Elder Albertha Marie Bragg-Rogers is the Senior Pastor of the Eastside Church of the Nazarene in Memphis, Tennessee. She is a unique vessel in the Body of Christ in that her congregation is 99% Latino. Elder Rogers has served as a Nazarene pastor for ten years. She has pastored the Hispanic congregation for seven years. She received her call into ministry in 1982 in a Bible class while studying the book of Acts. Her motivational scripture is Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto myself that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry that I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (KJV). She received this word from the Lord and began working in inner-city missions in a Missionary Baptist church. She became affiliated with the Nazarene Church through serving as director of an affiliate Neighborhood Christian Center (NCC).

Under the counsel and guidance of Dr. Joe Ann Ballard, founder of the NCC, and the former Tennessee District Superintendent, Dr. Dennis Johnson, Albertha was asked to start a Vacation Bible School in the predominantly white congregation at Eastside COTN that was decreasing in attendance.  A previous attempt to start a multicultural congregation in this location was unsuccessful. Albertha visited Eastside several months and participated in the activities to assess the needs of the congregation. After prayer, counsel, and guidance, Albertha and Dr. Johnson enlisted the help of (then supply pastor) Bro. Don Daniels. For two years with much prayer and community outreach, the numbers began to reflect a significant multicultural children’s presence. Adults began to participate, but the make-up of senior adult whites and young adult blacks did not have the persistent harmony needed to cultivate a healthy, growing congregation.

Albertha enrolled in ministerial studies under the leadership of Elder Charles A. Tillman, now pastor of the Richmond, Virginia COTN. The classes were lead by Dr. Ed Husband, of Atlanta, GA.  With credits earned from Crichton College in Memphis with a degree in Biblical Studies and an emphasis in Christian Education, she completed her studies and was ordained Elder in August 2003 on the Tennessee District. Elder Rogers recently achieved a Master of Arts degree in early childhood education.

Also in 2003, an Hispanic congregation was sharing space with a rapidly progressing white congregation (Calvary COTN). As the church made plans to relocate, it was determined that the move would negatively impact the Hispanic congregation, who then moved into a space-sharing relationship with Eastside COTN.  The Tennessee District Hispanic Coordinator, Bro. Leonel De Leon, was located in Nashville and drove to Memphis every weekend, sometimes twice per week, to pastor the Hispanic congregation. Coordinator Rev. De Leon conducted a meeting with the congregation and Elder Albertha.  Many questions were raised during this meeting, but the most memorable question directed to Pastor Albertha was, “What happens when you do not have an interpreter?” The answer was, “It’s in God’s hands.” The transition was not a major change as the Hispanic music group was already providing music for the English service, and cooperation was evident. Worship hours were adjusted to conduct one service, and an interpreter was used in every facet.  The adjustment has been gradual, but the benefits have been tremendous. Pastor Albertha now preaches without an interpreter (Praise the Lord) but with occasional help from the congregation. More than 50 souls have been converted and baptized and many more have been reconciled to Christ under the leadership of Pastor Albertha. Eastside has a migrant congregation with about 65 to 75 regular attendees. Many services exceed the hundreds, as there are many special celebrations at Eastside. Pastor Albertha has traveled to the homes of many of her congregants in Central America, visiting Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.

Elder Rogers is empowered by God to develop the work at Eastside. The church has purchased a van for the ministry and is advancing the outreach capabilities of the church by establishing a compassionate ministry center, Eastside Service and Training Center (ESATC), which is approved for 501(c)3 status. Eastside has an Affiliate Ministry relationship with the NCC.

Elder Rogers serves as Treasurer of the Memphis Hispanic Minister Alliance (Allianza Pastoral Manos Amigos) and Secretary of the Nazarene Pastors North Mission Area and works with Church Developers Network (CDN).  She is a retired supervisor with the US Postal Service. She serves on several local Advisory Boards, Church Health Center Health Coordinators, Methodist North Hospital, Community Health Advocacy Participants (CHAT), and Memphis Transformation Network (prison reentry prevention).

Her children are all Christians, and her son works in Youth Ministries at the NCC in Memphis; her daughter is employed with UPS.  She has three grandchildren.