Church History

History of Progressive Church - Atlanta

During the year of 1975, Elder Earnest Deas, then, Bro. Earnest Deas, was attending the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia and was still under watch care of Bishop Frank Solomon, Pastor of the Refuge Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. At Refuge, Bro. Deas was an active member, participated on the Gospel Pearls Choir, and served as President of the Armour Bearers Young People’s Union, where he instructed the young people in the word of God.

Meanwhile, Sis. Grace McGill, and Sis. Verlene Brown had traveled to Charlotte, N.C., heard the word of God, were baptized by Elder Lang Priester, and received the Holy Ghost.. They inquired if there were a Progressive Church in Atlanta; there was none. Sis. McGill wondered if there was a possibility of beginning a church in Atlanta. Bro. Deas was contacted by the Board of Bishops. A meeting was held in September of 1975 with Bro. Deas. Present at that meeting were: Bishop Joel Washington, Bishop Edward Smith, Bishop Henry Breakfield, Bishop Earnest Finkley, and Elder Lang Priester. A second meeting was held the first weekend in October, at which time it was decided that a work would begin in Atlanta, with Bro. Earnest Deas in charge, reporting to Bishop Earnest Finkley. At the second meeting, Bro. William Montgomery was also present. Bro. Montgomery decided to remain at Refuge. (He is now Bishop William Montgomery, and has a church in Decatur, Georgia). Bro. Deas let Bishop Solomon know that he would be beginning a work in Atlanta, with his blessings, he & Sis. Deas left Refuge. The second weekend in October, the first service was held in the form of Bible Class at the home of Sis.Grace McGill. Sis. McGill volunteered her home for subsequent services. Present at the first service, were Bro. & Sis. Earnest Deas, Sis. Grace McGill and her daughter, Tiffany, Sis Verlene Brown and Bro. Bennie Crawford, visitor, who was later baptized in Jesus’ name and received the Holy Ghost. Bro. Crawford is now deceased. The only charter member remaining besides, Elder & Sis. Deas, is Sis. Verlene Brown.

After heeding the call of the Lord upon his life, Bro. Deas became a licensed Minister, and was later ordained during Convocation in 1991 as Elder Earnest L. Deas, by our current Presider, Bishop Edward Smith.

The church had many tests and trials during the next 10 years. After having services in Sis. McGill’s home for over a year, we needed to find another location. Bible Classes were briefly held in the home of Minister and Sis. Deas. After which we leased a church building at 845 Harwell Street, Atlanta, Georgia.

We were advised not to purchase this property by the Board of Bishops. The owners wished to sell. The church then leased a church building at 355 Georgia Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia.   After holding services there for nearly two years, the church was sold to another group. In 1984, the church then moved to Oglethorpe Elementary School and held services there approximately a year.

The church prayed and fasted with the pastor, asking the Lord for a permanent place of worship. The real estate agent who had the property at 845 Harwell Street, told Elder Deas about a vacant church at 2857 Zane Grey Drive. Elder Deas went to look at the property, then took Sis. Deas to look at the property. We knew we didn’t have the necessary funds, but along with Elder Deas, Sis. Deas began to gather faith, that somehow, the building would be ours.

Meanwhile in 1985, Elder Deas had been teaching for over a month about FAITH. An attorney with whom Eld. Deas had been doing business, put him in touch with a black millionaire, named Dave Parrish. The attorney assured us he was a good man and may be willing to help us. Eld. & Sis. Deas met at the church, and showed it to Mr. Parrish, who had never met us, and knew nothing about us. The Lord moved on his heart. He said "I will help you get this church," and became our Mortgager. After putting a contract on the church, and the closing date was near, we still didn’t have any money. We rallied, prayed, solicited from the saints, and our family members, and on the way to the closing, the Lord set things in motion, that although we were short on funds, we found favor!!

The closing was done, and the first wedding was held on April 20, 1985, Bro. Marion & Sis. Wanda Deas. Pastor Deas had previously promised to have them a church by the date of their wedding!!

After paying Mr. Parrish faithfully, he saw something in us (THE HOLY GHOST), the Lord again moved on his heart, that if we gave him $40,000, he would knock off the remaining $30,000 still owed. We secured the financing, with the help of the National Church, Bishop Edward Smith, Presider, and paid Mr. Parrish!! What a mighty God we serve. Through the generosity of Mr. Parrish, the National Church, and the tireless giving spirit of the faithful few; we held our mortgage burning services in March, 2000.

OUR CHURCH IS NOW PAID IN FULL!! TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!!!!!

During the many years of establishing and working with the church in Atlanta, many people were baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost. Some did not want to stand on the Apostolic doctrine, and left, some remained faithful to the Lord. The Lord blessed many Elders and saints to be a help to us down through the years. After Bishop Finkley could no longer assist us, Elder Lang Priester became our District Elder. Later, Elder Joseph D. Williams and Elder Theodore Jenkins were assigned to the Atlanta church. We also received great encouragement and visits from Sis. Laura Ashe and Sis. Bessie Williams.   

Through the leadership of our pastor, Elder Earnest Deas, with the Lord as his Leader and Guide, we were able to (1) purchase our present edifice, now mortgage-free; (2) purchase furniture for the sanctuary; (3) repave the parking lot, (4) obtain furniture for all of the church offices; (5) Install new carpeting in the sanctuary; (6) remodel baptism area of the church, Pastor’s Office, Church Library, and Kitchen; (7) Paint interior and exterior of the church; (8) Put a new roof on the church; (9) Install central air-conditioning in the sanctuary; and (10) Installed and dedicated a church steeple! Later the church was able to: (1) move the library location into a new library; (2) finish the auxiliary portion of the church to include a new Sunday school room, music room, deacon’s office, pastor’s office with bathroom & shower; (3) install new stained glass windows in the sanctuary; (4) install central air & heat in the church’s basement and central air in the sanctuary; (5) purchase new desks for the Sunday school room; (6) remodel a room for the Women’s Auxiliary; and (7) and because of a very special contributor  the church was able  purchase a 2004 15-passenger  van! These are a few of the things the Lord has blessed us to accomplish. We are grateful for the faithful few willing workers and the tireless work of the Deacon, brothers, and sisters here in our local assembly, for they truly have "a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6).

We praise God for what he has done and is doing. We thank and Praise God for a pastor of GREAT faith, and a visionary!! The Lord continues to add souls to the church and the people of God are growing through the word of God!!

Please be sure to check our web-site regularly as we continue to grow, at www.progressivechurchatl.org.        [Top]