CHURCH HISTORY
The Church of God in Christ started in Florence, Alabama in 1932. Elder Hannah was the Pastor. The Saints worshiped in an old building called “The Hall”. In 1935 the Lord sent Elder J. A. Hardinson who began prayer meetings and revivals. In 1939 the Lord sent W. R. Morrow to Florence to lead His people. Hand clapping, drum beating and foot stomping the Saints were praising and thanking God in Florence. Prayer meetings continued in the homes. Door to door and jail house ministries were held. Street services were even conducted and people came to “The Hall”. Soon there was not enough room. In 1940 Elder Morrow rented a house on Sweetwater Street, started a revival and souls were saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. Many of the souls added are the heritage of the Saints of the Church today.
Under the leadership of Elder Morrow, young people began to get saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. Some of these young people are now Church Mothers and Missionaries. During this time God gave Elder Morrow the name Faith Temple COGIC. In 1943 land was purchased on Bunting Hill for the building of the facility at 802 Kinnard Street by the Late Mother Annie Blackburn. The Lord allowed Elder Morrow to pastor over 50 years which resulted in the church being renamed in his honor. Faith Temple became Morrow Temple. Elder Morrow led many lay men and women, Deacons, Mothers, Missionaries, and Ministers which included a young man by the name of Larry Anderson. This young man would become Minister Larry Anderson and upon being ordained, Elder Larry Anderson.
One year after being ordained, the Lord gave Elder Anderson a vision to found a new church in the City of Sheffield, Alabama. The sweet Spirit of Christ spoke to Elder Anderson’s heart and gave him Psalms127:1“except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it”. With that scripture in his heart, Elder Anderson took his wife and two daughters and on October 11, 1983, founded the New Life Church of God in Christ, in Sheffield. The name was given to Elder Anderson by the Lord as he sought the Lord for a name. “My people are like sheep having no shepherd and are gone astray.” “Go and take care of them”, said the Lord to Elder Anderson, “and I will give them new life.”
Church services were held in the Mission for two and a half years, during which time Elder Anderson endured hardship and persecution. In spite of the difficulties, souls were added and people were saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. The Lord began to compel Elder Anderson to find the Saints a church home of their own. This proved, after several inquiries to be a not so easy task. Financial institutions were uncooperative. After much discouragement, he looked to the Lord for guidance. God lead him to William Franklin, Pastor of the Tuscumbia Church of God. Pastor Franklin and congregation were in the process of building a new church and had the present church for sale. Pastor Franklin recommended Elder Anderson to Valley Federal Savings and Loans where he would meet the Vice President, Steve Davis. The Lord moved upon Steve’s heart and he said yes when so many others had said no.
On August 29, 1986, Elder Anderson and congregation became the new owners of the Tuscumbia Church of God, renaming it New Life COGIC. The devil reared his ugly head in March, 1987. Vandals, persons unknown, forcibly entered the sanctuary, pillaging and then setting fire to God’s house. It would cost better than forty thousand dollars to repair. By the grace of God, the church was restored to its full beauty and splendor.
The small membership cried out to God and humbled themselves with sacrifices. The church was opened again for saving souls, feeding the poor, giving comfort to those in prison, clothing the naked, and teaching the word of God.
Tuesday May 30, 1995, the called Elder Morrow home to be at rest. On August 19, 1995, Bishop O. L. Meadows, Jurisdictional Bishop of Alabama 1, officially appointed Elder L. Anderson to the now named Morrow Memorial Christ of God in Christ. Under the new leadership, members were added to the church, such as should be saved. Through the vision of Elder Anderson, a church van was purchased, Children’s Church was started, and other ministries are going forth. The pastor is seeing the vision unfold through the Van Ministry, Nursing Home Ministry, Youth Ministry, and others. In 2001, Land was purchased for building the Lord a new house. Yet, Elder Anderson was pasturing two churches: preaching at each church every Sunday. Lord how long could this go on? God had a time frame in mind.
On February 27, 2002 a new chapter in the history of the church was written. In a joint business meeting the church body of New Life COGIC unanimously to merge and become one church body. This decision was ratified by the Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop O. L. Meadows, and his Executive Committee on March 20, 2002. AND THE TWO BECAME ONE. Morrow Memorial became the site for week night services and special events such as the Easter Drama and Youth in Action. Sunday Worship services were to be held at the New Life location along with the Weigh Down program and choir rehearsal. A name for the united church had not been given. However, we believed that as God would again write the vision and make it plain.
Superintendent Anderson’s mother, the Missionary Jennie Anderson, wrote
“This is your life” as a tribute to Elder Larry Anderson. She wrote how Elder Anderson was born June 23, 1953. She wrote of what was thought to be his stillborn birth because he was not breathing when he was born. She told of her cry unto the Lord for her child and how the Lord answered her prayer. “Mother” tells of his childhood sicknesses and the Lord’s healing. “Mother” tells how Elder Anderson was never lazy or selfish: how she could count on him to help. She tells of him meeting a beautiful young lady to whom he joined himself in matrimony and the family they created together. She tells of their being saved together. She tells of the training she instilled in him and the prayers she prayed for him. “Mother” tells how she taught him to trust in God.
It would be that trust in God that would cause Elder Anderson to again seek his maker for a name for the new church.
After much prayer and supplication, the Lord revealed to Supt. Anderson, Hosea 6:1-3. On April 13, 2002, Supt. Anderson announced to the congregation the new name of the church would be Revival Center. The newly merged church continued to go forward in the work of the Lord. On November 9, 2002, at Mason Temple Headquarters, of the Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee, the Lord needed a rose for his garden and He called Our Leader, Supt. Anderson, our beloved pastor, home from labor to reward. Another Home going had visited the church again. The Lord also had a ram in the bush. Prior to his call home by our Lord, Supt Anderson had given Deacon Walter Johnson the opportunity to announce his calling into the ministry. No one knew that Minister Johnson was the Lord’s ram in the bush. Bishop O. L. Meadows ordained and installed Elder Johnson as pastor of Revival Center COGIC
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Under the leadership of Elder Walter Johnson, the church continued to move forward. The services were spiritually uplifting and souls were added to the ministry. He began using the slogan at Revival Center, “Where Every Sunday is a Revival.” Along with the spiritually uplifting services, Pastor Johnson had a vision to enlarge our outreach. He prayed and labored hard to keep the people encouraged that the vision would come to pass sooner than you think.
At watch night service on December 31, 2008, the subject of Elder Johnson’s message was, “The Blessings of the Lord are mine in 2009.” On October 29, 2009, the vision came to pass. The Church located on 101 Lanett Street was purchased from Bank Independent. On November 1, 2009, the first services were held with singing, shouting and praising God.
