Church History

The Jefferson Community Church of God in Christ was founded and incorporated in 1952 by the late Elder William and Mother Beatrice Manley. The church was named Beatty Road Church of God in Christ of Memphis, Tennessee (headquarters of the C.O.G.I.C.) until the completion of the first edifice, the original members had worshiped in the home of the Manleys, which was next door to the church, where many souls were saved and filled with the Holy Ghost while tarrying next to the hot potbelly stove in the middle of the living room.

Mother Manley served tirelessly building the body of Christ, working alongside her husband with the women in the church; Mothers Davis, Johnson, Scott, and Jackson, and shortly thereafter, Mother Mary Hughes. Working together, the Sunday School department was established to include the Youth Department with the assistance of Sister Gladys Glover and family. Mother Mary Hughes remained with the Manleys and was a pillar in the church until the Lord called her home. Some of the early members were Mother Mildred Grady and family, The Eiland and the Gibbs family, Mother Essie Moore and family, Mother Dorothy Brown and family, Superintendent Herman (Kneely) Fleming, Elder Clyde (Mary) Boles, Brother Eddie Colbert, Brother Elijah Holman, Brother Columbus Williams, Brother Godfrey Holman, were all called into the service of the Lord.

In August of 1970, under the inspiration of Bishop Robert S. Fields, the leadership of the church changed and Elder James Harris was appointed Pastor, and the name of the church was changed to Jefferson Community Church of God in Christ. 

In 1982, a Fellowship Hall and a Front Vestibule was built, and in 1995 the old edifice was torn down with the help of Elder Louis Jackson, then Deacon Isaac Chappell, and Brother Joey Davis, and the brothers from Phillip’s Chapel Church of God in Christ from Hubbard, Ohio, where the Pastor is Superintendent Paul A. Loggins. A new sanctuary was build on the old foundation after the county officials instructed Superintendent Harris to either brace the side walls or rebuild because they were concerned that the ceiling would fall on the saints while they were inside dancing, shouting, and praising God. Brothers Joey Davis and Isaac Chappell got together along with the Phillip’s Chapel brothers and busted up the old cinder blocks with sledgehammers and wheeled and dumped it around the church with an old wheelbarrow, which is now the under girth of the parking lot today. 

In 2012, Superintendent Harris retired, and Elder Isaac Chappell was appointed Pastor by Bishop Edward T. Cook. During that transition, Pastor Chappell and his wife Janice,  under the tutelage of Superintendent Harris, began preaching, teaching, and ministering to the needs of the community. A Victory Garden and church sign was built, Men and Women’s restroom and the front vestibule was remodeled, along with a finance office, history/archives room, pastor’s study, kitchen, and community garden with the help of the members: First Lady Janice Chappell (who passed away due to complications from covid-19 in September of 2020, Brother Tyrone Brown, Deacon Courtney Tyner, Elder William Ensley, Brother James (Baya) Harris-Chappell, Sister Debbie Anderson, Brother Ted (Pam) Patterson, and Brother Kenneth French. Post Covid, the church is advancing forward with live-streaming worship services, a national outreach conference calling ministry called The Lifeline, weekly Bible study, “Room to Grow 101”, and Noon Day Prayer. In keeping with the church mission – Transforming the World Through “The Process” of Sanctification and Holiness, the church is relaunching the ministry of Jesus Christ and moving into the “new norm” of the new millennium. In the words of Dad Harris, “Methods may change, but the “Message” is still the same!!!”