Where our church started and how I went from member to deacon to pastor.
In 2022 our beloved pastor went on to be with the Lord. Our pastor started out as a bible study group. The Bible study group grew and he decided to change it into a church. In 2015 we held our grand opening service of the new church. For seven years we operated and ran as a church. We had weekly services, weekly bible studies, church officers, gave tithes and offerings, we were in fact a church.
During the years we had a soul receive the Holy Ghost. Three souls were all baptized under our new church that our beloved pastor had started. Our pastor also pastored two other churches during this time as well. One was his main church which was in our state and the other was in the state of Pennsylvania, known as our sister church. The two other churches were underneath the organization that our pastor was apart of, our church was not.
Our pastor never wanted to place our church under the organization. I never understood as to why we weren’t, we were operating, running, paying tithes, and offerings we had officers and church position’s, shouldn’t we as well be also under the organization? But our beloved pastor kept us separated from the organization.
Our beloved pastor appointed myself as head deacon. I remember a time when our pastor approached me and a couple another deacon and a brother, he stated he was going to give us each a Sunday to give a message. I myself didn’t like to speak in front of people, I responded pastor with all due respect pastor I respectfully decline. He looked at me and the others and said Deacon James will go first.
Two Sundays later, I was up there giving a message the Lord gave me. Our pastor sat on the front row of the church. There is a fondly memory of him being happily moved by the message. He was getting up walking back and forth. When I all done giving the message. He came up to say what a powerful message we just got from Deacon Ross.
Some of the other deacons and other brothers of our church never gave any messages ever. I thought to myself what was the purpose of just me giving a message? Why did it go that way? Why didn’t anyone else ever speak? I soon found out to those what’s and why’s to those questions that I was asking myself.
The day of our beloved pastor passed away, I came home from work, I was understandably in tears along with my wife. We stood in the vestibule of our home crying and holding each other. My wife taking back in tears looked at me and asked what are we to do now, Where are we all going to go to church, What about Sunday service, with tears running down her face in hurt and disbelief.
As I looked at her crying, I said I don’t know. I then proceed to go into the restroom, not evening knowing why I was going in there. As I shut the door the Lord spoke to me, I quickly wiped my face and opened the door. I looked at my wife who was still standing there crying, and I said we’re going to church on Sunday. She looked at me still crying in shock at what I said but she said okay!
That Sunday we went and opened up the church. We had service, the members were crying and glad we opened the church. Some members stated they did not know if the doors would be open. But decided to come out and see they didn’t know where else to go.
Within days of our beloved pastors passing. It was brought to my attention, that his family requested the church be dissolved immediately. There were to be no questions asked of them for wanting to do this. They also were giving no explanation was ever given as to why they wanted this. No trying to keep the doors from closing nothing. Just we are going to close dissolve this.
That’s when the Lord began to speak to me about dissolving the Lord’s church. The Lord had let me know that He is not pleased with that decision and to not go with it. As the days grew on and the more the Lord came to me about this issue. My understanding was becoming clearer the Lord wanted the church to stay open. And that dissolving the church, leaving the souls stranded was not what the Lord wanted, but it was what the family wanted.
It was requested by the family that the name of the church be changed. And all ties to our beloved pastor be removed in order for the church to stay open. This was a hard blow to take, this was the church the our pastor founded. Our beloved pastors blood, sweat, prayers, fasting, money, and tears were all being washed away, like it meant was nothing.
That’s when the Lord had me to take a stand and speak up for not dissolving the church. Which you would think is a no brainer not to close a church which is God’s house.
When the Lord had me to take a stand and speak up on this matter. I was being fought and ridiculed the whole way. You would have thought I was in the wrong. That it was a bad thing for not wanting the Lord’s house to close down. This is how much I was being talked about and being undermined.
I was told I was being talked about and it was getting around this was being said about me. “How dare the deacon to want to keep the church open”. But to God be all the Glory. What they did not know I was listening and moving on how the Lord directed me to do so. Not was not moving on what man was saying.
