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Ministers of Jesus Christ Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith Atlanta, Georgia - USA Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer |
History Table of Contents |
The Ministers of Jesus Christ, Church
of the Lord Jesus Christ Assemblies of the Apostolic Faith
is a Oneness Apostolic Pentecostal Church organization founded by Apostle
Dennis G. Smith to continue on in the Apostle's Doctrine after his rejection
from among the Saints for whom he loved which traces its roots through the
Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith formerly pastored by
Apostle Samuel McDowell Shelton ( now deceased in 1992), founded by Apostle S.
C. Johnson ( now deceased in 1961) and now pastored by Bishop Omega Shelton.
After the death of Apostle Shelton, controversy arose between Elder
Nehemiah one of the Elders of the Royal House of Shelton the overseers of the
Church and the other Elders of the Royal House of Shelton.
Some Saints turned to disputing with each other and the rejection of
each other. Apostle Dennis and
other Saints continued to maintain love and respect for all the Saints which
some disagreed with.
Apostle Dennis Smith was removed from the local Atlanta Church of the
Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith for giving the answer “Yes Sir” when
asked the question by Bishop Omega Shelton, “Are you a Prophet.”
Apostle Dennis sent his visions from
God to the Royal House of Shelton which he had sent to Apostle Shelton 13
years prior to his death when he was 19 years old.
Apostle Shelton strengthened him and had the unique ability to
recognize him even though he did not personally know him.
In all fairness, Bishop Omega rejected him as a result of false reports
from disputing Saints. Apostle Dennis
and other Saints were ejected from the local Church and continued on in the
Apostle’s Doctrine singing the song, “I Shall Not Be Moved, just like a
tree planted by the waters, I shall not be moved.”
This was a time of upheaval where
other Saints were also ejected in other places for various disputes or
disagreements which were not doctrinal in nature, but were rather governmental
as it pertain to organizational oversight.
Apostle Dennis never took part in any rejection or ejection of any
Saints or battles in the courts instead continuing his love for the Royal
House of Shelton and all the Saints.
Later Bishop Omega Shelton allowed Apostle Dennis to attend the Church
services again sending two Ministers to address him on the steps on Apostolic
Square. Apostle Dennis and the
Saints from the Ministers of Jesus Christ has continued to be respectful to
Bishop Omega Shelton and maintained cordial relationships with all the
Brethren at all times always emphasizing the love of the Brethren.
He and the Saints of the Ministers of Jesus Christ united fellowships
with the United Pentecostal Church International, the Pentecostal Assemblies
of the World, the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Apostolic World Christian
Fellowship, visits to the Church of God in Christ and other Apostolic
Pentecostal Organizations repairing the breaches that separated the Brethren
as commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ sent to him in a vision.
The Apostolic Pentecostal Movement has traditions from the doctrines of
the Holiness movement with emphasis on baptism in the name "Lord Jesus
Christ", receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign following speaking
with other tongues as the Spirit gives you utterance, modesty in dress that
reflects a profession of Godliness and the Oneness of the Godhead in teaching
that Jesus Christ is the one and only God.
Biography of Apostle Dennis Smith
Apostle Dennis G. Smith was born in Atlanta,
Georgia the 4th child of the twelve (12) children of Brother Willie R. Smith
and Sister Ocie E. Smith. He was raised in the Apostolic Faith and taught true
Holiness doctrines under the Ministry and preaching of Apostle S. McDowell
Shelton and the studies and Tapes of Apostle S. C. Johnson where he completed
the Apostolic Bible Study Course. He also completed the United Pentecostal
Church required Ministerial Studies, continued extensive reading from
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Anenon Bible College suggested studies,
and the fundamentalist Bible curriculum after a man appeared in a Bible
bookstore and show him the books to read for his ministry.
As Apostle Dennis begin examining the books that the man showed him
while in the Store, the man went to the next aisle and vanished away.
Apostle Dennis sent his son who was with him and witnessed the angelic
visitation to look for the man because he had some questions for the man
asking the cashier in the front of the store did a man go out the door which
they responded saying no one exited the store.
