Hurt, an Associate Minister of the New Baptist Church which at that time was under the leadership of Albert J. The first church edifice was located at 1846 Collington Avenue. The first service was scheduled for the following Sunday. Hurt learned that the building would not be available for lease. That church service was completely full with standing room only. Elsie Gee, a close friend of Rev. Hur
t came up with the name Garden of Prayer. Hurt was pleased and decided to name the church the Garden of Prayer Baptist Church. The church moved to 1700 Madison Street and this became our worship ground for a few years. In 1984 the church moved to 1727 Carswell Street. Shortly after the move, Rev. Hurt became ill. In 1986 the Lord sent Rev. Melvin Tuggle II to assist Rev. Hurt at the Garden of Prayer. The church experienced a rebirth. Tuggle became a faithful assistant and began serving with Rev. Hurt to carry out the mission of the church. In 1987, Rev. Hurt decided he would retire from his position as pastor. He asked Rev. Melvin Tuggle II if he would consider becoming the Pastor of the Garden of Prayer. October 1987 Rev. Melvin B. Tuggle II was installed as Pastor of the Garden of Prayer. In 1990, Rev. Tuggle received a vision from God to build a church. In August 1992, after much prayer and sacrifice, the Garden of Prayer moved into its current edifice at 1148 Homestead Street. Currently, the Garden of Prayer Baptist Church campus consists of the Church Building, Melvin B. Tuggle II Fellowship Hall, Administration Building, Calvin Williams Education Center and the Reginald McTeer Sr. Youth and Community Outreach Building. There are over fifty (50) active ministries and a Ministerial Staff consisting, an Assistant Pastor and twenty-nine (29) Associate Ministers. On December 25, 2011, Rev. Dr. Melvin B. Tuggle II, Pastor became Bishop-Elect and on Easter Sunday April 8, 2012 he will be consecrated as Bishop.
