The History of Miracle Temple C.O.G.B.F.
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In the year of 1983 the Lord placed upon Minister Erta Clay Livingston's heart the necessity to start a mission church under the covering of the Church of God by Faith, Incorporated. Minister Livingston, his late wife Renee Livingston, and his brother-in-law Robert Copeland began testing the ground for planting one cold afternoon in January of 1983.
We started by doing door-to-door witnessing, when the Lord led Prophet Oscar Jones to join the mission.
In the spring of that year, we incorporated the mission with house to house ministry. We began having Bible studies with different families, while faithfully pursuing the vision to plant a church in the Woodbine area. We also started having street services with Solid Rock Church of God by Faith and the Jacksonville District Mission. On Saturdays we would meet at the Old Rawls Pecan Store for worship. By the end of July, the first official new members joined and the ministry began to grow.
In August 1983, we made negotiations with Mr. Donald Mitchell, who was Mayor of Woodbine and owner of the local Funeral home. We reached an agreement to rent the funeral home for worship services. Many souls were added to the Ministry while in the funeral home. Many stated they would never attend a service in a funeral home, but had repent -- twice, once for salvation and once for not wanting to attend a service in a funeral home.
In the year of 1986, the Jacksonville District under the leadership of the late Elder Dr. George Matthews, Minister Livingston's spiritual father, purchased the land located at 1202 S. Court Avenue in cash; which is the location of the church today.
In January 1987, Pastor Livingston's mother, the late Missionary Elizabeth Hurst Livingston under the anointing of the Holy Spirit gave the church its name, "Miracle Temple". The name stands for the fact that many wonderful miracles will take place in the temple of the Most High God.
“Through the years we have seen the church grow to measures beyond our imagination, through Pastor Livingston. Miracle Temple, through the power of the Almighty God, has birth forth fifteen ministers and seven churches. All of which have been planted under the covering of Dr. Livingston, who serves as their Spiritual Father.
Miracle Temple Outreach Ministries Church of God by Faith was promoted by God to the Body of Christ to become a full gospel temple of worship. We held our ground breaking ceremony March 2006 and we're striving to move forward in the vision that God has placed in the heart of our leader, including the proposed addition of the Drummond Education Building in memory of one of our youth.
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In February of 2015, Miracle Temple saw the installation of our second Pastor. Under the leadership of our current pastor, Elder Timothy Smith, our church has seen beautiful inside renovations including a new air conditioning system and roof. His goal for the upcoming millennium is to maximize opportunities to strategically gain momentum for the years ahead, with Spiritual Renewal, as we glance back, reflect and remember where we been and what we’ve done while we were there. Pause, think and talk about what is happening now, as we focus forward, casting a huge vision for the next major phase of ministry.
Encouraging those who helped us get to this point, appreciating all the gracious men and women of character.
I personally commit, with the Lord’s help, to continue to strive for understanding, wisdom, excellence, Innovation, creativity, and maturity in who I am and in what I do while leading people from all backgrounds to real transformation in Christ.
The LORD has helped me realize more completely over the last few years, just how brief life on earth is. Thus, I have already been focusing on what legacy I want to leave on this earth, what imprint I want to cast that will be a signpost, testimony, and lighthouse for those people in the future who will seek after, surrender to, and follow the LORD Jesus Christ.
After more than 38 years of faithful service to the many families, saints, friends, sick & shut-in, throughout the community, God is still prospering. As we move forward, we know that God will do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.
Encouraging those who helped us get to this point, appreciating all the gracious men and women of character.
I personally commit, with the Lord’s help, to continue to strive for understanding, wisdom, excellence, Innovation, creativity, and maturity in who I am and in what I do while leading people from all backgrounds to real transformation in Christ.
The LORD has helped me realize more completely over the last few years, just how brief life on earth is. Thus, I have already been focusing on what legacy I want to leave on this earth, what imprint I want to cast that will be a signpost, testimony, and lighthouse for those people in the future who will seek after, surrender to, and follow the LORD Jesus Christ.
After more than 38 years of faithful service to the many families, saints, friends, sick & shut-in, throughout the community, God is still prospering. As we move forward, we know that God will do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.