History of Faith Temple Church of God in Christ

 Many years ago there was no Church of God in Christ in Humboldt. There were three people saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. They were Mother Jane Avery, Sis. Teanie Cauley, and Sis. Katheryn Farmer. The Sanctified Church as it was called in the beginning had its origin in 1922 in Mother Jane Avery’s home, located at 915 9^th Avenue in Humboldt, Tennessee. They went from house to house to have service. Bishop A.B. McEwen was the overseer, Elder Earl Williams, and Elder Hart were in charge. They had service for quite a while in the home of these three women.

Later years Bishop A.B. McEwen, Elder R.H.I. Clark, who came from Florida and Brother Issac Hughes erected a bush arbor under which to have service. It was erected on a lot give to Bishop McEwen by Mr. Wilson, a Jewish merchant who owned a grocery store on the corner of 5^th and Calhoun Streets. The Saints worshipped in the bush arbor for quite some time. Later they decided to purchase a larger lot on which to build a church. Mother Jane Avery let Bishop McEwen and the others have the money to buy the lot. The lot was purchased from Mr. And Mrs. W.M. and mary Tweeter for the sum of $100.00 down and monthly payments of $10.00 also paid by Mother Avery until the church had members enough to pay it for themselves.

After purchasing the land, the elders began to work days in the fields and build the church at night. They had service each night as they worked on the church. After many days of hard work they completed a long frame building. They got concrete blocks from Jerrells’ lumber factory and long planks to lay on the blocks for seats. One day Mother Jane Avery asked the pastor if he would give her permission to get a man named Mitchell Hunter to build a bench with a back-rest so that they older women would have a more comfortable place to set.  This was the first official pew to enter the church. This building became their place of worship for quite a long period of time under the pastoralship of Elder R.H.I. Clark, who served for a short time.

Direct descendant of Mother Jane Avery in our church today are grand-daughter, Rebecca Andrews and great-granddaughter, Zellinar Lenette Landers-Butler. Those who passed on were her granddaughters, the late Mother Zella Landers and the late Mother Syrvilla Jones. Mother Avery was very instrumental in the development of this church.

One day in 1923, a very anointed and devoted man of God named William Archie Patterson came to Humboldt from Arkansas for the expressed purpose of marrying Mother Avery’s oldest grand-daughter Mary Neutgon Johnson. They were united and remained in the city. At that time Elder W. A. Patterson was a Willing Worker and Sunday School Teacher. After the death of his wife, he was ordained and began preaching. He preached for quite some time and was later appointed pastor of this church.

Elder W.A. Patterson and the deacons decided to rebuild so they went into Blakemore’s bottom and hewed cypress logs to under sturdy the floors, which are still in use today. The church progressed and flourished with members. Some who are now deceased were: Sis. Beadie Dennis, Deacon Sam Johnson and his first wife, Sis. Maud Johnson, Sis. Mamie Vans, Deacon Tom Hurst, Bro. Dic Harris, Sis. Lena Roberts, and Bro. L.E. Landers, Sis. Lillian Landers, Victoria Sneed, Helen Avery Emerson, Ethel Lacy, Nona McHaney, Lucy Lyons, Lucille Brown, Dot Ballard and family, Lorrain Ballard, and family, Mother Daisy Vantree, Minnie Brown, Nannie Lyons, Lue Landers, Bessie Davis, Miss’y Bessie Bonds, Julia Landers, Deacon Jake Landers, Brothers Eddie and Casey Jones, Elder Tom Sullivan, Mother Zella Landers, Sis. Carlene Cox, Sisters Ruthie Merriweather, Syrvilla Jones, Oreion Lewis, Mother Eveora Sullivan, Mother Essie Owens, and her sisters and brothers, Bro. Claud Jones and many others we cannot recall. After pastoring twenty-three years Elder Patterson resigned and moved to Memphis, Tennessee.

Elder J.L. Morris was appointed as the New Shepherd. Under this leadership more people were added to the church – Mother Della Sullivan, Sis. Della Bonds and Sisters, Mother Doyle, Sis. Dorothy Doyle, the Sam Johnson Girls, and Landers Boys, then bro. Now Elder Calvin Johnson, and Bro. T.J. Merriweathers.

Elder A.B. McEwen Jr. followed Elder morris and pastored for a short time. Under this leadership there were still more added to the church, Elder Ben and Marie Sharp and family.

Then came Elder Eddie H. Ware who served as pastor for (30) years. He came in improving our church building and continued to add on throughout the years of his pastoral ship. He built a kitchen and bricked the other parts of the church that he had remodeled. He added an office and ladies lounge upstairs. A short time later he bult a dining room and added another rest room out from the downstairs office. He encourged us to build by faith, that’s how the church acquired the name of “FAITH TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.”

Many souls were added to the church under Bishop Ware, especially young people, the Landers, Sharps, Smiths, and the Ballards. Many adult members were also added: deacons Floyd Emerson, Cleven Davis, Johnas Owens (deceased), Woodrow Phillips (deceased), Brother and Sis. Cora Austin, Elder and Mrs. Buchanan, Sis. Edna Taylor (deceased) and family; and others whom we cannot recall.

