"Word of Faith Ministries' Bee Removal: A Church's Effort to Preserve Bees"
Gloria Bryant, the Pastor of Word of Faith Ministries, faced an unusual challenge. The church was planning to expand its premises, but a colony of bees had taken up residence in a portion of the building. Georgia law prohibits exterminating bees due to their critical role in the ecosystem and the existing threats they face from diseases. As a result, the church opted for professional bee removal. Pastor Gloria Bryant discussed their plans for the building following the successful relocation of the bees.
"Our expansion project involves creating an office in that area. Additionally, we're planning to add more classrooms for training purposes."
Pastor Bryant also shed light on the various ministries the church is involved in, emphasizing their commitment to community service and education.
"We engage in ministry work, offer training for missionaries, provide education for young people, support single mothers, and run programs to combat drug and alcohol abuse. We also have dedicated initiatives for senior citizens, complete with specific programs and a banquet room for gatherings."
During our conversation, Pastor Gloria Bryant pointed out the entry and exit points of the bees on the outside of the banquet room and then led me inside. To my surprise, the interior was elegantly decorated in shades of purple and lavender, with no evidence of the bee activity visible.
Subsequently, I had the opportunity to speak with Reggie Bryant, Gloria Bryant's son, who witnessed the bee removal process on the 28th. He recounted his interaction with the beekeeper.
"When I met the beekeeper, he was playing Christian music. I asked him if he normally played Christian music or if it was because he was removing bees from a church. He told me, 'No, I'm a born-again Christian.'"
Reggie described the bee removal process, emphasizing the beekeeper's professionalism and the safety measures in place.
"The bees were swarming around him, but they were not aggressive and didn't sting him. However, for onlookers, it can be quite intimidating. He was perched on a ladder in his beekeeping attire. He initially couldn't reach far enough to access the entire hive. His job was to remove the entire hive, including the bees, identify and relocate the queen bee, remove the brood and eggs. Eventually, he advised us that he needed to enter the building to complete the job."
Upon inspecting the interior, the beekeeper uncovered the remaining hive hidden behind the ceiling's sheet rock. Astonishingly, honey was dripping down the church walls.
"I went inside and took care of the remaining bees, as not all of them were captured. I had expected some bees to follow the beekeeper back to Albany. In fact, he mentioned that up to a thousand bees might be out and about in Americus, collecting nectar before returning. These are the worker bees, and when they return to the hive, they'll discover that it has been removed and sealed up. They will linger for a few days, and that's precisely what's happening. Bees play a crucial role in nature, and their dwindling numbers are a matter of concern. The extinction of honeybees is a real worry."
Reggie discussed how they managed the remaining bees and the unexpected docility of the bees that the bee vacuum missed.
"I had to isolate the room to ensure they couldn't enter the main part of the church. I was alone with about two hundred remaining bees, which, despite their small number, seemed quite significant. Surprisingly, they were not aggressive and were all attracted to the window."
He expressed optimism that the bee removal process was a success and looked forward to inspecting the site again after a cold snap, hoping to find no remaining bees attempting to return to their hive.
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