The Reverend Dr. Michael G. Ephraim, Sr., D.Min., is the proud Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church – "The Cathedral of the South" in Albany, Georgia. His previous pastoral assignments in Georgia included: The Lofton Circuit (Wrens), Saint Peter AME (Fort Valley), and St. Paul AME (Macon). He is currently an elected member of the connectional AME General Board and serves on the Board of Trustees of Turner Theological Seminary.  

 

Michael was born the eldest of two in Los Angeles to J.C. and Leola Ephraim. At an early age, he developed a love for Christ, a passion for serving in the church, a love of music – especially hymns, and an impulse to see people redeemed. His thirst for knowledge led Michael to Morris Brown College (Atlanta) for his undergraduate studies and to Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta) to earn a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry. While at the ITC, he received the Josephus R. Coan Theological Award and Isaac R. Clarke Preaching Award. He was also inducted into the Theta Phi International Honor Society.  

 

A natural-born leader, Michael retired from the Greene County Sheriff's Office as an Investigator. He was also an elected two-term City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem for Sparta, Georgia, as an active member of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials and the Georgia Municipal Association.  

 

Reverend Ephraim is the father of four children: Mikeeta, Michael, Jr., Lenetta, and Le'Michael, and the grandfather of five:  JayCeon, Kassidy, Zyonn, Yasiayl (YaYa), Abiyah (Abby), and Kyrin.  He and Dr. SHE (Susan Hillary Ephraim) married in 2005 and together strive to do God's will in family, faith, and fellowship with God's people.