Faith Temple Complex COGIC

Faith Temple has humble beginnings. Established in 1948, in Hayti, MO under the direction of Pastor Dock Wright and Bishop Columbus Williams. This church first began as a brush harbor. Prior to the building of the brush harbor, Elder and Evangelist Wright’s home served as the first church meeting place. At that time, the church was called Hayti Heights Church Of God In Christ. This church has rich

history of Holy Ghost filled men of God leading the sheep of this congregation. In 1953, Elder King James Gillespie was installed to the pastorate of the church after the homegoing of Elder Dock Wright. The church continued to grow spiritually and naturally. In 1965, Elder John Lofton was appointed pastor of the church after Pastor Gillespie was called home for his eternal reward. Pastor Lofton envisioned a new sanctuary. Though in 1968, in the natural, the task of building a new place of worship was implausible due to the lack of finances; Pastor Lofton was obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit for a new sanctuary. The name of the new church was changed from Hayti Heights COGIC to Faith Temple and adopted a new theme song “We’ve Come This Far By Faith”. In 1993, Elder Lofton, due to health reasons, retired for the pastorate of Faith Temple. As directed by the late Bishop W. Wesley Sanders, Administrative Asst. Courtney Sanders, SR was given the charge to lead the people of Faith Temple. After a short time at Faith Temple, Pastor Sanders remodeled the church and constructed a multi-purpose hall. Under the leadership of Supt Sanders, we have our present sanctuary. Our current place of worship, the Deacon John Ethan Mack Sanctuary was dedicated in September 2001. This facility will seat approximately 550-600 people. Under construction on the campus is the Elder John Lofton Family Life Center. Tenative date of completion is September 2012. Administrative Asst. Sanders, the shepherd of Faith Temple Complex COGIC, envisions this church as a 24 hour outreach center for the growing needs, demands and concerns of this community. Thus we have the all-encompassing theme “EXTENDING A HELPING HAND TO A DYING WORLD.” As we continue to stay in the will of God and “catch ‘hold” to the vision that is given to the man of God, all things are possible if we only believe.