Trust, faith and obedience to the Word of God, the late Reverend Walter Riley Davis, Sr. (the "Late Founder") and his wife, Myrtle Mae Davis ("Mother Davis"), humbly birthed the Mount Sinai Ministry (the "Ministry") in the basement of their home in February of 1961. Hence, the foundation was laid and the first home of the Ministry is still in the family today.
Through the endurance of trials, tribulations, innumerable sacrifices, and unwavering faith, the founders gave of themselves completely and unselfishly by serving as spiritual parents to the emerging congregation, and becoming a vital and integral part to the growth and development of our community.
Growth and development is not without its challenges, accompanied by changes. As membership increased, so had the need for a larger more comfortable church venue. The Ministry moved from the basement on North 13th Street and West Finn Place to a building on North 10th Street and West Burleigh Street. Meeting more opposition, the Ministry was forced to once again search for another place to call home. That led the Ministry to a building located on North 5th Street and West Walnut Street. This too, was just temporary and the Ministry relocated to a building on North 12th Street and West Keefe Avenue. Services continued at this location until the Ministry was notified that an impending move was inevitable. That lead to a building on North 18th Street and West Atkinson Avenue. Unwilling to surrender to defeat, with steadfast praying, fasting, trusting and depending on God for a permanent location, the search led to a small building on the corner of North 60th Street and West Custer Avenue.
In 1974, the Ministry moved to North 60th Street and West Custer Avenue. As the Ministry had grown, so had the need for expansion to accommodate God's people and the needs of our community. In 1987, the Ministry entered into a contractual agreement to construct a second level on the corner of 60th and Custer.
God had given the Late Founder a vision ("Vision") and spoke to him to continue fasting, praying, walk the radius from our corner, circling the entire block, down to Villard Avenue and back seven times to declare the corner of North 60th Street and West Custer Avenue ("60th and Custer"), "The Miracle Corner". On August 29, 1987, the Late Founder found rest from his labor of love and to gain his kingly reward. God said in His Word, He would never leave us nor forsake us and blessed the Ministry with a modern day Joshua, Rev. Victor C. Davis, Sr., son of the Late Founder and Mother Davis. The Late Founder wanted the Ministry to be "greater" and in 1988, the Ministry was renamed Greater Mount Sinai.
During this period, the Ministry met opposition with man. Again, God had shown the Ministry "favor" and the expansion project continued. Realizing that, in order for the Vision to unfold, the Ministry would need to acquire land and the surrounding properties. With great faith, courage and dedicated members, on July 12, 1993, the Ministry celebrated "Debt Free in 1993" and has since purchased the properties as we continue to trust God for His Word and to witness the Vision unfold. As the years passed and the Ministry still faced with oppositions, with God's continued blessings and "favor," the Ministry was able to move forward in our growth and development, received grants to provide free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), renovated and converted the apartment building across the street from the church to the Myrtle M. Davis Senior Citizen Complex, constructed the Walter Riley Davis Senior Citizen Complex, honoring and in loving memory of the Late Founder, celebrated the New Church Groundbreaking in 2006, filled with emotions, and witnessed the demolition of our former church in 2007. With the passing of the Mantel, July 6, 2008, was a full day of celebrations. We moved back home on North 60th Street and witnessed, "A Promise Fulfilled. The Vision Unfolded." To God Be The Glory.
We Came This Far By Faith
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