Jefferson Temple Ministries:

On the third Sunday in July of 1964, the Lord spoke to Bishop Jefferson and told him “its time for you to go to a place where I will show you”.  So the Bishop, his wife and five children got into their car and started driving.  They were led by the Lord to stop in Port Jefferson; but along the way they saw a woman named Gladys Garner in her yard and they invited her to go to church with them. She said she would not be able to go this Sunday but the next Sunday she would be ready.  The following week, the last Sunday in July; Sister Gladys Garner, her two children and sister-in-law Ernestine Green, joined our small mission.

The Bishop and his wife went from door to door evangelizing.  The Lord began blessing them.  Every weekend they prayed all night long.  Souls began to be added to the Mission.  At this time, there Mission was a converted taxi stand and building with no heat, water or restroom. It held approximately eighteen people.  For the first time they began to run out of room.  Bishop Jefferson, being a wise leader, thought that after fifteen months of renting, he should look for property that Church could purchase.

Again, being led by God; looking for property, the Lord led them to a woman unknown to them by the name of Mother Eva Lambert in Seldon, N.Y. This lady was willing to sell-off part of her huge property.  She wanted cash.  Their mission was young and no sizable bank account.  They both prayed and the Lord touched her heart.  She said if you are in Church of God in Christ, I am not; but my sister belongs to Bishop D. Lawrence Williams of Norfolk, Virginia. If she says yes, then it’s alright with me.

They prayed again and God gave them the answer; she told them that they could use it free of charge (a seventy foot heated basement).

There in Seldon, N.Y. the Lord blessed them for the next two years.  But the Bishop still wasn’t satisfied.  He wanted an entire building.  After two years, he moved to Centereach, N.Y. by the leading of the Lord. God continued to bless them there.  He rented a complete house for one-hundred and twenty-five dollars a month.  The Bishop labored in Centereach for two years.  The church mother, Eva Lambert followed them to Centereach.  She got saved and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.  She has since demised.

In Centereach, hardly a week went by without our Pastor having a street rally or door to door evangelizing.  The church grew by leaps and bounds.

On a cold day in February of 1968, God put in to the mind of our Bishop that he must go to Bellport.  A city which he knew very little about.  He procrastinated as long as he could because he didn’t want to leave Centereach, N.Y. Again, being led by the spirit, in the middle of our Sunday service, the spirit was saying Bellport, Bellport, Bellport.  He was led by the spirit of God to leave the main body of the church in Centereach with his wife and their few members.  He knew no one in Bellport except the Artis family, but they traveled with them to Centereach.  So ironically, he still knew no one.  God showed our Bishop a one car garage.  The owner he did not know, but God said seek him out and he located him.  His name was Mr. Tony, of Post Avenue, Bellport, N.Y.  The owner allowed the Bishop to put a hole in his roof for a make-shift chimney; to erect a wood burning pot belly stove.  The same day God showed our Bishop two small children and said “Here are your first members in Bellport”.  They attended Sunday school every Sunday.  They were our only members for months.  The hardship was almost unbearable; but he had to go by faith, because faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  The spring of 1969, we moved to a basement in Bellport, but was told we couldn’t stay. With the hardships mounting, they told each other that “We can make it”

The same year 1969, we moved to a store front, it could accommodate seventy people; we stayed there about five months.  The turning point in their ministry was about to take place, God did bless Bishop and Mother Jefferson to purchase a house on 717 Bayview Avenue, Bellport, in the late fall of 1969.  After much prayer and fasting God told him to unify both churches, bring the members of Centereach to Bellport.

The first whole year in this house church no one from Bellport attempted to come. The only members were Sunday school children and his old members from Centereach.  Two years later God did the impossible; he saved nine souls in 1971.  It was a banner year, every seat was taken, The Bishop opened the walls completely and it could hold 150 people; they were jammed wall to wall.  He gave us a twenty-eight seat choir stand and a full Sunday school classroom.  We started with four classes on Bayview; by 1975 we were up to seven classes. Soon after, our church was in need of more space.  Again our praying leaders went to God.  People laughed and made fun of our house church.  But they pressed on to victory.  Our Bishop said I don’t believe he has bought us this far to leave us.  We wanted a larger place, prayer and fasting will change the condition of things.  Our Bishop said that the Church of God in Christ hasn’t given him anything but a prayer life and a life of fasting and an open vision.  He said why wait brother, when the woods are full of trees that need to be hued down.  God told him to start fasting and our Bishop fasted exactly 420 days or 14 months straight, he didn’t miss one day.  When this obligation was over God told him I have a building for you.  Our Bishop said he asked God where in Bellport.

God showed him a building that he wouldn’t let another denomination finish.  This edifice sets on 2 acres of land.  They told our Bishop to set his own price and they would accept his offer.  After 17 months and some days our Bishop completed this large structure, which can seat almost 600 people. In the year 1976, we were blessed from start to finish; under the leadership of our great leader Bishop Jefferson: but none of this was accomplished without many trials, criticism, hardships, and heartaches.  Many times our Bishop took from his own table in order that this building might be completed.  God touched a wealthy lady’s heart, who contributed generously.  At times our Bishop said the temptation was great to give up and go home, because the work load was so heavy.  Today Jefferson Temple Church of God in Christ, 333 Brookhaven Avenue, Bellport, N.Y. is completed, and it stands as a beacon of light to this community.  Bishop Jefferson said “without the help of his lovely wife and faithful members it could not have been done.”  We do thank God for sending this great man of God our way.    May God forever be the Glory.   

Ministries

Pastoral Aid: 

Music Ministry:

Usher Ministry:

Hospitality Ministry:

Youth/Young Adult Ministry:

Deacon Ministry:

Ministerial Staff Ministry:

 

Western Canada Jurisdiction Participants:

1) Padgette’s Memorial Temple COGIC, Southampton, NY; Supt. Ernest Cowell

2) Bethel Pentecostal COGIC, Brentwood, NY:  Supt. Ralphael Jefferson, Jr.

3) Greater Harvest COGIC, Brooklyn, NY: Elder Jermaine Johnson