OUR HISTORY

CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, MINNESOTA

A HISTORICAL SYNOPSIS

“A LEGACY OF RELEVANT MINISTRY”

Prior to 1923, little is known about the Church of God in Christ activities in Minnesota; however, there is evidence that there was ministry involvement for the Church of God in Christ. There were an Elder Thompson, and an Elder and Mother Drake here prior to 1923, but no information is known as to when they arrived in Minnesota. Mother Reatha Morris Hearndon and her twin sister, Leatha are reputed to have come to Minnesota in early 1923 to assist in a revival with an Elder Thompson in south Minneapolis. (There is no other information available about this Elder Thompson.)    

In July 1923, six (6) people were inspired by the Spirit of God to move from Muskogee, Oklahoma to help labor in the vineyard in Minnesota. They were Elder Felix Chaney, and his wife, Alice Chaney; Brother Lincoln Berry and his wife, Lizzie Berry; Brother Robert McConnell, and his wife, Aiarwe Luella McConnell (Breedlove).  They left their homes, their jobs, their families, and their friends to do a work for the Lord.  When they arrived in Minneapolis, they stayed in the home of Elder and Mother Drake, who lived on Cedar Avenue in south Minneapolis.  (No further information is known about the Drakes). A revival was in progress under a tent on Cedar Avenue. At this point in our history there were no church buildings, just tents.  

A group left Sand Springs, Oklahoma in August of 1923 to aid Elder Chaney. This group included Elder Malachi Green and his wife; Brother Charlie James, Sr., and his wife, Mother Anna Belle James; Deacon Garrett and his wife, Ella Garrett; and Sister Williams and her husband. 

The members of these two groups are commonly recognized as the "pioneers" of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota. In September of 1923 these pioneers went to the north side of Minneapolis to establish a church. They accomplished their mission and established the First Church of God in Christ on Olson Highway and Lyndale Avenue North. The pastor of the church was Elder Felix Chaney, and the Assistant Pastor was Elder Lincoln Berry.  It was not an easy task to establish the church because the authorities stopped many church services. This opposition by the authorities and the neighbors around the church frightened some of the pioneers out of the state.  However, some of the pioneers remained, held on, and continued to conduct church services until the Lord made a way for them to serve Him freely, without being antagonized and subjected to cruel and unfair treatment.  

In 1927, Elder Antoine Wilson and Mother Hester Belle Roberson Wilson came from Kansas to Minneapolis/St. Paul. He founded the 4th Street Church of God in Christ (now Emmanuel Tabernacle) and was later appointed Overseer of Minnesota. Mother Wilson was a direct descendant of Mother Lizzie Roberson, the first national supervisor of the Women’s Department of the Church of God in Christ. Overseer A. W. Wilson served as overseer of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota until his death in the early 1940’s. Father E. M. Page and Mother Page played a role in the history of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota. Though there is not much information about them, it is apparent, through interviews with the older saints, that Father Page was pastor of a church on the west side of St. Paul. Father and Mother Page were Overseer A. W. Wilson's stepfather and mother. 

Elder Lincoln Berry began churches on Humboldt Avenue in north Minneapolis and in the city of Duluth, Minnesota; however, neither of these endeavors was successful.  Each time, he was called back to Minneapolis to serve churches already established. With the idea of a new establishment on his mind, Elder Berry moved to St. Paul and established the West Central Church of God in Christ in 1933.  Elder Fizer succeeded him as pastor of this church. Later, Elder George E. Johnson served as pastor of the church, and the name was changed to Zion Temple Church of God in Christ.

In 1937, Elder Felix Chaney was sent to Wisconsin. Elder P. L Lockett came and purchased a house in which to worship God. He labored for a while and returned to Detroit, Michigan. Overseer A. W. Wilson served as overseer of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota until his death in the early 1940’s.

In the 1940’s, Senior Bishop C. H. Mason sent Elder J. W. Graham to Minnesota to succeed Overseer Wilson. He reestablished First Church of God in Christ on the near north side of Minneapolis, and named it the Graham Temple Church of God in Christ. He became the first consecrated Bishop of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota.  Upon his demise in 1967, Supt Earl Demmings succeeded him as pastor.

At the demise of Overseer Wilson in the 1940’s, Elder William B. Williams came from Michigan to serve as pastor of 4th Street Church of God in Christ, which is now known as Emmanuel Tabernacle. Bishop William B Williams later became the second consecrated Bishop of Minnesota, succeeding Bishop J. W. Graham. 

