From the Plantation to a Brand-New Home

The Legacy of Music Ministry at Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal Church

To tell the story of the Flat Rock AME Church is, in many ways, to tell the story of its music, the songs, voices, and traditions that have carried its faith from one generation to the next.

During slavery, Black men and women gathered on plantations, holding firmly to the belief that God will hear their prayers.  They prayed, they worshiped, and undoubtedly, they sang. Through songs of faith, hope, sorrow, and freedom, music became more than an expression of worship, it became a source of strength, a voice for the voiceless, and a vital part of their spiritual journey. 

Generation after generation, that love for music was passed down, carrying with it the sounds and traditions of our faith, from traditional hymns and gospel songs to inspirational music and today’s praise and worship. Each generation added its own voice to the song, while honoring the musical heritage that came before it.

In 2018, Flat Rock experienced a new generation of true praise and worshipers. Many had grown up as YPD members but were now college graduates, young married couples, and young adults beginning  families and navigating adulthood. They desired a worship experience that reflected their sound, energy, and generation while remaining rooted in the church that had raised them. That vision became a Radical Praise. 

What began as an 8:00 am, 2nd Sunday worship experience grew into a vibrant choir, under the musicianship of Sis. Anna and Bro. Mace. It gave a new generation a voice while honoring the faith, music, and traditions that came before them. Its ministry extended beyond Sunday worship through  Tune In Tuesday (TNT), creating a space for Bible study, fellowship, and spiritual growth. Radical Praise did not replace tradition, it expanded it. It became another branch growing from the same tree, rooted in Flat Rock’s rich history while reaching toward the future.

In 2019, Sister Anna Singleton became Flat Rock's full-time Director of Music, challenging members of all of our choirs; Mass Choir, Radical Praise, Men’s Choir, and our YPD, to grow not simply as singers, but as ministers in music. The ministry was growing. The church was growing. And then came 2020: COVID-19. COVID closed church buildings, but it did not close the CHURCH. At Flat Rock, ministry continued in an unexpected place: The Singleton Family’s Living Room.

Mr. and Mrs. Singleton, along with their daughter, Ariel, Brother Hollis Mason, members of Radical Praise, Brother Edwin (now Reverend Edwin), along with some family friends, helped transform the Singleton’s  living room into a place of worship and recording. The congregation could not come to worship, so we took the worship to the congregation weekly via YouTube and Facebook. It became known as The Living Room Experience. 

Through music, preaching, prayer, praise, and worship, the message of faith reached people in their homes and across social media, reminding us that worship has no boundaries. The Living Room Experience eventually became the Parking Lot Experience. The location changed. The method changed, but the mission remained the same.

And when Flat Rock returned to in-person worship, people came through the doors saying, "I've been watching your 'Living Room Experience' or "I've been watching your 'Parking Lot Experience' online. What began in a living room had extended Flat Rock's reach beyond its walls, even during a pandemic!

And the church grew even more. Under Reverend Edward J. Johnson, Jr. leadership, Flat Rock began preparing for its next chapter. The church acquired additional property, ministries continued to grow, and the capital campaign carried a declaration of faith: "I'm Expecting Great Things."

August 9, 2026, Flat Rock held its new sanctuary's Dedication Service, and just as our ancestors gathered singing on the plantation, today, as we celebrate the music ministry of Flat Rock, we must remember: This story did not begin with us. We are here because they were once here.

Before microphones, livestreams, cameras, and social media, somebody sang. Some directed. Some played. Some taught. Some prayed. And some just encouraged others. But the music continued.

Many, like Sister Venus, Brother Dimpsy, Sister Carrietta Butts, Sister Kim Baitey, Brother George Dobrin, Sister Linda Jones, Sister Wilma Guyer, Reverend Cherry Bess, Reverend Dr. Rogina Williams, Sister Anna Singleton, Brother Hollis Mason, and countless others shaped our musical heritage through their leadership and dedication. 

But every generation added something new to the song, strengthening and enriching our shared legacy from 1854 to 2026. From the plantation to Scufflefield. From Scufflefield to Flat Rock. From the sanctuary to the living room. From the living room to the parking lot. From the parking lot back to the sanctuary. And finally, from 148 Old Chapel Lane to our brand-new home at 257 Hwy. 314, the song continues. 

We are still singing hymns from yesteryear, while embracing the praise and worship of today, creating a musical legacy that speaks to every generation, the young and seasoned saints. The song that began generations ago is still being sung, and by God’s grace, it will continue to be sung for generations yet to come.

For over 172 years, God has been faithful to Flat Rock. The sound has changed. The buildings have changed. The generations have changed. But the testimony remains. We are still here. We are still growing. We are still praising God. We are still expecting even greater things. And we are still singing. 

From the plantation to our brand-new home, To God be the glory for the great things He has done!