Greater Faithful Apostolic Ministry
Church History Continued

After arriving in Boston, he secured a cab and told the driver he was    looking for a particular Church but he did not know the name.  The Evangelist was miraculously directed to the Church on Shawmut Avenue.  Upon entering the building, he recognized Elder Payne (from the Vision sent by the Lord) who was on his knees at the front of the Church praying.  The stranger asked Evangelist Payne if the Church was a Pentecostal Church, which Evangelist Payne affirmed. 

The Native American Preacher stayed for the service that evening.  Once the devotional service was over, Elder Payne announced that the visiting Preacher wished to speak.  The Evangelist began to prophesy; he told the Church that one person had sown the seed of discord that had disrupted the Church.  He continued to prophesy, ministering individually to those who were present in the service.  Finally, he turned to Elder Payne and told him that God was going to fill the Church.

Approximately one year later, God began to move.  The Church was so full that on Sunday mornings, the adult members had to wait until the Sunday School was dismissed and the children left the premises before the morning service could start.  On Sunday evenings, the same procedure would be repeated, the adult members had to wait until the youth meetings were over before evening worship services could begin.

The year of 1958 stands out in the Church’s history as a year of incredible growth:  souls were saved and there was an increase in church membership, and teenagers were baptized in Jesus’ Name and filled with the Holy Ghost, a Church Choir was formed from among the ranks of the recently saved youth, the Missionary Choir experienced an increase, and the Young People’s Auxiliary developed.  The Church began to grow beyond its borders.  In order to accommodate the increased numbers of those who wished to attend church services, the Transportation Department was birthed; and the church then purchased a used station wagon.  In the year of 1959, the Usher Board was started with Sister Crawford and Sister Frye serving as the first ushers.

       In 1965, Bishop Payne became too ill to carry on the work and appointed Elder Hurshel Langham as the Assistant Pastor.

     Subsequent to the death of Bishop Payne (1966), Elder Langham was unanimously elected as the new Pastor in the fall of l967 and was installed in that position on the third Sunday of October 1967.

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Faithful Church consisted at that time of approximately seventeen (17) church members that included aged saints and young people. 

Pastor & Mother Langham

Led by God, under the prayerful direction of Pastor Langham, a building and attached land located at 233-235 Woodrow Avenue in Dorchester was purchased on August 3, 1970.  The property was a Jewish synagogue named Congregation Hadrath Israel.  Prior to purchase by Congregation Hadrath Israel, a group called the Berean Baptist Temple owned the building.  The Church building was sold in 1919 to the Jewish worshippers and in turn was sold to Faithful Church of Christ.

         Faithful Church of Christ physically took possession of the building and grounds during the month of September.  Initially, according to the purchase and sale agreement between Hadrath Israel and Faithful Church, the Jewish group was to stay in the building to celebrate their High Holy Days during the month of October.  But, because the building was sold without informing their Rabbi, he sued for severance pay.  Since the Jewish congregation would not celebrate their Holy days with the Rabbi, and they needed a place to worship, they immediately merged with another synagogue, leaving all the furnishings, accessories and equipment on site: including chandeliers, Torah cabinet, pews, tables chairs, silverware, ladders and even the outdoor signboard for Faithful’s use.