Elder
Dennis Jeffries - Pastor
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Saint James True
Church of God in Christ is one of the oldest churches in the
True Church organization. Saint James began around 1948 when
Senior Bishop Willie Lewis Lucas decided to depart from the
Apostolic Holy Church organization. Bishop Lucas chose to
locate the church in a little community just east of Atlanta in
an area known as Lithonia. He pastored until 1956. It became a
well-established congregation. After giving up his reign as
pastor of Saint James, Bishop permitted Elder Clark to become
the pastor. Bishop Lucas continued to help build up the True
Church organization with his son, Willie Fred Lucas, while Elder
Clark pastored Saint James. Clark pastored St. James until about 1959. Elder Moses then became
pastor. With Moses at the helm, the Saint James congregation
had become very substantial in number. That number
unfortunately dwindled after Elder Moses departed the faith,
leaving Saint James and removing all of its members except for a
faithful three. Throughout this devastating incident, the Saint
James congregation still endeavored to lift up the name of the
Lord. Sister Jessie Lovejoy, and Brother and Sister McMullen
stayed at St. James under the leadership of Elder Joseph Zed
Lucas. Elder Zed branched off from St. James to later become
the pastor of Cochran True Church of God in Christ in 1968.
One of the True
Churches long time members, Oprie Jeffries was then appointed as
the pastor. Elder Jeffries has pastored St. James for 38 years
and is now the Bishop and Overseer
of the True Church organization. During his dominion of Saint
James, Bishop Jeffries has expanded the congregation once again,
and with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ will continue to grow.
Bishop Jeffries ordained Minister Dennis Jeffries an Elder in
July, 2007. He is now the pastor of St. James.
May God continue
to bless and expand the Saint James congregation.