FutureChurchOfChristHoliness

Future Church of Christ

Future Church of Christ (Holiness) is an African American Pentecostal church that was founded in the summer of 1984 on Idlewood Avenue in Richmond. The preacher formerly was an associate minister of the Tower of Deliverance Church of God in Christ, working under the leadership of Elder James L. Moore. He preacher was put in charge of working with a newly emerged ministry in Blackstone, Virginia. According to the group’s published history, while at work on the project, the preacher was in need of salt for his tomato, he made his way across the street and asked a stranger (who is later introduced as Mrs. Black) for some salt. Mrs. Black gave him some salt and he made his way back to the project site. A couple weeks later, the word had spread through the community that a preacher was working at Idlewood Avenue. Mrs. Black found out as well, and when she became ill and immediately wrote a prayer request and had her daughter deliver it to the preacher. After receiving the prayer request, the preacher took his Bible and the prayer request and went to her home not in need of salt, but to be the salt in the sense that Jesus meant when he said, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under the foot of men” (Matthew 5:13). Mrs. Black invited the preacher inside, and they discussed the trials and tribulations that she was experiencing. The preacher told her about the word of God; that same afternoon, August 15, 1984, Mrs. Black was healed and she accepted Jesus Christ in her life as her personal savior. Mrs. Black, as well as her daughter, Robina, continued to work with the preacher; they also started to travel with the preacher and his family to Blackstone, Virginia to share the word there as well. The preacher asked Mrs. Black if she would like to hold Bible study classes in her home one night a week, and she obliged. Her living room became the meeting location for Bible study every Tuesday night. The first meeting consisted of Elder Maurice Nicholson, the preacher, his wife and three children, as well as Robina. Mrs. Black constantly promoted the Bible study meetings around the community. Eventually, Mrs. Black started having Sunday school in her home because the preacher wasn’t satisfied with meeting once a week. Sunday, October 7, 1984 was the first meeting for Sunday school in Mrs. Black’s house.

The group continued to grow until the Mrs. Black’s home could no longer accommodate them. Elder Nicholson called Bishop Eugene Brown, Sr. who was the Officer of the Eastern Diocese Church of Christ Holiness, USA and told the Bishop he had a group that was interested in working with the Church of Christ Holiness. Bishop Brown was interested in working with the preacher and the group; the two men started to talk about the up and coming church in Richmond. On February 19, 1985, Bishop Eugene Brown, Sr., Elder William H. Riddick, Southern District Chairman, and Elder Rainer B. Wilson, assistant to the Chairman, came to the Bible study. The same day, the group was established as the Future Church of Christ (Holiness) USA, in Richmond, Virginia. Sunday school services are held for all age groups prior to the regular worship service held late Sunday morning. The church is composed of primarily African Americans with about 500 regular members.

First Church supports a variety of different ministries that include youth, couples, women’s, singles’, brotherhood, ushers’, hospitality and music. The Youth Ministry uses biblical principles to help steer the youth in the right direction in dealing with daily situations. The purpose of the Youth Ministry is to teach, train, and prepare the individuals to be able to handle spiritual and physical situations in their lives. There is a boy’s support group as well an s girl’s support group within the Youth Ministry. The Boy’s Support Group creates a bond between boys of ages twelve through eighteen years old. Some activities that the boys participate in include sports, field trips, and tutorial sessions. The Girl’s Support Group also provides a sense of bonding and unity for girls between the ages of twelve and eighteen years old. Some activities include cooking and crafting. Both support groups strengthen character through participation in community activities outside of the Richmond community. Growth and an increased knowledge about God are also encouraged in these groups. The Couple’s Ministry consists of meetings at which couples share testimony about their relationships with the other members. The purpose is to strengthen relationships and maintain healthy relationships through Christian principles. The United Christian Women’s Ministry serves to encourage and train future generations to do the Lord’s work; this involves by prayers, activities and various outreach projects.

First Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A
5455 Warwick Ave
Richmond , Virginia 23224
(804) 232-0004

Sources:
Future Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A website
Future Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A members

Profile prepared by Trisha Williams
October, 2009

 

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