Ahern History

Ahern beginning started as a hobby in 1999 as a newsletter, Tabernacle Chronicle, for Tabernacle Baptist church. Rev. Mills would leave work at 10 P.M. and go to the church and work from 11:00 P.M.  to 3:00 A.M. preparing his sermon and church bulletin for Sunday mornings, with last hour and half spent on designing the newsletter.

While at work a colleague saw the newsletter on his desk and say, that looks like a magazine. Rev. Mills discontinue the newsletter in 2001.

In 2004 Rev. Mills started having back problems and was inform that he had two choices, go back to work and back surgery every 3 to 6 months, or go on disability. Rev. Mills decided after 3 back surgery not to push the envelope and go on disability.

In 2005, as a hobby to stay busy, he pick the newsletter back up and came up with new formatted and name, Fellowship Today. The formatted was designed to communicate news and activities in upper and lower East Tennessee.

Rev. Mills sought the help of Rev. Frederick Gordon, Mary Breedlove, Beverly Phipps, Vivian Releford, Rev. Billy Davis,

Rev. Cecil Mills, Jr. This group decided to organize as a support group and later decided to organize as a board. Rev. Gordon suggest that the group should be called Ahern, Incorporated and changing the name to Ahern Magazine. The group voted to approve the changes.

After several days of deciding the mission of Ahern, Rev. Gordon suggest that the mission of Ahern should read, “to reach outside of one community and touch other communities with the hope of becoming a voice for the African American Community; to improve communication and encourage individuals, groups, and organizations to take pride in their historical culture through public forums and publications”.  The board agree and adopted this as their mission statement.

Rev. Cecil Mills, Jr., contacted a lawyer in Greeneville to draw up our bylaws. Once submitted The State of Tennessee approve Ahern, Incorporated as an non-profit organization in 2005.

Today, Ahern, Incorporated operates as an African American communication ministry that highlights the achievements and news of African Americans in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and the nation.

Ahern Mission

To reach outside of one community and touch other communities. To seek, promote, and serve as a ministry of communication for the local area, district, statewide, and multi-state communities.