By the 1940's, many had traveled to Minnesota and remained.  Additionally, many souls had been saved and added to the church.  These moves and increases caused the development of more churches: 

Elder George McConnell and Mother Anna McConnell established the 38th Street Church of God in Christ in the early 1940's. He was succeeded by Elder Walter Smith, who later founded the Evangelist Crusaders Church. Elder L. W. Jenkins succeeded him as pastor. Pastor Jenkins changed the name to Yahweh Church of God in Christ. The church is now known as Shield of Faith Church of God in Christ, Elder John LaGrone erected the first building for the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota in 1947 at 178 Eaton, St. Paul.  It was named the St. John's Church of God in Christ.  During that same year, Elder J. C. Wiggins built the first building for the Church of God in Christ in Minneapolis at 4001 - 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, known as the St. Paul Church of God in Christ. It is reputed that this was the first church building African Americans constructed in Minneapolis.  Dr. Walter L. Battle built a church edifice at 247 Grotto Avenue in St. Paul named Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ in the 1947. Supt. Vernell Thomas succeeded Elder Wiggins as pastor. 

Elder S. H. Overton moved to Minneapolis in 1948 and opened a mission church in 1953.  He built a church at 910 Humboldt Avenue North in Minneapolis a few years later. Subsequently, the Grace Temple Church of God in Christ purchased a church facility at 1230 Logan Avenue North. Elder S. H. Overton became the third consecrated bishop of Minnesota. is Elder Aldridge Taylor succeeded Bishop Overton as pastor of Grace Temple.

Bishop J. W. Graham died in 1967 Graham Temple Church of God in Christ on the near north side of Minneapolis had become the headquarters church for the jurisdiction and was fondly called the “mother church”. Supt. Earl Demming became the pastor of Graham Temple and later renamed it First Church of God in Christ. It still looms as a historic part of the history of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota. Bishop Wm. B. Williams succeeded Bishop Graham as the Bishop of Minnesota.

Other noted leaders in our history include: 

Elder Pink J. Buford organized the Prayer and Healing Station Church of God in Christ in Minneapolis. 

Elder H. H. Carpenter founded the Holy Ghost Temple Church of God in Christ in Minneapolis.  He purchased a large church facility at 1200 South 7th Street. He served for many years as State Sunday School Superintendent and District Superintendent.

Elder J. D. Foster established the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ.  They eventually were housed in a church building they purchased at 1501 Xerxes Avenue North, Minneapolis.  He served for many years as a District Superintendent.

Elder Clarence Jordan, Sr. was Pastor of C H. Mason Church of God in Christ, now known as Mason Memorial. He served as the State Youth President

Elder Artis Starks opened the Rock Temple Church in St. Paul during the 1960’s.  He later purchased a large church edifice on Farrington Street.

Elder Timothy Barge served as Pastor of St. Albans Church of God in Christ. He served as State Chairman, District Superintendent and various offices at the jurisdictional level.

Upon the demise of Bishop Wm. B. Williams in 1972, Bishop S. H. Overton became the Jurisdictional Bishop. Elder Stanley Neil Frazier became pastor of Emmanuel Tabernacle and eventually succeeded Bishop S. H. Overton in 1985 as the 4th consecrate Bishop of Minnesota. He served for 21 years as leader of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota until his demise in 2006.

There was a period of relatively inactivity in establishing new works. That inactivity ended in 1972 when Elder Fred W. Washington organized the New Covenant Church of God in Christ, which was at that time the twelfth existing church in the Minnesota Jurisdiction. Later that year, Elder Robert Robinson organized the He Is Risen Church of God in Christ. 

During the past forty eight years, there has been a proliferation of churches of God in Christ springing up in Minnesota. One of the most prominent one was Free at Last Church of God in Christ founded by Pastor Joseph Webb, which at one time consisted of approximately 1000 members. Some of the churches did not survive the challenges and hazards and are now defunct. We have expanded from the Twin Cities Metropolitan area and now have churches in Rochester, Duluth, and St. Cloud. 

Upon the death of Bishop S. N. Frazier, Elder Fred W. Washington, who came from Louisiana to Minnesota in 1968, was consecrated as the fifth Bishop of Minnesota November 13, 2006.

God always provides leaders for His people. There have been overseers/bishops over our jurisdiction. It is reputed that in 1924 Elder Malachi Green was appointed the first overseer. During that same year, Mother Alice Chaney was appointed the first supervisor of the women's work. The records are not complete, but we provide what information we have with as much accuracy as possible. (Our written records starts with Elder Felix Chaney as Overseer)