History

The Lord answered me and said, “Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time… Courage is one of the most indispensable traits that spiritual leader calls cultivate, because the very work of the kingdom is at stake. In the Old Testament, a sterling example of’ courageous leadership can be found in the land of Car. They were more concerned that God’s will be done rather than looking at the size of the opposition.
Far in advance of October 6, 2000, God had commissioned the existence of Solomon’s Temple Ministry. But the vision became real and a great movement began on that Friday evening when a few people gathered together in Jesus’ name. The voice was unanimous that echoed, “Oppressed people call not remain oppressed forever. I have a spiritual birthright of freedom'”.

The yearning to be led of God into another life of unrestrained ministry was felt around the room. Of course, some had not understood fully what God was about to do, but the idea of God doing a greater thing kept ringing in their heads.
Our greatest concern, just as any new ministry, would be to find a place to worship. That’s when Andrew Holloman (Max) became an answer to our prayers, and an 8 o’clock morning service was planned and held on the second floor of the “Welcome Alley” building on October 15, 2002 in Smithfield. Our first service was a celebratory event with 50 or more people in attendance and God confirmed our move from that point until the present.

The Setting Apart/Consecration service was held on October 22, 2000 with Pastor Jerome Barber and the Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple of Newport News. We were truly set apart and so was the Welcome Alley and it will never be the same.

From October to December, we climbed the Alley stairs to Worship God with a sense of urgency and authenticity. It was real church going on! We Purchased tell pews and a public address system, as each member felt it necessary to contribute financially. Our friends and neighboring churches sent donations that said to its, “-we are behind what God is doing through you.” Those such as Pastor Barber and Pastor James King sent more than one thousand dollar contributions and seeds that grew into spiritual trees in our ministry. Others, such as Pastor Melvin Mariner, donated a pulpit set that blended in with the already purchased Pastor’s arm chair donated by his sister and family (Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Green).

December 31. 2000 brought about mixed emotions for some, it “as We last service we hold at to “Upper Room” in to Welcome Alley. We moved for the first time to The Cooke Bros.-Shivers Funeral Chapel and held our first watch night service there. We remained at the chapel until the end of February 2001,. until we chose to relocate again, for financial reason, to the Smithfield High School Auditorium.
Mr. Payton Barlow, Principle Mattie Evans and Brother Everett Wells were three individuals who were very instrumental in the comfortable stay we received at the school. But God provided another open door for the saints when what we intended to do the first time we moved into the chapel was brought to life beginning August 1, 2001. It was truly a move of God that touched the hearts of Mrs. Willye Dawkins, president of the Funeral Chapel, lawyers, bankers and accountants who at first had said “no”.

We make no excuse for our journey. and count each place a blessing. God allowed us to grow wherever we went and the level of attachment to each other developed into a wars kindred spirit that no outside forces could penetrate. Many of us walked with vision and aspirations into this ministry. Some of us were connected or reconnected to God through his ministry. Whatever the case, we are grateful for the vision, visionaries and love displayed by our Pastor and First Lady. Some of us can say, “ I joined at the Alley. Some of us can say “l joined at Smithfield High,” and others can say, “I joined at the Chapel.” But regardless of where we joined, we are still together.

“Some said we wouldn’t make it, Some said we wouldn’t be here today, Some Said we wouldn’t amount to anything, But we’re glad to say that we’re on our way, With the help of God each and every day!”