History

Greater Apostolic Church of Christ History

Church History
By Mother Cora Jeanette Carter

(written in 2019)

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Brother Samuel and Sister C. Jeanette Carter were both saved under the pastorate of Bishop Curtis Turner, Pastor of Antioch Temple in Danville, IL. That year, in 1973, was a year of jubilee for the Church, during which about 30 young people were baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost. Numbered among them were William and Sharon (Lillard) Grundy, and James and Ann (Carter) Farr. They all began serving the Lord and notably Brother Carter was elected Sunday School Superintendent and Youth Leader of the National Young People’s Auxiliary of the Apostolic Assemblies of Christ (the organization of which the Church was a member at the time). In 1979, Minister Carter was ordained as an elder and that same year he became Assistant Pastor to Bishop Turner.

In October of that same year, Bishop Turner founded the Apostolic Church of Christ in Springfield, Illinois. He answered the call of God and began to work the Springfield area bringing saints from Danville to witness and attend Church Services. Bishop Turner, who resided in Danville, pastored the Church from its inception until December 12, 1981. Minister Grundy sought employment in the area as well and later moved his family and served as caretaker of the Church. The initial services were held in the home of Minister and Sister Grundy.

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Elder and Sister Carter began to commute 2-3 times a week from Danville to Springfield to preach and work with the handful of saints. This the Carter’s did from 1979 until 1982; eventually moving to Springfield. In 1981, Bishop Turner then installed Elder Samuel J. Carter as Pastor of the Apostolic Church of Christ. Elder Carter left a job working for General Motors that paid about $30,000 annually with full benefits. The first building rented for Church Services was on “11ᵗʰ and ASH” Street. On the first Sunday Service, God blessed them to have two candidates for baptism. Sister Sharon Jackson (now deceased), was the first to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. Among those that were saved in the beginning were Brother Jasper (deceased) and Sister Lucille Brown; and Mother Helen Brown.

The Church relocated four times before ending up at 1422 S. Taylor Street, where it resided for 8 years. Though very small, the saints would pack the place out. Realizing the need for a larger building, Elder Carter found a location on Cook Street with a building that had been completely gutted and required a complete overhaul. God gave the go ahead, and the owner gave consent to Elder Carter to purchase the building. Next was the task of raising money for the down payment. God moved again and the down payment was secured. In June of 1990, we purchased the building and surrounding properties. The Church was incorporated and the name became Greater Apostolic Church of Christ, Inc. The Contract to Purchase the Church was for a 10-year term, but praise be to God, the Lord blessed us with the momentous victory of paying off that mortgage within 5 years. “Knowing the Lord had blessed the Church to excel, I felt the word Greater was appropriate”, stated the late Bishop Samuel J. Carter. We remained at 1704 E. Cook St. for 8 years from July 1990 until July of 1998. In 1992, the Church became a member of the former parent organization, the Apostolic Assemblies ofChrist, Inc.

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Souls came to be saved there on Cook St., and the Lord blessed many to be baptized in Jesus’ name and to receive the Holy Ghost. The Church was beginning to grow such that more space was needed to carry on its work. We had outgrown Cook St.!  We had two options; we could add on to the present building or look for a new location. It was decided that we would add a fellowship area and an office. And we quickly outgrew that space as well.

The then, Suffragan Bishop Carter, remained busy and in 1995, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Doctorate’s Degree conferred by the International Apostolic College of Grace and Truth, Dayton, OH. One year later, during the 1996 National Convention, Suffragan Bishop Carter was ordained Bishop Carter. After being elevated to Bishop, it seemed the Church picked up a much faster and busier pace. The Pastor and the Church was constantly on the go; working for the Lord and in fellowship.

Then one early Fall day in 1997, Bishop Carter received an unsolicited phone call from Reverend Shaughneysy Small (deceased), about a church that was going to be available for purchase. Bishop Carter went to look at the church and decided that this was going to be our new home. He asked the saints to make pledges toward the purchase. We made two offers and even though no final agreement had been reached for the purchase, the pastor of the church, allowed us to host special occasions and services there. August 9, 1998, we dedicated the beautiful edifice that we are now in; 1300 E. ASH St. although the signing of the final contract to purchase was still pending.

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Yes, Greater was back on the same street, just two blocks away from the beginning location. Greater continued to flourish with souls being saved and lives changed. We continued to grow in numbers, strength and faith. We don’t know why, but God would send older saints that would bless the ministry and love us through some of the trials and tribulations and we watched God give them rest from their labor. Bishop Carter and the Church would travel for hundreds of miles to fellowship and support other churches and pastors; traveling as far as Hawaii, Utah and Omaha, Nebraska.

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Through the leadership and guidance of Bishop Carter, with God’s grace, this ministry has birthed pastors, evangelists, deacons and ministries of helps that are still operating today. We have grown in grace to achieve promotions throughout the Illinois-Indiana District Council and further to officers that operate at the National level of the Apostolic Assemblies of Christ. Our beloved Bishop Carter fell asleep in May of 2015; which left a heaviness and trying times for the remnant here at GACOC. Two of Bishop’s sons in the gospel, Bishop Anglin and Elder Grundy, filled the gap as interim pastors. We remained prayerful and faithful to the work of the Lord. Then God… Bishop Aaron Batiste, through prayer and blessing from his pastor, Bishop Bramlett Cooper, answered the call to step in as interim pastor.  Ever since that wonderful Saturday, March 16, 2019,Greater has begun to flourish again, to thrive and enjoy the leadership that we believe God gifted us. We love Bishop Batiste, Sister Batiste and their beautiful family. We thank you Bishop Batiste for encouraging and pushing us back to our potential! We thank God for this 40ᵗʰ year Church Anniversary and another mortgage burning!