About Us

The beginnings of the Original Glorious Church of God in Christ, Apostolic Faith, Inc., are deeply rooted in the faith and obedience to God’s calling that Mother Lula Phillips had over 99 years ago. Because of her willingness to walk with and be directed by God, one of the most anointed Apostolic organizations exists today.

Mother Lula Phillips, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, felt a calling from God to move to Huntington, West Virginia, in approximately 1919. Mother Phillips adhered to God’s direction and moved to Huntington, with many of her family and church members following her. At this time, Mother Phillips was a member of the Triumph Church and embraced the Trinitarian doctrine. She developed an insatiable desire to share God’s word with others. Mother Phillips never overlooked an opportunity to teach the Word of God. It was quite common you would find a gathering of people under a large tree where Mother Phillips would preach and teach God’s Word. 

In approximately 1921, Richard Phillips, Mother Phillips’s husband, felt led to call a meeting to implement an organizational structure in the church. During this meeting, the attendees were instructed to develop a new name for the church body. Many names were introduced, but they were unsatisfying to the saints. Brother Stokes (the late Bishop C. H. Stokes) began to tell of his fast: he said, “While I was working in the mine,” the Lord Said, “I want a Glorious Church and was going to have it.” The Lord gave him Ephesians 5:26-27 as our foundational scripture. It was motioned and seconded that this organization is called the Glorious Church of God in Christ. Mother Phillips added, “of God in Christ.” Hence, “The Glorious Church of God in Christ” was born. 

The purpose of this organization is t spread the word of God throughout the world. Around this time, it was suggested and adopted that the Headquarters of “The Glorious Church of God in Christ” would be located in Huntington, West Virginia. The name of Jesus and the baptism by immersion were revealed in the next meeting which Mother Lula Phillips, along with 50 other saints, were baptized in the name of Jesus (1922). After this revelation, “The Glorious Church of God in Christ” became an organization of the Apostolic Faith.

On Tuesday, March 14, 1939, while reinforcing a lesson she had taught earlier, “The Channel of Truth,” Mother Lula Phillips suffered a heart attack. Following her death, General Overseer Sidney Coy Bass was made pastor of the headquarters church in Huntington, West Virginia, as well as General Bishop of the organization. The vision of the current members was enlarged.

Five years after his tenure as Pastor and General Bishop of the Glorious Church of God in Christ, Bishop S. C. Bass started a new work. 

Bishop Bass continued God’s work under the current church name, “The Glorious Church of God in Christ,” and Bishop W.O. Howard continued the organization that Mother Lula Phillips founded under a new name, “The Original Glorious Church of God in Christ of the Apostolic Faith.” Those who assisted in creating the new charter were Bishops Perry Lindsay, James Smith, David Blount, and I.W. Hamiter. 

Through Mother Phillips’ leadership and vision, the Original Glorious Church continues to grow and spread the gospel of salvation and God’s Word to everyone, being the role model for all churches and movements across the country and abroad.