Remembering the Old Landmark…..

Apostolic Faith Temple church was first conceived in the heart and mind of Elder John Caldwell in the early 1920’s.  Elder Caldwell and his wife Margaret held services in their one bedroom home on 16^th and “K” streets.  Once the membership outgrew their home, the Lord blessed them with a storefront on 12^th and Market streets until 1933.  

Construction later began on a church building squarely facing the corner of Hensley and “L” streets.  Apostolic Faith had a following of 105 souls.  After years of beautiful fellowship, a petition led by Elder Caldwell was approved by the P.A. of W. to form the California State Council.  Elder Caldwell was selected as the first council chairman and the first meeting convened at Apostolic Faith Temple in San Diego.  Due to his utiring work on the state and national levels, District Elder John Caldwell was elevated to the office of Bishop in 1951.

From 1957 to 1958, Elder Steve Davis served as acting Pastor while Bishop Caldwell recuperated from an accident.  When Bishop resumed his duties as Pastor, Elder Davis continued as his assistant until he gave up the position.  By 1960 the membership had grown to more than 150 souls and the church edifice was in need of expansion and modernization.

GO INTO THE FIELD…..

Elder Taylor began his own work for the lord on December 7, 1967.  Grace Temple Apostolic Church started out with five family members: his wife Esther and their four foster daughters along with a few faithful members; Sis. Judith Miller and her family, Cynthia & Selina Moon, and Sis.Stella Joseph just to name a few.  By 1975 Grace Temple had grown to a following of more than 100 souls.

After Bishop Caldwell’s passing in 1974, Elder Jelett Grantonz and Elder Renix Graham were selected as interim co-Pastors of the church.  At another portion of the vineyard, Elder Taylor was elevated to District Elder of Southeastern District #4 of the California Nevada-Hawaii District Council.

Having been faithful with the small church, God elevated District Elder Taylor by establishing him as Pastor of Apostolic Faith Temple.  He was installed as Pastor by Bishop R.W. McMurray in 1975. 

With two churches consolidated under one roof, the facilities quickly became cramped for space.  Pastor Taylor’s vision for expansion was completed by 1982.  A later remodeling effort resulted at the 65^th Anniversary Celebration, marked by the opening of the Bishop Caldwell Memorial Library.

Dr. Taylor continued to serve the Lord and the people of God, and the Lord honored his faithfulness.  He was elevated to the office of Associate Bishop under the leadership of Bishop R.W. McMurray, and was consecrated to the office of Suffragan Bishop by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., in 1992.

In August 1996, Dr. Charles L. Taylor was consecrated as Bishop of the 25^th Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the world at the National Convention of the P.A. of W. in Houston, Texas.  He became diocesan over the State of Nevada.

June of the following year, Bishop Taylor was hospitalized for brief tests.  The result was seventy days of hospitalization.  Dr. Esther Taylor, a faithful and loving wife, remained by Bishop’s side during this time and still continues to be faithful to the church.  When he was strong enough to return to the church, Bishop led GAFTC in triumphant burning of the Church mortgage.  When Bishop Taylor’s health began to keep him away from church, his concern for the people of God increased and prompted him to officially appoint Elder Dwayne Shepherd as pastor of the Greater Apostolic Faith Temple Church, Inc., on July 1, 1998.

Bishop Charles L. Taylor went home to be with the Lord on December 20, 1998 and Pastor Shepherd became President of the Greater Apostolic Faith Temple Church, Inc.  Bishop Henry L. Johnson, Diocesan of the 16^th Episcopal District of the P.A. of W. Inc., officiated at the official installation ceremony of Pastor Shepherd on February 13, 1999.

God’s vision for the church is still being realized through the efforts of Pastor Shepherd.  Those efforts are personified through the purpose-driven church concepts and include: church expansion and property acquisitions within the community, the addition of an 9:00am Sunday service, establishment of a radio ministry, bus ministry, Spanish ministry, prison ministry… just to name a few.  God’s work at the Greater Apostolic Faith Temple Church continues to move forward with the help of the Lord and under the leadership of Pastor Dwayne Shepherd.

2005 marks Eighty years of steadfast, un-moveable Apostolic doctrine at the Greater Apostolic Faith Temple Church, a long time in the eyesight of man, and just a twinkling of an eye in the mind of the Lord.  We thank God for allowing us to have a part in this space of eternity.  “O Magnify the Lord….. 80 years by God’s Grace, Mercy and Deliverance!”.