Gather The People House of Prayer

Our History

Brief History of Church Organization

Gather the People House of Prayer

In November 1993, I was attending the Center for Urban Theological Studies.  One of my courses of study was “Pastoring with a Purpose”.  While in the class, God called me to the pastoral ministry and gave me the name for the church, Gather the People House of Prayer (GTPHOP), Deuteronomy 31:12, House of Prayer Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13.

A meeting was held at my home 7018 Louise Rd, Philadelphia, PA on December 22, 1993, to organize the church GTPHOP.  The church was organized with eight members including myself and the group called me to be their pastor. Our membership was increasing so we asked the late Reverend James LaBell of Faith Hope and Charity Baptist Church if he would rent his church to us to have services on Sunday afternoon, he did, our services began the March of 1994 as a mission church of Mt. Airy Baptist Church, but continued to have bible study every Wednesday at 7018 Louise Rd.

On May 27, 1994, a services of ordination, consecration for me and the installation of the church was carried out by the Mt. Airy Baptist Church, (Rev. Willis A. Brown, Pastor)  

As the church continued to grow, the people saw the need to purchase a building.  Rev. Anthony Floyd advised me that the late Rev. William Fuller was selling his building at 3061 N. 15th Street (15th and Clearfield) in the heart of North Philadelphia.  We went and looked at the building, it was laden with graffiti, but I knew right away this was the community God was sending us to establish His ministry.  When I told the congregation about the property they hesitated.  The neighborhood was infested with prostitution, abandoned houses, gambling, robberies, murders, and drug dealing throughout the neighborhood to include the church grounds.  There also seemed to be a blatant lack of respect for the 39th police district.  Clearfield and Carlisle Street were known as “Cocaine Alley” and “Crack Lane/Pipe Avenue”.  Although (and maybe because) the neighborhood was in such disarray, I knew this is where God was sending me.  I had a burden for souls and a love for all mankind; however, children were my heartbeat especially the males.  From the beginning Satan has tried to destroy the male because they carry the seed.  God gave our ministry a geographical area from Broad to 17th Streets and from Indiana to Allegheny Avenues to build a one stop building where all the needs of the people would be met.  All we had to do was to bring the gospel (good news) that Jesus Christ saves and delivers.  This neighborhood was like the Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37cp), dead people waiting on the Word of God, and I was excited knowing God was intrusting us with such a mission.

February 12, 1995, we marched into the building. The congregation was ready to do whatever was necessary to take back this community for God.  This community was our harvest.  When you change the lives of people you change their life style, their home, and their community.  God had placed in my Spirit II Corinthians 10:3, for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (Foe the weapons of our warfare are not canal, but mighty through God in pulling down strongholds) . 

At 6:00 am every morning my husband Walter would stand in the doorway of the church as I walked around the church, up and down the streets and on the corners where the drugs would be sold.  I would pray and pour oil; anointing the area and giving the neighborhood back to God.  Prayer is an invisible weapon with visible results.  Also, our outreach ministry of food and clothing distribution to the underprivileged, housing for the homeless, van services for the needy, educational training for our children that included Sylvan for free for three years, and Southern Baptist Youth on Mission teams coming in the summer having vacation bible school and block parties contribute to the change of this  community/neighborhood.  The people in this community are now able to enjoy the neighborhood in which they live.   GOD’s given mandate is manifesting itself.  As of this time, crime, drug sales, and violence have decreased almost 90% and the people have a  respectful and cooperative relationship with the 39th police district. Registration and voting also has increase since we came here in 1995.

The one stop building is part of the history of the church.  Gather the People Sanctuary/ Community Service Building will continue to meet the holistic needs of the residents of the community to be serviced. It will support the educational, social, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the community which will encourage a stable quality of life, moral values, and family stability and strength.  It will be a place where ex-offenders, the abused, the hopeless, and those in crisis find resources for their personal and inspirational growth.   Here all the needs of the people will be met.