Right around this time is when the organization he and his other two churches belonged to stepped in. Still not sure as to why, remember we are not under them. So they technically no no authority or power to hold and conduct meetings. I guess organizational power throws is all what it was for.
They were one sided and leaned towards the family, they knew the family years.So basically it not what it right, its who you know. Because, they too didn’t try to keep the doors open. It was at this time I was given to me a person as a point of contact from the organization. I was given this bishop’s number to call if I had any questions or concerns. When I did reach out to call him for answers to some questions.He did not take my call nor did he ever respond back with anything. No call, email or text back, nothing all I got from him was silence.
Building at scale
Here is God’s house and souls in the church, but there was no concern for either of them. It was if it was no big deal to close God’s house and have no care for the souls that were there at the time. Not to mention the ones to come. No one called, emailed, or came to see about the church or offered assisted to the church or myself from them. So again why were they brought in, when they had nothing to do with our church?
Keep in mind, this is the same organization my wife and I grew up in over 40 plus years combined. So, I know a lot of people in the organization from many churches. No one gave advice, no words of encouragement, did not offer to help, nothing. I had asked a few to come in and speak. The results I got shocked me I could not believe it. Some never answered my calls, Or never call me back they just ghosted me.
The ones I did reach told me they could not speak there at the church. That they didn’t want to upset the family by speaking at the church. What?,how can this be, talk about being confused by this. Is this not the Lord’s house, is this not the Lord’s people? Since when do we move and are directed by people and/or how they feel? Are we not suppose to move by the unction of the Lord? Are we not suppose to let the Lord lead and guide us? I thought to myself am I missing something?
It was then I realized, The Lord was showing me I have to stand, believe and trust in Him. I was to not look to people for help in anyway. I myself love the Lord, and I vowed to Him that day. If He gives me all what I need to do and how I am to do it. I will do it, I will do all for Him and His church.
So I then went forward and I presented to the church members the requests that were given from the family, along with everything that the church needed to do to move forward. Remember it was requested everything with ties to our beloved pastor had to be removed.
As a church we came together and voted on a new name, the result is the birth of Revival Tabernacle Church of the Apolstolic Faith.
The Lord then led me to create and legalize our name, By-laws, and a constitution under our new church name. Then I was led to open a church bank account and put together our board of directors. The Lord then led me to complete my ministers license. It was the Lord that showed and guided me on each step of the way. I was still not sure how I was going to get up and speak, remember I didn’t like to speak in front of people. But I see what He is doing for me up to this point why would He not bless me there too.
Also, the Lord had me to begin to do bible studies online, with our sister church in Pennsylvania. Then, I was asked to come and speak at other churches as well. Not to mention our church services going forward. More and more I watched the Lord pull me out of my shell and started to use me. When I look back to see where the Lord brought me from, and us as a church I am amazed, humbled and grateful to Him. If it was not for the Lord, I surely would not have done it.
Today three years later I am proud to say the Lord is still moving, and guiding myself and us as a church. He is guiding and directing us where He wants us to be. I personally have grown into the pastor the Lord has called me to be. May I mention that I am still growing daily as well. I am truly honored and humbled that the Lord had choose me to do His work for Him. I am pleased to say that so far we have had a soul receive the precious gift of the Holy Ghost, and a baby dedicated back to the Lord in Jesus Name, both under Revival Tabernacle Church of the Apostolic Faith.
The Lord is very much doing what he wants with the church, after all its not a mans church its the Lord’s church. His word clearly states upon this rock I will build my church. I am excited for the direction of the church the Lord is giving me to do. I can’t wait to see all visions come to pass. This is only the beginning of our History and what the Lord has in store for Revival Tabernacle Church. As it state in the Blessing Plan Deuteronomy 28:1-14 All these blessing shall come on thee and over take thee.
