History of New Jerusalem Church of God In Christ
In 1940, under the divine inspiration of God and the leadership of Elder William Smith, Jerusalem Church of God In Christ was founded and established.
The following members were instrumental in helping Elder Smith to establish this great work: Miss'y Estell Youngs, Mother Sarah Dingle, Mother Essie Mae Washington, Mother Ella Perry, Sis Daisy Jenkins, Gerturde Qualls and Dec. Moses Dingle all of whom are deceased. Jerusalem is the second Church Of God In Christ established in the Charleston area.
The first church services which encountered much fasting, praying and laying before God were held in a mission on Baker Street (Accabee Subdivision), which belonged to Prophet Lee. The Lord blessed and began to send additional members, and the mission was moved to Owens Hall on Meeting Street. In 1941, as God continued to pour out his spirit and provided much wisdom, the members of Jerusalem Church of God In Christ purchased land and built their first church at 2226 Dover Street (Accabee Subdivision).
The Lord moved Elder Smith on to other vineyards; then Elder D. James became pastor of Jerusalem C.O.G.I.C.
In 1942, Elder Hunt became pastor and served until 1944. After Elder Hunt, Elder J. C. Dantzler became pastor and served faithfully for 13 years. In 1957, Elder Paul Taylor was appointed to serve, and he did so faithfully for 14 years. The Lord added to the church and continued to bless. In 1971, Elder Robert Reese was appointed pastor and served until 1976.
In 1976, God once again poured out his spirit and sent Elder David Johnson. Under the leadership of Elder Johnson, God began to do a new thing in Jerusalem. With much fasting, praying, perseverance and waiting on the Lord, the Lord blessed Jerusalem with more and more laborers for his harvest. The members became more and more excited about the work and began to seek new opportunities to do God's work. When plans to renovate the present location Dover Street didn't seem to be in the will of God, the members began to seek God's direction for new guidance. Once again, the Lord heard our cries. In June 1984, Jerusalem Church Of God In Christ moved to its present location, 2929 Louise Drive in the Dorchester Waylyn Subdivision.
Recognizing that God was doing a new thing in Jerusalem, the church's name was changed to New Jerusalem Church Of God In Christ.. With the new name came new visions, new aspirations, and new desires to do more for the Lord. The Lord really blessed Louise Drive, and the desire to serve him more increased. Members began to seek his guidance about providing better facilities to worship him in and to bring his lost sheep back to the fold.
Realizing that we serve a mighty God and he promised that he would withhold no good thing from us, in 1993, renovations began for New Jerusalem. The Lord blessed the congregation with many talents. With the leadership of the former pastor, who was the owner of Dave's Foundations and the vision provided from God to Elder Michael Johnson on how the building should be constructed, the work began. The brothers worked diligently and did most of the construction of this building themselves. The sisters provided food for the brothers and assisted in whatever capacity they could. "So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work." Praise be to God!
New Jerusalem is grateful to God for the former leader Elder David Johnson, a faithful and praying man of God who was genuinely concerned about the people of God and sought God's wisdom in leading his people.
Thank God for all of his many blessings and for the present leader, Elder Michael Johnson. He continues to prove himself at New Jerusalem over and over again, and for that cause, the members of New Jerusalem Church Of God In Christ are excited about Jesus because God has conditioned us to go through!