Past, Present, and Future

As told by Jewell Jones Daniels & by Elder T. D. Sherrod - 

God inspired Bishop A. J. Jones and wife, Lillie along with family moved to Wichita, Kansas from Fort Smith, Arkansas in October 1918. He started the First Church of God in Christ in Wichita, Kansas. When Bishop Jones’ ministry first began, he experienced opposition from some whites; however, there were whites that helped spiritually and financially to make it possible for the church to survive. The Devil meant this opposition for evil, but God turned it around for His good.

Church services began in a couple’s home that were members of First Church. There were only a few members when the church was first established. God so wonderfully blessed, and more members were added to the church. Services were later moved to a park. Baptismal services were conducted at the park and at Little Arkansas River. Bishop A. J. Jones was known throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas for his great tent crusades. People of all walks of life attended these services; many were saved and healed of their afflictions. God later blessed Bishop A.J. Jones to purchase a lot to build a church. The deacons of the church purchased lumber and built the church with their own hands. The only way the deacons could transport the lumber was to carry it on their shoulders, stop and rest awhile, then proceed to carry the lumber to the building site. The church was built from a few boards and a few small windows, but it was a great temple of worship for all humanity; even the wayfaring who passed this way. There was no electricity for light, but the Bible gave light for the way. There was very little warmth from maybe one stove; but deep in their hearts, there was the warmth of God’s love and the love they had for each other.

The Power of God was so strong and evident in the church, that when the Saints of God entered the church, the Saints came in rejoicing and praising the Lord. God was so real in the services that you could hear the Saints of God magnifying and praising the name of Jesus from blocks away before reaching the church. Many were healed of all afflictions, prophecies were told, and tongues were spoken and interpreted. There was a continual revival and refreshing of the Holy Spirit being manifested in the First Church of God in Christ. The church was filled to its capacity; the grounds were crowded with people eager to hear the Word of God being preached by Bishop Jones. The secret of Bishop Jones’ success in his ministry was that he knew the source and operation of the power of the Spirit of God. He often was known to say, “If you lift Jesus up, He will draw all men unto you.”

Bishop Jones was quiet and unassuming, and when he spoke, he was heard and understood. Bishop Jones was referred to as Gamaliel of our day. Bishop Jones encouraged the members of the church to hold on to those principles of faith and doctrine that make us useful and inspirational. May we keep our wicks trimmed for services to God and our fellowman and may the pilot light of truth, honesty and understanding keep burning that even the unborn will be able to catch its glow.

As proud as Bishop Jones and his members were of their church, they were in constant pray to remained humble; to be of service to those so that the Master may be pleased, as those who have kept the faith, who have stayed in the fight for righteousness, and who have one by one, we will answer to the higher call from a righteous Father. 

Bishop Jones was known to be one of our best doctrinal ministers in the First Church of God in Christ. He served this post with dignity and prestige. In the month of February 1964, God called Bishop Jones from labor to reward. After 46 years, the church was without a shepherd.

The church prayed and fasted, God gave them a new shepherd, Elder W. B. Proffitt. He served the church from 1964 to1968. The church continued to be strong in-the-midst-of trials and tribulations. In the year of 1968, Elder Proffitt was led by God to go into another part of the vineyard to establish a church. Again, the church was left without a shepherd.

But again, the church prayed and fasted, and in May of 1968 the Lord gave the church another shepherd in the person of Bishop I. B. Brown from Topeka, Kansas and Jurisdictional Bishop of Kansas Central. Under his leadership, the church took on tremendous growth.

The church was able to relocate due to the urban renewal program. The church purchased a building of a previous church to allow room for more souls to be added to the kingdom. Many souls were added to the church including our, Elder Tyrone Sherrod, who was Bishop Brown’s first convert when he became pastor. The Lord blessed Bishop Brown to pastor the church for 32 years before the Lord called him home in the year 2000 at the age of 100 years old.

After the passing of Bishop Brown, the church unanimously accepted Elder Tyrone D. Sherrod as their pastor, he was the fourth generation who were members of this church. Under Elder Sherrod’s pastorate, the church experienced tremendous growth. The tape, prison, outreach, and brotherhood ministries were established.

December 2012 Elder T.D. Sherrod went from labor to reward and Elder Don L. Crowley was unanimously nominated as Pastor of First Church of God in Christ.

The Lord blessed us with some great leaders, and we do not want to forget how the Glory of the Lord was with them. Our foundation is Holiness, our church was built on; It is the Word of God and Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone.