About the Church | History of the Ministry | Beliefs and Doctrine | Church By-Laws
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Many
things would be accomplished from these
humble beginnings. After the basement
was transformed into an underground
church, the Holy Ghost, through Pastor
Jennings, continued
crying out against pride and fleshly
lusts. The false church had not held
a genuinely strict standard of holy
living. Some things had been taught
and believed that were unscriptural.
Now changes had to be made to comply
with the Law of God. For some in the
small group, it was not going to be
easy. But gradually, modest apparel
replaced worldly fashions and Pastor
Jennings, as he was led by the Holy
Ghost, set about the hard task of correcting
many of the false teachings that had
been heard for so many years. During
this time, the church was incorporated
and the first auxiliaries were formed;
The Brotherhood, The Women Workers,
The Daughters of Zion, The Ushers, Senior
and Children's Choirs, The Prayer Band
and a Tape auxiliary. Bishop Ernest
Jennings was appointed National Bishop
and the first deacon was ordained, Deacon
Tyrone Jennings. The first communion
service was also held. The Lord wrought
miracles by the hand of Pastor Jennings:
The hearing in the left ear of Brother
Leon Palin was healed; Sister Seline
Brown received the Holy Ghost while
receiving prayer; Sister Mary McAliley
died, prayer was made and the mercy
and power of the Lord brought her back
to life! The Almighty God had set his
approval on the early work of Pastor
Jennings! He began preaching in other
areas of the country. Soon services
were being held in Champagne Illinois,
Detroit Michigan and Memphis Tennessee.
While flying back from Detroit, he has
often recalled how the Holy Ghost spoke
to him: "If you are faithful over
a few things, I will make you ruler
over much." Souls began to come
from many places to hear the word of
the Lord. By the winter of 1988, God
had blessed him to be laboring in thirteen
areas. Monthly services were being held
in Landover and Salisbury Maryland,
Stafford Virginia, Philadelphia and
other places. More than 350 souls were
baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus!
Soon the small sanctuary was completely
filled. Saints sat on the basement steps,
others sat in the kitchen that led down
to the basement, and in the dining and
living rooms. Still others sat on the
front porch of the home where they could
hear the booming voice of the servant
of God. Services in Philadelphia had
to be moved to the Hunting Park Recreation
Center on the first Sunday of the month
in order accommodate the growing congregation.
Of a truth, the word of the Lord was
precious in those days...
But there would be times of disappointment and opposition too. On four or five occasions, the sanctuary was completely flooded after heavy rains. Each time, the water was cleaned up and the sanctuary made ready again. The first death of a member of the body occurred, that of Brother Jack Johnson. Mother Sarah Mills was also taken from among us. Other preachers that claimed to be of the Apostles' Faith began to oppose Pastor Jennings and the church as souls began to leave them. But the hand of God was with us and souls continued to come out of the false churches. On August 28, 1988, while services were being held in Jamaica, New York, a false prophet contended with Pastor Jennings concerning the body of Christ. His mouth was stopped, and the word of the Lord was preached mightily that day. Additional souls, amazed at the boldness and power with which the word was preached, left the false church they were attending and were added to us. "...Their sound is gone out, and their voice to the end of the world..."Rom 10:12[MORE>>] |
