Reverend Dr. Alphonse Reff, Sr.

In September 1984, new leadership emerged at the Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church when Reverend Alphonse Reff, Sr. joined this Christian family.  His roots stem from New Orleans, LA, where he was born and reared to the late Simon and Irene Reff. Reverend Reff accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized by the late Reverend George W. Dumars at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church of New Orleans, LA.  Reverend Reff tried to stray away, but he had a grandmother, Mama Lucy, whose thumb rule was if you don’t go to church, you don’t go anywhere else.  So to church he went.

In January 1962, Reverend Reff accepted the call to preach the gospel of Christ.  He enrolled in the Union Baptist Theological Seminary where he started his ministry training.  He received his associate certificate in psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth, Counseling from Superior State WI, and Biblical Preaching from Moody Bible Institute Chicago IL.

In 1963, he married Janice Marie Oliver Parker.  They have four children, Alphonse Jr., (Terri), Clinton (Diana), Simon (Angela) and Trina.  They have nine grandchildren, Danaqa, Alicia, Brandi, Dominique, Isaiah, Joseph, Whitney, Micah and Max.

On the first day of July, 1988, Reverend Alphonse Reff, Sr. became Reverend Dr. Alphonse Reff, Sr. when he received a Doctorate of Divinity from Monrovia College, Sims School of religion and Industrial Training School, Inc., Monrovia Liberia, West Africa, by Presiding Bishop Byrd.

Reverend Reff’s leadership spread into the community.  His accomplishments are great. He has served as Vice President of the NAACP, Vice President of PTA.  He is a member of the Afro American Awareness Board, the Arrowhead Council of Churches, and the Doric Lodge in Duluth, Chemical Dependency, Ministerial Alliance of Duluth and Minneapolis, Secretary for the St. Paul Milwaukee District Conference. He serves on the Board of Examiners for the Chicago Conference and St. Paul-Milwaukee District Conferences, the Stair Step Foundation and he helped organize the voter registration drive for the Duluth Neighborhood Coalition. Rev. Reff had a dream of the church becoming a part of a school. With his vision and Mr. Eric Mahmoud’s need to expand Harvest Preparatory School, a collaboration of Wayman A.M.E. Church and Seed Academy/Harvest Preparatory School became a reality.

Rev. Reff received the 2000 Leadership Award and Rev. and Mrs. Reff were honored with the MN Sate Parent of the Year Award from Governor Jessie Venture. He was a delegate to the 2000 General Conference and Founder of the Wayman Bible Institute.

Rev. Reff has been blessed to have six Bishop’s grace Wayman’s pulpit:  Bishops S.S. Morris, John H. Mayo, Robert Thomas, Gregory Ingram, David Daniels and Philip R. Cousin. Five Presiding Elders: W.D. Davis, J. Allen Parker, L. Williams, Thomas Hughes and E. Anne Henning Byfield. One General Officer: Henderson Davis. Two Episcopal Supervisors: Mrs. Theodora Mayo and Mother Beverly Thomas as well as other ministers: Rev. Roosevelt Malone, Rev. Harrie Williams, Rev. Nomion Klines, Rev. Michael Carson, and numerous others.

Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church has grown spiritually and educationally under the very skillful leadership of our God-sent shepherd, Reverend Dr. Alphonse Reff, Sr.  We call him “Reverend”, but we know him to have a multitude of jobs to perform.  He’s a minister, for he administrates the church proceedings.  He’s a counselor and advisor, for he is very attentive to his flock during illness, death or other crises.  He’s a teacher and a preacher, for he spreads the news of Christ every Lord’s day.  He’s a sales person, for he creates novel ways of “selling” Christianity at no cost to its consumers.   He’s a guardian and a superstar, for he has captured and held the hearts of Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Community.  He’s a son, a husband, a father and a servant of the Lord.

Reverend Reff has been in the ministry for 47 years. Twenty-five of those years have been at Wayman.  He teaches, preaches, prays, talks, and tries his best to win the hearts and souls of men for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In October of 2004, Reverend Reff became Presiding Elder of the newly formed Saint PaulMinneapolis District  of the Chicago Conference  under the leadership of  The Right Reverend Philip Robert Cousin Sr., Presiding Prelate of the Fourth Episcopal Distict.