Blakely United Church of God In Christ : The Restored House District Headquarters

The Blakely United Church of God in Christ is under the United Churches of God in Christ where Bishop Spencer Lackey is the Presiding Bishop. We are under the Georgia Northeast Jurisdiction where Bishop Aaron B. Lackey, Sr. is our Presiding Bishop. The church was started in May 1989 at an outside prayer meeting by Deacon John Ross and District Supervisor Maria Ross, they were joined by Elder Joe Price after God had shown District Supervisor Maria R. Stapleton a vision of the church. She did not want to Pastor the church so after talking with Bishop and Mother Carter she talked with Elder Price and Missionary Almeta Carter and they drove down to Blakely with her to a few prayer meetings. This was a 3 hour drive from their home in Atlanta. Elder Price continued to come and Pastored the church for 3 months before leaving to answer his call to go to Covington, Ga. where he started the Center For Hope UCOGIC. District Supervisor Maria Ross Stapleton was then left to continue the church and Pastor it herself or stop. After much prayer and conviction she decided to obey God and thus began the weekly drives every week from Atlanta 215 miles one way to Blakely to build up the Ministry here in Blakely. For seven years District Supervisor Maria Ross Stapleton and her husband Deacon John Ross and Larissa their daughter drove to Blakely, Ga. After the death of her husband, Pastor suffered a major heart attack and was diagnoised with lupus, diabetes, Rhumatoid Arthritis, and hig blood pressure again she faced a major decision to either give up the church or move to Blakely. This time the decision was easier to make she could not give up the church or walk out on the souls God had sent to her, so she packed up moved out of her home left automobiles, gave away furniture and moved to Blakely. God sent into her life Deacon Jacob (Frog) Stapleton after their marriage Deacon Stapleton and the men of the church built the building that now houses the church. Thanks be to God for those loving brothers and sisters in Christ that helped, driving all the way to Blakely often to help get this work off the ground, Bishop Dewy Long, Elder Leon Wright, Elder Frankie Roberts, Missionary Alberta Edumdson, Missionary Almeta Carter and to the Ross Family, Mrs. Helen Ross especially who opened up the doors of her home to house some that stayed overnight here to help. Thanks to Ms. Alice Stapleton and Family that have been there from day one. Thanks for our loving Founders of the United Church Of God In Christ Bishop Marshall Carter and Mother Lillie Carter and the vision that included Blakely, Georgia. District Supervisor Maria R. Stapleton was the first woman Pastor to start a church from under the Lynwood Park Church and Bishop and Mother Carter. Now, she made history in the 2005 Georgia Northeast Jurisdictional meeting by becoming the first woman to have her own district! She was also named 2nd Administrative Assistant of GA Northeast Women Dept.

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Congratulations to District Supervisor Maria L. Stapleton for becoming the first woman to oversee her own district (The Newly formed Restored House District)!........ Friday July 8, 2005 (7:30 PM)-- Prophetess Debra Cranfield of Potter's House Ministries will be the speaker at the Blakely UCOGIC for Pastor Stapleton's Appreciation......... Saturday July 9, 2005 (1:00 PM)-- Bishop Aaron B. Lackey Sr. (Presiding Prelate of the Georgia Northeast Jurisdiction of the UCOGIC) will be baptizing anyone in the jursdiction who have not been baptized or wanting to be baptized at the Temple of Prayer UCOGIC (Fairburn, GA)....... Saturday July 9, 2005 (6:00 PM)-- Elder Eddie Stapleton will be the speaker at Pastor Wooden church in Colquitt, GA......................... Wednesday-Friday July 13-15, 2005 (4:00 PM- 7:00 PM)-- Vacation Bible School at "The Shop" located at 139 North Main Street (Blakely, GA).........Sunday July 17, 2005 (4:00 PM)-- The church has been invited to Carter's Temple UCOGIC in Lagrange, GA. District Supervisor Maria Stapleton will be receiving a reward in memory of Bishop Marshall Carter............Monday through Saturday, July 18-23, 2005 - 25th Annual Holy Convocation of the United Churches of God in Christ. Presiding Bishop Spencer Lackey and Mother Nornell Lackey, Convocation Hosts..........Sunday July 24, 2005 (10:30 AM)-- Women's Conference at Apostle Doctrine UCOGIC in Dickey, GA (District Missionary Carrie Garrett--Host Pastor).................Saturday July 30, 2005-- Appreciation banquet for District Supervisor Maria Stapleton. Banquet starts at 1:00 P.M. at the Blakely Civic Center. Tickets are $15.00 for members; $25.00 for non-members...............Sunday July 31, 2005-- District Fellowship at one of our district churches: Apostles' Doctrine United Church of God in Christ (Dickey, GA) at 12:00 P.M.-- District Missionary Carrie Garrett- Host Pastor.................................Saturday August 6, 2005 (1:00 PM)-- Supt. Bobby Hopkins (Supt. of the Lywood Park District of the Georgia Northeast Jurisdiction of the UCOGIC) will be the speaker at the Blakely UCOGIC for Pastor Stapleton's Appreciation..................Saturday August 13, 2005 (1:00 PM)-- Bishop Aaron B. Lackey Sr. (Presiding Prelate of the Georgia Northeast Jurisdiction of the UCOGIC) will be the speaker at the Blakely UCOGIC for Pastor Stapleton's Appreciation......................Thursday August 18, 2005 (7:30 PM)-- Apostle Al Harris will be the speaker at the Blakely UCOGIC for Pastor Stapleton's Appreciation........ Any Auxillary wanting to sponsor a program for 2005 Pastor's Appreciation, please see Evangelist Rubye Shorter, Minister Bobby Wimberly, Sister Elizabeth Baxter, or Evangelist Brenda Mosely as soon as possible!