 |
|
 | |  | |  |
| To return to church listings: |
Sunday 9:30- 10:30 am Sunday School
Sunday 11:00- 1:00 pm Worship Service
(Sunday Evening Service will be announced)
Tuesday 7:30- 9:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday 7:30- 9:00 pm Bible Class
Friday 7:30- 9:00 pm Evangelist Service
Additional Service Hours:
Daily Prayer 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Church Office Hours:
Monday 9:00am - 3:00pm
Tuesday thu Friday 9:00am - 12:30pm
Worship Schedule
1st Sunday – Ministers’ Dept.
2nd Sunday –Missionary & Auxiliary Dept.
3rd Sunday – Brotherhood Dept.
4th Sunday – Youth Dept.
5th Sunday – Mother’s Board
| SERVICE TIMES |
Pastor Davis was first introduced to the Apostolic faith by missionary Hazel Reed of the Indiana Avenue
Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, Illinois. During the month of April in1957, Sister Reed began to share
the gospel message to a young woman by the name of Ms. Gussie Southern, Pastor Davis’ younger sister as
they rode on a city bus. But Ms. Southern reached her destination before Sister Reed could finish her
message. So Sister Reed asked Ms. Southern for her address so that she may finish her discourse the next
day. But Ms. Southern didn’t want to be bothered and intentionally gave Sister Reed an erroneous address.
When Sister Reed visited the address the next day expecting Ms. Southern, Mrs. Davis greeted her instead.
Although both realized Ms. Southern’ mix-up, they found it a blessing in disguise! It turned out that Mrs.
Davis had received the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues several years earlier (1953) as
she prayed with her older sister, Mrs. Hallie Simms nicknamed “Honey,” for their mother. Mrs. Davis was the
only member of her church that spoke in tongues. She attended the Union Missionary Baptist Church in
Clarksville Mississippi. Her pastor encouraged her to leave the congregation and find another where its
members spoke in tongues as she did. So God sent Sister Reed to show her the way. Sister Davis was thus
very excited and went with Sister Reed to receive the Baptism in Jesus’ Name. She began to witness to her
family and 50 of her relatives were baptized in the name of Jesus and filled with the Holy Ghost within three
months. Her sister Ms. Southern was also baptized and is now an Evangelist and First Lady of the Grace
Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, Illinois.
Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, Illinois. During the month of April in1957, Sister Reed began to share
the gospel message to a young woman by the name of Ms. Gussie Southern, Pastor Davis’ younger sister as
they rode on a city bus. But Ms. Southern reached her destination before Sister Reed could finish her
message. So Sister Reed asked Ms. Southern for her address so that she may finish her discourse the next
day. But Ms. Southern didn’t want to be bothered and intentionally gave Sister Reed an erroneous address.
When Sister Reed visited the address the next day expecting Ms. Southern, Mrs. Davis greeted her instead.
Although both realized Ms. Southern’ mix-up, they found it a blessing in disguise! It turned out that Mrs.
Davis had received the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues several years earlier (1953) as
she prayed with her older sister, Mrs. Hallie Simms nicknamed “Honey,” for their mother. Mrs. Davis was the
only member of her church that spoke in tongues. She attended the Union Missionary Baptist Church in
Clarksville Mississippi. Her pastor encouraged her to leave the congregation and find another where its
members spoke in tongues as she did. So God sent Sister Reed to show her the way. Sister Davis was thus
very excited and went with Sister Reed to receive the Baptism in Jesus’ Name. She began to witness to her
family and 50 of her relatives were baptized in the name of Jesus and filled with the Holy Ghost within three
months. Her sister Ms. Southern was also baptized and is now an Evangelist and First Lady of the Grace
Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, Illinois.
God spoke to Sister Davis’ heart in 1960 to start a work for Him at Hopkins Park, Illinois. Understanding the importance of unquestioned obedience to the Lord, she was
fully aware of what she was leaving behind. Pastor Davis knew that there would be obstacles ahead, she acknowledged her calling and stepped out on the faith of Abraham,
the father of faith (Genesis 12:1-3). She obtained permission from her husband and her pastor Elder Odee Akins and made haste to her “promised land.” She asserts that
God gave her the name, “House of Prayer” for this new Christian work on “The Hill.” Her church consisted mainly of children which some said that God had forgotten. Yet
she continued this work for the Lord and held down a full time job in Chicago, Illinois. Community residents visited with increasing frequency as they were drawn by the
activity and the demonstration of the power of God on “The Hill.” Attendees of the Illinois District Council once referred to Pastor Davis as the “Pied Piper” as she came with
all of her little children. When asked by some what she hoped to accomplish with such a young congregation, her immediate reply was always, “their salvation.” In reference
to her ministry, Pastor Davis stated that God’s word would not return “void“ (Isaiah 55:11).
