides over the Twentieth Episcopal District that includes Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Uganda. A large number of the Bishops of the AME Church are members of Alpha Phi Alpha, and several gathered for the photo with Bishop Messiah and Brother Peal after the ceremonies.

Bishop Messiah graduated from Wilberforce University – Magna Cum Laude, 1982; Payne Theological Seminary – Cum Laude 1985; and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary 1997 with a Doctor of Ministry Degree. He was the first and only International Student to become President of the Student Government Association at Wilberforce University in 1980; is listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities 1980 and 1981; National Dean’s List 1980 -1982; and joined Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society in 1982. He is a recent recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio and has received several other distinguished service awards.