Pentecostal Bridegroom Church began in 1933, with 9 members. Those first members were: Sister Alice Black, Brother James Bouldin, Sister Eva Cooke, Sister Hezebel Garnett, Sister Ella Jackson, Brother Robert Nichols, Sister Thelma Price, Sister Eva Richardson and Sister Carrie Smallwood. Their first church meeting was at the home of Sister Garnett. Soon, they moved into the storefront church at 1504 South 20th Street, and there they conducted daily prayer meetings to seek God's guidance for the next step.
Elder Stephen W. Bishop became the first pastor of the fledgling church. Under the pastorate of Elder Bishop, the first person to be baptized in Jesus' Name was Sister Willie Mae Caruthers, and the first member to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost was Sister Dora Hilton (Mayfield), who would become the wife of the third pastor of the church. Under Elder Bishop's pastorate, the congregation grew and the church relocated to 1439 South 20th Street. Elder Stephen Bishop served faithfully until he went home to be with the Lord in March, 1939. Just a few weeks before his death, Elder Bishop told the congregation that he had just preached his last sermon, and later that evening he took ill and never recovered. Elder Bishop pastored Pentecostal Bridegroom from 1933-1939.
In the spring of 1940, the church moved to 834 Lombard Street. Under Elder Nichols leadership the church flourished with his teaching, love for the saints, and warnings to guard against sin and adhere to holiness. During his 26 years as pastor, he was elevated to District Elder and ultimately to Bishop in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. Bishop Nichols fell asleep in Jesus in January, 1965.
Brother George Mayfield was baptized in Jesus' Name and received the gift of the Holy Ghost as a young man in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After he enlisted in the armed services, he came to Philadelphia and in 1947, became a member of Pentecostal Bridegroom Church. After Bishop Nichols' death in 1965, Elder Mayfield was installed as his successor to the pastorate in 1966. Elder Mayfield served faithfully, and was known for his kindness, and warnings to take heed to God's holy Word.
Often, District Elder Mayfield preached to the saints as tears streamed from his eyes while he besought us to heed the words of Jesus in Luke 13, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" District Elder Mayfield served as pastor for 30 years until his retirement in August, 1985. He departed this life in December, 1985.
In August, 1985, Elder Ronald L. Young relocated his family from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and became the 4th pastor of Pentecostal Bridegroom Church. It was with much prayer that the saints of God chose Elder Young from among the other outstanding candidates to become our pastor.
Elder Young served as vice-president of the Pentecostal Young Peoples' Union (1967-1969) and as president (1969-1973), as General Secretary of the P.A.W., Inc. and was consecrated to the Bishopric in 1987. Bishop Young served as an associate minister in Indianapolis, Indiana at Grace Apostolic Church, where Bishop Morris E. Golder was his pastor. He pastored in Greencastle, Indiana before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he served as assistant pastor to District Elder Black in Tulsa, Oklahoma at Grace Church. Bishop also founded and pastored a church in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Since 1985, Bishop has served Pentecostal Bridegroom Temple as a faithful pastor and leader. Both Bishop and Lady Young are known for their humility and consistency - always the same no matter where they are or whatever the setting.
Under Bishop Young's very capable administration, the church moved from the building at 834 Lombard to the complex at 6901 Woodland Ave, where a school, a homeless shelter and senior boarding home. The church now is located at 6425 Wister Street, in the Germantown section of the city. Bishop Young has been assisted by Elder Kevin M. Young, who succeeded him as the 5th Pastor in September, 2012, as well as other associate pastors and ministers.
Pentecostal Bridegroom has a rich heritage of leaders and a whole host of members past and present - many have gone home to be with Jesus, but each has left an indelible mark upon the ministry.
Elder Stephen W. Bishop became the first pastor of the fledgling church. Under the pastorate of Elder Bishop, the first person to be baptized in Jesus' Name was Sister Willie Mae Caruthers, and the first member to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost was Sister Dora Hilton (Mayfield), who would become the wife of the third pastor of the church. Under Elder Bishop's pastorate, the congregation grew and the church relocated to 1439 South 20th Street. Elder Stephen Bishop served faithfully until he went home to be with the Lord in March, 1939. Just a few weeks before his death, Elder Bishop told the congregation that he had just preached his last sermon, and later that evening he took ill and never recovered. Elder Bishop pastored Pentecostal Bridegroom from 1933-1939.
In the spring of 1940, the church moved to 834 Lombard Street. Under Elder Nichols leadership the church flourished with his teaching, love for the saints, and warnings to guard against sin and adhere to holiness. During his 26 years as pastor, he was elevated to District Elder and ultimately to Bishop in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. Bishop Nichols fell asleep in Jesus in January, 1965.
Brother George Mayfield was baptized in Jesus' Name and received the gift of the Holy Ghost as a young man in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After he enlisted in the armed services, he came to Philadelphia and in 1947, became a member of Pentecostal Bridegroom Church. After Bishop Nichols' death in 1965, Elder Mayfield was installed as his successor to the pastorate in 1966. Elder Mayfield served faithfully, and was known for his kindness, and warnings to take heed to God's holy Word.
Often, District Elder Mayfield preached to the saints as tears streamed from his eyes while he besought us to heed the words of Jesus in Luke 13, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" District Elder Mayfield served as pastor for 30 years until his retirement in August, 1985. He departed this life in December, 1985.
In August, 1985, Elder Ronald L. Young relocated his family from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and became the 4th pastor of Pentecostal Bridegroom Church. It was with much prayer that the saints of God chose Elder Young from among the other outstanding candidates to become our pastor.
Elder Young served as vice-president of the Pentecostal Young Peoples' Union (1967-1969) and as president (1969-1973), as General Secretary of the P.A.W., Inc. and was consecrated to the Bishopric in 1987. Bishop Young served as an associate minister in Indianapolis, Indiana at Grace Apostolic Church, where Bishop Morris E. Golder was his pastor. He pastored in Greencastle, Indiana before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he served as assistant pastor to District Elder Black in Tulsa, Oklahoma at Grace Church. Bishop also founded and pastored a church in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Since 1985, Bishop has served Pentecostal Bridegroom Temple as a faithful pastor and leader. Both Bishop and Lady Young are known for their humility and consistency - always the same no matter where they are or whatever the setting.
Under Bishop Young's very capable administration, the church moved from the building at 834 Lombard to the complex at 6901 Woodland Ave, where a school, a homeless shelter and senior boarding home. The church now is located at 6425 Wister Street, in the Germantown section of the city. Bishop Young has been assisted by Elder Kevin M. Young, who succeeded him as the 5th Pastor in September, 2012, as well as other associate pastors and ministers.
Pentecostal Bridegroom has a rich heritage of leaders and a whole host of members past and present - many have gone home to be with Jesus, but each has left an indelible mark upon the ministry.