Pastor Davis was ordained during the 1968 International Convention of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World in Los Angeles, California. Sister Naomi Talley, the only
House of Prayer member who witnessed her ordination excitingly expressed that during the ceremony the Holy Ghost literally lifted Pastor Davis up from the floor! By this
time in her ministry Pastor Davis had experienced many other demonstrations of Holy Ghost power that solidified and assured her confidence in the Lord. She also knew the
power of Satan and his cunning devices. Encounters with him caused her to become quite skillful in spiritual warfare. The House of Prayer moved to its second home at 570
North Cottage Street Kankakee, Illinois. God continued to add souls daily such as should be saved. The children continued to grow in number and in God. The next move
came in 1972 when the church relocated to 1500 East Willow in Kankakee. The children of the “Pied Piper” were now adult males and females, some with families of their
own. They had been taught how to fast and pray, how to petition God, and they grew into mighty spiritual soldiers for the Lord. At one time, there were fifteen ministers on
the pulpit.
The Lord gave Pastor Davis a vision of palm trees in 1978. Later that year she visited Ft Myers, Florida and saw the palm tree and said,” this is the vision!” House of Prayer
Apostolic Church #4 was originated with service being held in the kitchen of Mother Hattie Marie Bush of Ft. Myers, Florida in August of that year. Mother Bush testified
how long she had asked God to send her some help. Pastor Davis’ first mentor, Mother Della Bradley was gone to be with the Lord but God sent Pastor Davis another
mentor, Mother Hattie Bush. Pastor Davis had a mild case of asthma which caused a shortness of breath periodically. She realized that the now adult spiritual warriors could
be engaged to come and help dig out and build spiritual work in Florida. The appointed and anointed saints said goodbye to their families and friends and headed to Florida,
the Sunshine State. Now, after twenty-nine years, House of Prayer #4 is thriving and is in the process of building a new edifice. Pastor Davis encourages her flock with these
words,” God really does answer prayer and he will keep every promise made to His children.”
In 1991, the House of Prayer #1 relocated to its present address at 1309 East Court Street Kankakee, Illinois. God has continued to bless the church under the leadership of
Pastor Ella M. Davis. She has coined the phrase with authority as the psalmist David said,”I have been young and now am old and I have never seen the righteous forsaken
nor their seed begging bread.” Pastor Davis has done what some only dared to dream of. She came, she saw, and she conquered.
fully aware of what she was leaving behind. Pastor Davis knew that there would be obstacles ahead, she acknowledged her calling and stepped out on the faith of Abraham,
the father of faith (Genesis 12:1-3). She obtained permission from her husband and her pastor Elder Odee Akins and made haste to her “promised land.” She asserts that
God gave her the name, “House of Prayer” for this new Christian work on “The Hill.” Her church consisted mainly of children which some said that God had forgotten. Yet
she continued this work for the Lord and held down a full time job in Chicago, Illinois. Community residents visited with increasing frequency as they were drawn by the
activity and the demonstration of the power of God on “The Hill.” Attendees of the Illinois District Council once referred to Pastor Davis as the “Pied Piper” as she came with
all of her little children. When asked by some what she hoped to accomplish with such a young congregation, her immediate reply was always, “their salvation.” In reference
to her ministry, Pastor Davis stated that God’s word would not return “void“ (Isaiah 55:11).
Pastor Davis was ordained during the 1968 International Convention of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World in Los Angeles, California. Sister Naomi Talley, the only
House of Prayer member who witnessed her ordination excitingly expressed that during the ceremony the Holy Ghost literally lifted Pastor Davis up from the floor! By this
time in her ministry Pastor Davis had experienced many other demonstrations of Holy Ghost power that solidified and assured her confidence in the Lord. She also knew the
power of Satan and his cunning devices. Encounters with him caused her to become quite skillful in spiritual warfare. The House of Prayer moved to its second home at 570
North Cottage Street Kankakee, Illinois. God continued to add souls daily such as should be saved. The children continued to grow in number and in God. The next move
came in 1972 when the church relocated to 1500 East Willow in Kankakee. The children of the “Pied Piper” were now adult males and females, some with families of their
own. They had been taught how to fast and pray, how to petition God, and they grew into mighty spiritual soldiers for the Lord. At one time, there were fifteen ministers on
the pulpit.
The Lord gave Pastor Davis a vision of palm trees in 1978. Later that year she visited Ft Myers, Florida and saw the palm tree and said,” this is the vision!” House of Prayer
Apostolic Church #4 was originated with service being held in the kitchen of Mother Hattie Marie Bush of Ft. Myers, Florida in August of that year. Mother Bush testified
how long she had asked God to send her some help. Pastor Davis’ first mentor, Mother Della Bradley was gone to be with the Lord but God sent Pastor Davis another
mentor, Mother Hattie Bush. Pastor Davis had a mild case of asthma which caused a shortness of breath periodically. She realized that the now adult spiritual warriors could
be engaged to come and help dig out and build spiritual work in Florida. The appointed and anointed saints said goodbye to their families and friends and headed to Florida,
the Sunshine State. Now, after twenty-nine years, House of Prayer #4 is thriving and is in the process of building a new edifice. Pastor Davis encourages her flock with these
words,” God really does answer prayer and he will keep every promise made to His children.”
In 1991, the House of Prayer #1 relocated to its present address at 1309 East Court Street Kankakee, Illinois. God has continued to bless the church under the leadership of
Pastor Ella M. Davis. She has coined the phrase with authority as the psalmist David said,”I have been young and now am old and I have never seen the righteous forsaken
nor their seed begging bread.” Pastor Davis has done what some only dared to dream of. She came, she saw, and she conquered.
 |
 | |  |