OUR HISTORY:
Christ Temple Community Church, formally “Christ Temple” was established in 1962. The church was organized as a result of the prayers, supplication and sincere seeking of the Lord by the then Minister Charles W. Meadows (now Suffragan Bishop Charles Meadows) and Sister Josie Meadows. They were members of the Apostolic Faith Church, then located at 1812 N. E. 5th street, which was under the pastorate of Elder B.L. Pitts. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the church was left without a pastor. At this time there were no Apostolic Pastors of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World remaining in the Oklahoma City area. The other PAW pastors in the State of Oklahoma at that time were the then, Elder W. H. Black of Tulsa, Elder Davis of Lawton, Pastor Fannie Elmore, Stingtown, Pastor Mamie Cobb, Wewoka, and Elder Butcher of Tatum, Oklahoma (actually brought to the PAW at a subsequent time). The then, Minister Charles W. Meadows, was asked by Bishop R. A. Wauls of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) of Texas (who was at one time the Bishop over this area), to pray and told Minister Meadows to, “see what you can do with God’s help”. Bishop R.A.Wauls met at Minister Meadows’ home where he commissioned him, and prayed God’s blessing on his newly appointed spiritual leadership and guidance for the people of Oklahoma City.
Though starting out small in number, Minister Meadows reached out on God’s Faith, and rented a large sanctuary located at 6th and Massachusetts. At this location, a name was given to the church “Christ Temple Church”. Just a few years later, in 1964, a building was acquired on 4th and Kate and the members moved to this new location. During these early years, some of the church pioneers were: Sister Josie Meadows, Sister Queen Elizabeth Hines, Minister Ralph Hines, Brother Ulysses Meadows, Sister Margaret Boyd, Sister Ruth Grant, and Brother Horace Hall.
While attending the National Convention of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) in Chicago, Illinois in 1967, Minister Charles W. Meadows was ordained to be an Elder at the advisement of Bishop R.A. Wauls. Bishop R.A. Wauls, who was the Diocesan Bishop over the state of Oklahoma at the time, again commissioned Elder Meadows to step in and assist yet another Church (in Lawton, Oklahoma) that was without a pastor. God blessed Elder Meadows with extraordinary energy and wisdom and the Christ Temple Church family was glad to share this man of God.
In December 1968, the then Christ Temple Church relocated to 1441 N.E. 7th Street where God continued to bless His people. In August of 1972, again while attending the National Convention, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Elder Meadows was elevated to District Elder, again on the recommendation of Bishop R.A. Wauls and Bishop James E. Tyson. This man of God, who was called, chosen and anointed from the beginning, still did not say “no” when God said, “Go my son”. District Elder Meadows once again found himself traveling the dusty roads hundreds of miles to and fro to spread God’s Word to the saints of the church in Ardmore, Oklahoma and interim Pastor of Pentecostal Holiness Church of Tatum (which was formally a Church of God in Christ church, under Elder Butcher), until they were blessed with a full-time minister, Suffragan Bishop Sherman Tyler. In the meantime, two other churches in Oklahoma City which had not formerly been in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. organization, lost their pastor. The zealous District Elder Meadows petitioned Bishop Wauls and Bishop Tyson that these three churches be a part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Accepting the recommendation, District Elder Charles Meadows was appointed to hold things together until a pastor could be appointed to serve on a full-time basis for these two churches. Our Diocesan Bishop Vanuel C. Little, Sr. of Greater First Deliverance Temple, was appointed as pastor of one of the churches and the other Church, Greater Apostolic Faith Church pastored by Suffragan Bishop Art Ladd, Sr.
Throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s Christ Temple Church Church located at 7th Street (1441 N. E. 7th) was able to lead many men and women to Christ by pointing souls to water baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Many lives were changed and redirected toward God. Our Church even had a group from Aenon Bible College (our national Bible College) with us one summer. Many ministers and Leaders were developed throughout the years in what our Pastor call the “Total Man Ministry”. Some of them include: Elder Larry Walker, Elder Larry Manous, Suffragan Bishop Jeffery Goldsmith, Bishop Ralph Hines, Suffragan Bishop Joe Williams (Lawton), District Elder Bolden(Lawton), Elder Howard Walker, Suffragan Bishop Delbert Johnson, Pastor Mary Thompson, Pastor Denice Flenory, Evangelist Elizabeth Manous, Minister Wanda Manous, Bishop Clyde Cook and many more.
Under the guidance of District Elder Meadows, a move to acquire a new building was proposed, and; in September of 1989, the church moved to its present location, 2717 North Kelley Avenue in Oklahoma City. The Deacon Board, Trustees, and Saints of Christ Temple Church, renamed the new edifice CHRIST TEMPLE COMMUNITY CHURCH, “The Place to be Saved”. Today it continues the mission to direct and instruct others in the ways of holiness.
In Chicago, Illinois, District Elder Meadows was elevated to an even higher calling. This time he would be elevated by the Board of Bishops to serve as Suffragan Bishop in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW), in August, 1992.
The oldest son of Suffragan Bishop Meadows, Krizzo, born just one year after the inception of Christ Temple Church, received the mantle from his father to continue the work at Christ Temple Community Church in 2002. Following God’s call and through prayer, Krizzo Meadows continues the work at Christ Temple birthed fifty years ago.
This praying church has brought us to where we are today. As members of this dynamic church, we are blessed to have a pastor who knows God. Through his ministry of preaching and teaching, the members of Christ Temple Community Church have learned and are learning to turn weaknesses into strengths, obstacles into stepping stones, and disasters into triumphs.
Pushing forward with love, attendance, prayer, faithfulness, tithes, offerings, and dedication, reaching for that prize for the High calling ~ Christ Temple Community Church has still yet more work to do in the Oklahoma City community. For it has certainly been God’s inspiration which has provided this congregation with love, mercy, grace, and goodness throughout these Fifty plus Years.
Christ Temple Community Church can truly say that: “Grace has brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us on” as we “Continue in the Grace of God”………..
