Christ Temple Church
Christ Temple Church
Pastor Julia Smith
1974-2005
Suffragan Bishop Melvin Campbell
2006-Present
Elder Aubrey Hursey
Founder
CHURCH HISTORY
CHURCH HISTORY
Christ Temple Pentecostal Church was founded by Elder Aubrey E. Hursey. They fellowshipped at 608 West Taylor Street, a building that was constructed in 1954. On Sunday April 19th, 1964, some ten years later, the congregation numbering some 80 members would celebrate the completion of payments on a $25,000 mortgage on the church. Members of the church board consisted of brother Cephas Ross, Elder Aubrey Hursey, Oscar Waddell and A.T Smith. Bishop Nathaniel K. long would officiate the mortgage burning ceremony.
As Elder Hursey's health began to decline, he asked Evangelist Julia M. Smith and Elder Sylvester Smith of Lockport, IL to succeed him as Pastor. After much prayer, it was agreed that Evangelist Julia M. Smith would be Pastor and Elder Sylvester Smith would be the assistant Pastor of Christ Temple Pentecostal Church. In 1974, Evangelist Julia M. Smith was installed as Pastor and became the first female Pastor in the city of Bloomington. The church was then affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies Of The World.
Pastor Julia Smith allowed many young preachers to embrace the pulpit of the church helping them to fine tune their ministry gifts. The membership remained strong as Christ Temple was a staple in the community. After prayer and consideration Pastor Julia Smith decided to move the church affiliation to the Pentecostal Churches of The Apostolic Faith Inc, where it continues to remain. Pastor Smith's health began to decline and she found it difficult to continue serving as Pastor. In April 2005, Bishop J.E. Moore released Minister Melvin L. Campbell to travel to Bloomington to assist Pastor Julia Smith, his grandmother. Three months later Minister Campbell was asked to become the Assistant Pastor where he served in the preaching and teaching of the word of God. On September 25th, 2005, Minister Melvin L. Campbell was installed as Pastor of Christ Temple Pentecostal Church by Bishop D. Rayford Bell, then Diocesan Bishop of the Illinois State Council.
In August 2012, under the leadership of Pastor Campbell, the congregation was blessed to purchase a 13,500 square foot facility located at 202 East Locust Street, Bloomington, IL where they currently worship. In 2015, at the PCAF National convention in Jacksonville, FL, at the appointment Diocesan Bishop Jerry L. Jones, Elder Campbell was elevated to District Elder as he now serves District 4. He was recently elevated to Suffragan Bishop in July 2022.