Mother Emma Ware was a beautiful jewel by her husband’s side. She purchased many number of things with her money for the church. We thank God for the progress we made under the leadership of our later Pastor Bishop E.H. Ware and Mother Emma Ware. All the beautiful work that he did for the Lord has taken him to eternal rest.

After the demise of Bishop Ware in 1986, God blessed us with Pastor Julius L. Deberry, one who really knew and taught the word of God. He was a man of faith and often quoted “Faith without works is dead.” Upon his appointment in 1987 he was inspired to do a complete renovation of the church. He labored many long hours making sure that everything was done right.

During this administration the church purchased many acres of land located on McLin Street with a vision of one day building a new church. Elder and Sister DeBerry served for (10) ten years and many souls came to Christ during this period. Sisters Teresa Shivers and family, Shirley Meadows and family, Pearlie Chism, Ruthie Patterson, Jean Love and family, Alicia Simpson, Erica Fly, Regina (Dixon) Smith, Sis. Rosemary Unachukwa (deceased), Ruby and James McDonald and family, Jackie Sturdivant (deceased) and family, Margaret Jackson, Angela and Charles Burton and family, Rene Lumpkin and Family, Mother Edie Lumpkin, Peggy Johnson, Deborah and Keith Moore, Jimmie Mae Hudson, Jimmy and Trinette Hunt, Johnny Cyrus, Jr. Yvette Wilson, Marvin Collins, Benny Motley, Deacon Eugene & Sis. Margaret Gilmore and family, Rita and James Shivers and family, Terry Lenon, Clarence Pullum, (decreased), James Lipford (deceased), Charles Butler, Ann Butler and family, Mother Idallus Walker, Mary Clark and family and others that moved on to other worship centers and some whom we cannot recall.

Under this leadership an emphasis was placed upon reaching the lost at any cost. Missionary DeBerry worked tirelessly with the Youth Department and was a great asset to her husband’s ministry.

This brings us to the present and to Elder Harry Ray Barnes and Missionary Anita Barnes, presently presiding as Pastor and First Lady…his ‘Good Thing” as he lovingly refers to her. We are blessed to have a pastor who is all fired up, full of energy and enthusiasm, and loves to teach and preach, believe in lively service, faith and prayer.

New member have united with us under the administration as well, Elder and sister Offutt and family, mother Mary L. Parker, Mother Aline Vaughn, Deacon Willie Hawthorne, Bro. Will Chism, Bro. John Vaughn, Sis. Connie Cox and family, Sis. Roberta Derixson and family, Sis. Karita Alivs and Bro. Willie Hawthorne, Jr. Bro. Marcus and Lola Blade. Bro. Leroy Lumpkin, Bro. Nathaniel Tuggle, Bro. Darrell and Sis. Annesa Smith, Bro. Darius Smith, Sis. Sonya Dance, Sis. Patricia Bonds, Bro. Horace Sharp, Bro. William Sharp, Sis. Monique King, Bro. Cory and Sister Erica Cunningham, Mother Martha Sanders, Sis. Shelisa Robinson, Bro. Clint Isabell, Bro. Jessie Patrick and many others who have moved on to other worship centers and some whom we cannot recall. 

Additional renovations included, central heating and air, new carpeting, chandeliers, refurbishing of men’s and women’s rest rooms and church furniture. Also, purchased were new robes for Adult and Junior Choir members. In 2001 a new 15 Passenger Church Van was purchased. Land located beside the church which is presently used for additional parking space was also purchased.

In the year 2012 Elder Harry Barnes began speaking of a new church. In September 2013 we moved to the new 4900 sq. ft. sanctuary attached to the old building which has been converted to the “E.H. Ware Fellowship Hall” giving us over 9700 sq. ft. under roof with new church furnishings with a seating capacity of 250 people. The new sanctuary includes a baptismal pool, sound room, Pastor’s office, class rooms for nursery, youth, adult, new converts, and rest rooms are located throughout the building. Pastor Barnes said, “We visualized and God materialized.”

Faith Temple Church of God in Christ is now the location of Midwest College of Theology at Humboldt. The first graduating class included Faith Temple Members: Dr. Anita Barnes (Doctorate of Theology), Elder harry Barnes (Master of Theology); and Sis. Deborah Davis (Associate Degree of Theology).

Our present ministerial staff include: Elder Calvin Johnson, Elder Keith Moore, Elder James Smith, Jr. Minister Bernard Davis, Dr. Beryl Yancey,  Evangelist Annissa Smith, also pay tribute to our church mother, Mother Marie Sharp ( March 3, 1923 – October 5, 2013) who lived to see the vision materialize and was the first to have a “Home Going Celebration” in the new sanctuary.

We thank God for His wisdom in sending us the pastors we have had and now have. We thank God for the progress we have made at Faith Temple and we thank the Lord for all of our pastors, and for the beautiful work that God has done and is doing. We love all our Former Pastors and we will never forget their labor of love.