The Lord’s Church and Christian Center
became a reality on August 4, 1991. The first service was held
in Mellwood Mall in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Those in attendance
were: Pastor Williams, Founder, his wife, Alberta, Sister Loretta
Hall and her infant son Donnell.
From that time until now, the preaching
and teaching has centered around the Great Commission to which
the Church is called. There
is a strong evangelistic thrust from the pulpit and the teacher’s
chair (Matthew 28: 18 -20). Preparing and equipping the membership
for the works of ministry within the Body (Ephesians 4) is carried
out through strong and active ministry.
Church membership has grown from few to many; and, then largely
during times of physical relocation of the Church, the membership
has dwindled. Nonetheless, there have always been a faithful few;
and, many of those who have left the active membership of the Church
are still supporters and friends of the Church.
The first minister to join the Church was
Elder Maurice Calloway and today he is still an active member
of the Church. The first
to become a member by baptism was the Pastor’s oldest grandchild,
James E. Williams. Many former members of the church are eager
to testify about how their lives were dramatically and dynamically
changed as a result of being a part of The Lord’s Church.
This is because the mainstay of the Church is the strong teaching
emphasis that comes down from the Pastor to both ministers and
members as well.
The Lord’s Church became a strong
supporter of overseas missions by financially supporting a ministry
in Haiti, sending
its Pastor and others to Haiti and other countries as well.
A part of the vision of The Lord’s
Church includes raising up pastors and ministries, evangelizing
the world and developing
a strong group of mature Christians at home.
The Lord’s Churches, Fellowships
and Ministries International, Inc. (TLCFMII), was birthed
by the Church to do
each of those things. Today this ministry is having that kind
of impact both in the States, as well as, in countries such
as: Haiti,
Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, India, the United Kingdom and throughout
Europe and other parts of the world as well.
Also, through both TLC&CC and TLCFMII, both mature
and very successful pastors are accepting the leadership of Pastor
Williams and joining in with him, in “fellowship” to
carry out both their vision and that of Pastor Williams where
they are one and the same.
From time to time the membership sings
the Church Song: This is the Lord’s Church and Jesus is Lord; This is the Church that
has been established by His Word; This is the church that love
has built; the gates of hell shall not prevail; This is the Lord’s
Church and Jesus IS Lord!”
In the year of Our Lord 2004, The Lord’s Church will celebrate
its 13th birthday. Its success cannot be measured in numbers, dollars
or brick and mortar but in souls saved, lives changed and the impact
on countless people’s lives around the world.
During a crusade in Haiti, after he had
preached to hundreds in one of the largest churches in the countries
capital city, a young
man fought his way through scores of people to get to Pastor Williams.
In his hand he carried a worn and well-used Bible. He thrust it
out to the Pastor and said that he and others from his church miles
away had walked to the service because they heard that he (Pastor
Williams) was preaching; and, that the only Bible they had was
a Bible that years before he (Pastor Williams) had given to a young
man who had in turn came and preached to them. On a subsequent
trip Pastor Williams had given the young man another Bible and
he then gave them the older Bible that had been given to them.
This kind of thing is a recurring theme of how The Lord’s
Church has impacted people around the world.
