Ephesians 6:18
Dr. Clifford C. Adams
Founding Father
While Reverend Clifford C. Adams was serving as Assistant Pastor at the Little Zion Church of God In Christ in Freeport, NY, under the tutelage of Bishop O.M. Kelly, God showed him a vision that he would be Pastoring and his ministry would be in the Jamaica Queens, NY area. He then prayerfully sought God for direction and guidance. One day a man came up to him and asked “Do you want to rent this place?” The building was a small storefront between 133rd and 134th Streets on Rockaway Blvd...and he did. God gave him the Name of the Church, therefore; the HEALING TEMPLE CHURCH was born in September 1961.
Founder's Testimony :
After being placed in the Annex of Meadowbrook Hospital, (approximately 1957) Doctors were astounded, because they had already called the family to let them know that there was nothing else they could do for Mr. Adams and He was transitioning. But when His wife arrived, Clifford Adams was standing in the window waving to his children, and waiting for her to bring his clothes so he could go home. God had Healed him and raised him up for Ministry, (4-years later) thus the name of the church was called "Healing Temple".
1st Church Anniversary of Healing Temple Church of God in Christ Photo by Amsterdam News
The first members were: Pastor Clifford C. Adams, Missionary Lizzie Adams, Carolyn Gause (Secretary) Shirley Adams, Clifford Adams, Jr., Patricia Adams, Delores Adams, Glenda Adams, Sister Mary Barbara (Piano Player/Recording Secretary) Michael & Maryann Barbara, David Gause (Treasurer), Brother Robert Adams, Levander & Ida Lucas, Joe and Queenie Miller, Mildred Adams (Sunday School Teacher) Willie Chapman (YPWW Teacher) & Brother Ham (Piano Player).
In the years of 1963 through 1968, the Lord blessed and added to the church; Peggy Boyd Miller (Church Secretary), Augustine Taylor Gillespie, & Merland Boyd McGhee (all from Tennessee). The Lord blessed these young women. They faithfully served this church until they married and moved to help build other ministries. Healing Temple continues to grow because of the Anointing of our Founding Father.
The first Church Mother was Mother Hunter of Redhook, Jamaica WI, who died shortly after being appointed. Mother Jones served until the Lord called her home. Mother Farren served until she went home to be with the Lord. And Mother Gorena Brown served until she relocated to North Carolina, but serves as our honorary mother. In 1985, the Late Pastor Adams saw the anointing on the Life of Missionary Lula Maxine Daniels and appointed her as the Church Mother, and she accepted this divine assignment of motherly leadership, and carried on the work until the Lord called her home in the year 2020 of natural causes. In the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty Two, Missionary Shirley May Boyd (daughter of our founder) was appointed our succeeding Church Mother.
In the year of 1963, First Lady Lizzie succumbed to the power of death. Although God took his first love, Elder Clifford Adams was blessed to find love again. In the year of 1964, Pastor Adams met and married Missionary Barbara Jenkins of Port Arthur Texas. God added to this union 3-girls; Renee, Stephanie, & Shawn and 1-boy; none other than Robert Archie, who is now serving as the Angel of this house.
We the Healing Temple Church Family, along with the late Superintendent Clifford Adams has made great strides since it’s inception in 1961. In 1977, the Lord enabled the very faithful few members to purchase this building and with the help of the Lord, was able to satisfy the mortgage within seven years. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! As time passed, we rallied to make improvements, and beautify this House of God. We are yet a work in progress.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
In 1988 Healing Temple became a foundation and structure for the Queens area of Churches in the Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church Of God In Christ. It served as a branch of the OMK/MKW Religious Training Institute (Dr. Clifford Adams-Director - Queens Extension).
In November 1994, The Lord called our beloved Pastor, Superintendent Clifford C. Adams, home. We truly felt a great loss. But yet the Lord upheld us. For the blessings of the Lord continued. As we may have solemnly closed the chapter of the late Dr. Clifford Cornelius Adams, his leadership and legacy lives on. We knew that we must continue where he left off. God did not say the road would be easy, but we don’t believe he brought us this far to leave us. Galatians 6:9 “let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. And Soooo...
In January, 1996, a new era began with the installation of Healing Temple’s own son, Elder Robert A. Adams, the youngest child of our founder. It was a very emotional day, as the door to the reign of (Moses) was closed and the door to the reign of (Joshua) was opened. With the guidance and prayers of the saints and the members of the Healing Temple Church Of God In Christ family, we were confident that we would make it.
With this new era came many initiatives that have added to the Church ‘such as should be saved’. Elder Robert Adams implemented the STOP THE DOOM (Destruction Of Our Men) program. This program offered breakfast to the community on Saturday Mornings from 9:00-11:00am, after school programs, computer training and karate classes. Pastor Adams reaches out to this community young and old, men and women alike of every race and welcomes them with his friendly demeanor, a trait that he inherited from his dad. Elder Robert Adams was favored in 2004 with a wife, a woman of God, Evangelist Glenda L. Ancrum (LaShaye), who is an addition to the Healing Temple Church family, as well as an asset to the Ministry.
Additional Information
Down through the years, God’s been good to us. In the year of our Lord 2015 The Dr. Frank Jerry Boyd joined the leadership team of Healing Temple and was appointed Assistant Pastor. Assistant Pastor Boyd has been instrumental in furthering this ministry. He serves as Mentor, Carpenter, Plumber, Painter, Electrician, Janitorial just as His Father-in-Law, our Founder was. The Love for the Church and God’s people has been demonstrated throughout the past six years and beyond.
Although so many have come through Healing Temple, some stayed a while, and others have moved on. Many received their healing, whether it was healing of the Mind, Body, Soul, or Spirit, they received of the Lord and journeyed on. We may not be many in number but we are mighty through God.
For those of us that are still standing (here), it is nothing but the Grace of God. For we stand on the Word of God, as we strive to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. {1-Corinthians 15:58}
Therefore, we thank God for yet another Year in the Life and Ministry of the HEALING TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.
In Loving Memory of those who have gone on……….
Dr. Clifford C. Adams;
Missionary Elizabeth Thames Adams;
Missionary Barbara Jenkins Adams;
Mother Lula Maxine Daniels;
Mother Hunter; Mother Jones; Brother Robert Adams; Brother Hamm; Sister McCleave; Deacon Robert McCleave; Sister Ida Lucas; Miss Robin Lucas; Elder Lavander Lucas; Elder Willie Campbell; Brother David Gause; Mother Theresa Farren; Sister Mattie Gerald; Sister Carolyn Gause; Brother Christopher Adams; Mother Ruth Moses; Brother Mark Gause; Sister Peggy Miller; Brother Taft Murphy; Brother John Daniels; Mother Ruth Moses; Brother Roderick Adams; Sister Shashiela Adams; Brother Alphonso Gause; and Sister Patricia Ann Adams Gore; William (Coonie) Gause; Mother M. Thomas; Mother Blanche Ancrum; Bro. Dion Chapman; Chairman Emeritus, Deacon Jack Chapman; and Bro. Cleveland Chapman.
