Missionary Ada White
deceased 1988
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In 1948, a little mission was established in the East Houston community of Fidelity by three spirit-filled women, Sis. Frankie Sherrard, Sis. Ada White, and Sis. Mable Anderson. Services were
initially held in the home of Sis. White while these three women fasted and prayed for God to send them a spirit-led shepherd. In 1949, their prayers were answered when a man by the name of
Elder John Paul Ellis was called to the aid of this little mission. He became the pastor and the church was named St. Paul Temple Church of God in Christ. With the help of the Lord, the church
was moved from Sis. White's home to a tent. In early 1950 the tent was blown down, and Elder Ellis worked tirelessly to build a small wooden church. The church then began to grow, families
blossomed, and God blessed the church with ministers, evangelists, missionaries, deacons, and other lay members.
Elder Ellis had a dream to build a bigger and better sanctuary for the Lord. With many prayers and hard work, the Lord saw fit to let his dream become a reality in 1964. Even though the
membership was still small, St. Paul Temple Church of God in Christ built the first brick church in the Fidelity community. The little wooden church then became the church’s cafeteria and
fellowship hall. Elder Ellis’ dream was still not complete. As more souls were saved and the membership continued to grow, Pastor Ellis then shared his plans with the congregation for
purchasing additional land in order to expand existing facilities. God made a way for the land adjacent to the church to be purchased. This land was developed and made into a much needed
parking lot. Renovations were made to modernize our cafeteria. Elder Ellis felt a need to lighten the financial burden of the congregation, so he planned to hold an annual service that he
named “Rally Day” where funds were raised by the congregation to aid the church’s financial obligations and pay off the mortgage. This occasion was held every fourth Sunday in October.
On the night of May 4, 1983, Pastor Ellis called a special meeting to discuss his resignation as pastor of St. Paul Temple due to his failing health. He shared that he was led by the Holy Spirit to
name Elder Frank James Sherrard, Sr., who had been his loyal and dutiful assistant for many years, to succeed him as pastor. The congregation unanimously voted that Elder Sherrard would
assume the duties of Pastor of St. Paul Temple. God called Elder Ellis home on April 26, 1984. Elder Sherrard was officially installed as Pastor and he was instrumental in changing the church’
s name to Ellis Memorial Church of God in Christ. Elder Sherrard also continued the tradition of observing the fourth Sunday in October and changed the name to “Founders’ Day”. Former
members, friends, and family were invited to come and fellowship with us to honor our founding members.
Pastor Sherrard came with a new sense of dedication and brought revival to the congregation. Under Pastor Sherrard's watch, he led the congregation in purchasing additional property to
extend and pave the church’s parking lots, revitalized many of the churches auxiliaries, built a new fellowship hall, refurbished the inside of the sanctuary, acquired new choir robes, purchased
church vans to expand the church’s ministry. Since it was his desire that the church be debt free, all of this was accomplished on a cash basis and without putting the church in debt.
Elder Sherrard served faithfully as pastor until May 2002, when he resigned due to failing health. He turned the helm over to his dutiful and capable assistant, Dr. Morris O. Jenkins, Jr. The title
of Pastor Emeritus was bestowed on him by then Presiding Bishop N. H. Henderson of the Texas South Central Jurisdiction. The Lord called Elder Sherrard home on June 23, 2006.
Pastor Jenkins is the third pastor to lead Ellis Memorial Church of God in Christ during its 60-year history. He has instituted a number of new dynamic ministries while continuing the tradition of
others already in place. He has continued to acquire additional properties to enhance and expand the church’s impact on the community. Ellis Memorial continues to be blessed both spiritually
and materially under Pastor Jenkins’ leadership, and has a thriving, diverse, congregation where our emphasis is on kingdom building and soul winning.
