The Church of God by Faith, began in 1947 by Mother Idella Jones in her home, where she also operated the Charity Nursing Home. In the beginning, she used her front room for a special “room of prayer.” The Lord then gave her a vision of a church building, where souls would come in and be saved.
While she managed to continue to operate the nursing home, she and her sister, Mother Francis Holmes, by faith, started to bring her vision to reality by putting up a tent across the street where Souls could come to be saved. Ethel Walters, Beatrice Davis (now Elders) and Johnnie Lee Williams Granddaughter (now Pastor) joined her.
The Church was built in 1948 on that site. The Lord has added as he has seen fit. Many souls were saved and many different Ministries grew from this Church.
After Mother Jones went to Columbus, Ga. to organize and Pastor another church, in 1967, Elder James Paris pastored this church for the next six years. He left to Evangelize. Elder Walter Ross pastored for the following six years.
Pastor Johnnie Lee Williams was called to be Pastor in 1979, and for over thirty years has carried on the work. The Lord gave her a vision that has now come into focus seven years later, (God’s Complete Number). The Lord has abundantly blessed and added to the Church. We have grown from about 25 members to over 500. We have grown from only three or four men in the church to a number which include almost as many active dedicated men as women. God has truly blessed us.
Much appreciation is given to Deacon Major Flowers, his wife Joyce and their children for the hard work and dedication for more than 25 years of service before moving back to Alabama.
Many, many thanks to Elder Wayne Wells for the dedicated service he gave in doing all the designing and planning for our beautiful building, here at All Nations Church of God by Faith EPC located at 3000 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL.
Special honor to Bishop James Williams, consecrated, full of faith, and by the Pastors side all the way. The Lord has called and ordained him as well. they are now pastoring together as Pastor and Co Pastor. God has also blessed us with a host of other Elders, Ministers, Evangelists, Deacons, Missionaries, and Members. Praise the Lord.
On May 14, 1994 a ground breaking ceremony took place which the Lord wonderfully blessed, with a ten day tent meeting and a banquet at the Tiera Verde Resort.
Our prayer is that All Nations Church of God by Faith EPC will be a safe harbor for men and women to run to and be saved, healed, delivered and set free.
MOTHER IDELLA BARTON JONES
FOUNDER 1948
A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Idella Barton Jones was born August 21, 1886 in Aikens, South Carolina. Idella was an enterprising young woman who was never afraid of hard work. She also didn’t believe in working for anyone else so she later established her own business.
She is remembered most when she opened her home as the city’s first black nursing home. Mother Idella took in the elderly and sick to care for them in her own home and have a daily prayer and worship service with them. At that time she was led to use her home to draw others to the Lord. Not only was she the founder of All Nations Church of God by Faith in St. Petersburg, FL but also helped to organize and pastor three other churches.
Mother Idella was the grandmother of Pastor Johnnie Lee Williams.