WHO WE ARE
OUR HISTORY
In 1991, Dr. Vera Davis was led to begin the Apostolic Faith in Jesus Christ, Inc. because of a Fifth Sunday fellowship between Nazareth, Outreach Tabernacle, and Truevine Holiness Church.
As God blessed each church’s membership, the pastors recognized the need to have service at their churches each Sunday. Therefore, the Fifth Sunday fellowship was discontinued but the pastors desired to continue the fellowship that God had established between them.
In 1993, God inspired Bishop Vera M. Davis to establish the Apostolic Church in Jesus Christ, Inc. Within six months, God increased the fellowship from two churches to six churches.
Our first Holy Convocation was at Nazareth Apostolic Church, Hartsville, SC (the headquarter church) in June of 1993 beginning Wednesday through Sunday morning with workshops during the day. Later, the Holy Convocation was changed to seven days, beginning on the third Sunday evening in June and ending on the following Saturday which allowed all churches to worship at their church on Sunday morning. Our Convocation Scriptures are Leviticus 23:1-26. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein (Lev. 23:7).
The Apostolic Church In Jesus Christ, Inc. (ACIJC, INC) early churches consisted of: Nazareth Apostolic, Outreach Tabernacle, Cypress United, New Life, Glorious Pentecostal, Deliverance Tabernacle, and The Way of Life Church of Jesus Christ. As you see throughout the history of the ACIJC, INC, our memberships have changed because God led some pastors in a different direction. Dr. Davis serves as the presiding prelate of the ACIJC, INC. The late Bishop Ethel McNair served as the State Bishop and later the Vice Bishop of the ACIJC, INC until God called her home.
With the insight of the Spirit of God and her early education from M &T Theological Bible, Institute, Highpoint, NC, Church of God in Jesus Christ Basic Bible and Theological Institute, Highpoint, NC, Dr. Davis saw the need of the people to increase in the knowledge of the word of God. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). She established the Apostolic Church In Jesus Christ Bible School with the late Bishop Ethel McNair serving as the first Dean of the school. Dr. Davis desire was to offer Bible School to all denominations and not just the Apostolic faith, so the name of the school was changed to Elohim Community Bible College. On May 19, 1996, fifty-two students graduated from Elohim with varying levels of diplomas and degrees.
Dr. Davis encourages all pastors, elders, ministers, and deacons to attend Elohim Community Bible College to enhance the ministry that God has placed in each of them. Training is and has always been provided within the New Apostolic body for ministers, to prepare each to conduct marriage ceremonies, baptisms, funerals, communion and to follow the Apostolic Doctrine: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2:20.
Each year, during the Holy Convocations and Conventions various trainings and workshops are offered not only for the spirit but for the total man, woman, boy and girl such as: church tax laws, budgeting and financial planning, health and wellness for men and women, for marriages, divorcees and widows and the bible bowl for children of all ages.
Conventions: The Apostolic Men Convention is on the first Friday and Saturday in December. The Apostolic Women Convention is on the third Friday and Saturday in March. The Youth Convention joined in for a few years with Nazareth Youth Convention that was always the first weekend in May. The Board decided to begin the New Apostolic Youth and Sunday School Convention to convene the second Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in August. These conventions are held at different churches in the New Apostolic In Jesus Christ, Inc.
As the membership of the organization increased and changed, Dr. Davis and the Board were inspired by God to change the name to the New Apostolic Church In Jesus Christ, Inc (NACIJC, INC). Other churches were added: Galilee Apostolic, Chief Cornerstone, New Life Christian Center, Lamb of God, True Way Restoration, World Harvest, Faith Holiness and Antioch.
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord: We honor our great leaders for the work that they did in the NACIJC, INC: the late Bishop Oziah McDonald, the late Bishop Ethel McNair, the late Bishop Leroy Robinson and the late Pastor Patricia McDonald.
Members of the Board are as follows:
Dr. Vera M. Davis, Presiding Prelate Nazareth Apostolic Church, Hartsville, SC
Bishop Otis Holloman, Vice Bishop Cypress United, Cypress, SC
Apostle Barbara Hamlin, Advisor & Finance Deliverance Tabernacle, Timmonsville, SC
Pastor E. J. Arthur, Advisor of Men Convention Chief Cornerstone, Chesterfield, SC
Pastor Cynthia Hickman, Women President Glorious Apostolic, Timmonsville, SC
Pastor Mary Little Greater Outreach Apostolic Church, Cheraw, SC
Pastor Dorothy McDonald Galilee Apostolic, Hartsville, SC
Pastor Melvin Fox, Sunday School Advisor Faith Holiness, Darlington, SC
Pastor David Ellis World Harvest, Greer, SC
Bishop Jerry Scott Antioch, Condor, NC
The New Apostolic Board of Bishops and members remain strong and always ready to move by the inspiration of the Spirit of God.
Quotes from Dr. Davis during the 16th Holy Convocation: “Truly, God wants to change your life around, give you resurrection power, cancel your past, change your personality, conquer your problems, change your attitude and give you a second chance to make it right.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 says: “But we all, with open face beholding as to a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” The theme of that Convocation was: “God’s Power to Change your Life.”