About

On January 18, 1952, Elder William M. James, Sr. was appointed to Pastor the Manhattan Tabernacle Church of God in Christ located at 3426 Chase Street (North Toledo) Toledo, Ohio.

Elder William James, Sr. and six women made up the first congregation. The names of those historical pillars of our great church were: Hazel Brooks, Stella Joy, Lillian Oliver, Ora Lee Reed, Addie Winters, and Mary Townsend. As the church’s membership increased Elder James progressed in God’s vision by securing a larger facility of worship.

In January of 1959, Elder James with a membership of approximately 28 contracted to purchase the vacant Trinity Lutheran Church and school located at 801 Vance Street. With the manifestation of the new vision the church name was changed and incorporated to St. James Holiness Church of God in Christ. The central theme and foundation was the practice of Holy Living, and Praise & Worship, which gave rise to the additional phases of the vision: The Latter Rain Ministry and Intercessory Prayer.

Making the vision plain was realized by Elder James in November of 1977, as the St. James Church family contracted to purchase approximately twenty-two acres of land on Nebraska Avenue.

The vision of Bishop William James would eventually include the name change to “The Armory Church” which would be built on this site and focus on equipping people for service in the local church, the community and in the world.

In 1984, the St. James Congregation moved to its present facilities 3319 Nebraska Avenue in Toledo, Ohio. The Church seats approximately three thousand, has a balcony, education building, gym and administrative offices.

In June of 2000, Dr. William M. James, Jr. was appointed by Bishop Chandler David Owens Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ as the Pastor of St. James “The Armory” Church, at the home going of his father, Bishop William Morgan James, Sr.

It’s probably the most important question of your life. Your destiny for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: “Are you saved?” It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die?

God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?

First, you must realize you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. “For the wages [payment] of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in a place called Hell.

But God loved you so much He gave His one & only Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “…He has made Him [Jesus, Who knew no sin] to be sin for us…that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus had to shed His blood and die to pay our sin debt. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood,” (Leviticus 17:11). And Hebrews 9:22 says that, “…without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon].” Romans 6:23 goes on to tell us, “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In Romans 10:9 we see exactly what’s required for salvation: “That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus & believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as personal Savior.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).