Apostle Dennis believe that he had entertained an angel who increased
his knowledge for the task given him by God almighty.
He attended Towns Elementary School, Collier Heights Elementary School,
Fredrick Douglas High School and Washington High Evening School where he
completed his elementary and High school Education and graduated receiving his
diplomas in Atlanta, Georgia USA.
He attended Atlanta Technical College, Georgia Institute of Technology
Continuing Education Unit, National Technical School, National Radio
Institute, and Georgia of Board of Realtors Institute where he graduated and
completed education and training in over six (6) different trades and received
over twenty (20) Certificates and three (3) diplomas through in class,
correspondence, and independent study.
He holds a Chief Engineer’s License, Unrestricted Heating and Air
conditioning Mechanical contractor’s License, Universal Refrigeration License
and a Real Estate Brokers License in the State of Georgia and is the owner of
Jaric Enterprises Investment Company.
Apostle Dennis G. Smith is married to Sister Geraldine E. Smith (now
known as First Lady Sarah Smith). They married when he was seventeen years old
(17) and she was 20 years old and they have remained married and in Love.
Apostle Dennis G. Smith began receiving Visions from God and Prophecies
when he a young child from about three (3) to five (5) years old and they
continue until this day. He received his call to the Apostleship from God
coming to him in visions and speaking to him in the voice of a man, and giving
him Jeremiah 3rd Chapter, particularly Jeremiah 3:20-22.
Jeremiah 3:20 - 22 Surely as a wife
treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with
me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD. A
voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the
children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten
the LORD their God. Return, ye
backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto
thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
Telling him to repair the breaches, and make many
Ministers in calling for the Unity and Oneness of all the Saints (Churches) to
return to God and one another in Love.
Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be
of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations
of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The
restorer of paths to dwell in.
Apostle Dennis G. Smith has been laboring to spread this message for nearly
(30) years, traveling to different cities and states and enabling overseas
missions to obey our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In general most
Apostolic Pentecostal Churches link their origin to the birthday of the Church
from the events of the Day of Pentecost recorded in the new testament of the
bible in the book of Acts and the doctrines and practices of the Apostles
declaring that the Church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.”
History records
the spread of the Pentecostal Movement beginning through Charles F. Parham and
William J. Seymour, two central figures in the development and spread of
Apostolic Pentecostalism in America. According
to recorded history, it was Parham who believed in receiving the Holy Ghost
with the sign following or evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit
of God gives utterance in Topeka, Kansas.
The Apostolic Faith Pentecostal Movement increased through the 1906 Azusa
Street revival in Los Angeles, California under the leadership of a African
American preacher William J. Seymour. The Azusa Street Revival spread
throughout the United States and abroad, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit
(with the evidence of speaking in tongues) and the gifts of the Spirit were
freely manifested in persons of all races, ethnicities, and social classes.
According to recorded history in 1913 from a camp meeting held at Arroyo
Seco, California, the Oneness Movement originated with the belief in water
baptism in the name of Jesus Christ as the baptismal formula and the oneness
of the Godhead. That Jesus Christ
is the name of the one and only God. At
the heart of the Oneness Movement Rev. R. E. McAlister, a Canadian
Pentecostal, proclaimed at a baptismal service that the Apostles of Jesus
Christ never invoked the titles of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost when they
baptized converts but rather baptized in the name, Lord Jesus Christ.
Apostle
Sherrod C. Johnson founder of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the
Apostolic Faith in 1930 when he separated from the Church of Our Lord Jesus
Christ of the Apostolic Faith is known among the oneness Brethren for his view
of ending the sonship of God on the cross and his standard of Holy Living
which we continue today.
History reported through the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), the
United Pentecostal Church International and others indicates that The Church
of God in Christ (Bishop Charles L. Mason), Pentecostal Assemblies of the
World (Bishop Garfield T. Haywood), Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Bishop
Robert C. Lawson), The Way of the Cross Church of Christ (Bishop Henry C.
Brooks), The Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World-Wide (Bishop
Smallwood E. Williams), and many other Pentecostal/Apostolic churches are the
offspring’s of the twentieth century revival.