The Founders

The Late Honorable Bishop
Lucian D. Booker, Sr., D.D., Ph.D.

First Lady Emeritus
Mother Mary Booker

The scripture says "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine".  I Timothy 5:17

When I was asked to do this profile of Bishop Lucian Dell Booker Sr., I was quite honored as well as extremely nervous.  I began to think, what is a profile?  Number one, it is a biography or information about his life.  I thought secondly, it could be information on his characteristics, such as his strong belief in giving, faith, deliverance, fasting, and many other things.  Thirdly, the old policeman rose up and I asked about his modus operandi or his method of operation.  Finally, the historian in me said we have a very important person that has made history.

Bishop Lucian Dell Booker Sr. was born on May 30, 1946 in Waco, Madison County, Kentucky.  Bishop Booker was one of nine children.  His mother was Mrs. Lena Mae Booker and his father was Mr. Odell Booker, both of who are deceased.

Bishop grew up on Kenton Street in Lexington, Kentucky.  In October 1964, Bishop married Mary Shannon.  The Bookers had four children, Sherry Jean Booker (deceased), Lucrecia Booker-Weathers, Lucian Dell Booker Jr., and Dena Booker-Dunn.  The Bishop and his wife are also raising a granddaughter, Sharelle Booker.

Bishop Booker sought the Lord in secret for over five years before being baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ under the Pastorate of the late District Elder Robert Lewis in 1966.  Bishop Booker served as Associate Pastor under Pastor Anna Davis at Christ Temple New Assembly and under the late District Elder Robert Lewis at the Church of God In Jesus Name.

In October 1977, at the time Elder Booker, was led by the Lord to open his own church.  The Lord even gave him the name for the church: Soul Deliverance Tabernacle.  For over 24 years Bishop Booker has labored for the deliverance of souls from alcohol, drugs, and many other demonic spirits.  Even during his sickness where he himself was dying, Bishop continued to labor in the vineyard, laying hands and praying for the deliverance of others.  I myself am a witness of this great man of God.  When I came into the church in 1979, I was an alcoholic, drug abuser, and had a bunch of those "bad boys" on me and in me.  There are many members here today that can testify of the deliverance brought in their lives under the Pastorate of Bishop Booker.

Bishop is a strong believer in the laying on of hands and many of us received the Holy Ghost through this process.

Bishop is a man of faith and a very strong believer in prayer.  He is a very strong believer in fasting, having fasted three days a week for an entire year and never missing a fast.  Matthew 17:21 says, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting".  Through his prayer and fasting, many in this congregation have witnessed many moves of God.  We witnessed a man who was confined to a wheel chair get up, and that man walked out of the church on his own in Wheelwright, Kentucky.  We have had healings and deliverance from many different sicknesses and diseases.  My wife is a witness.  I found her one morning on the floor in our home, not breathing.  After taking her to the hospital, the doctors said she needed blood transfusions.  My wife refused the transfusions and was told by the doctors what could possibly happen without them.  My Bishop prayed for her that morning and through his prayers and faith and my wife's faith, God did the transfusions and they released her from the hospital that evening.  There are many others that can tell of similar situations.

My Bishop has a very simple modus operandi or method of operation.  These are prayer, fasting, reading the Word, and living Holy.  His method of operation is following that Ancient Landmark as mentioned in the Bible.  His method of operation is practicing the Fruits of the Spirit as given in Galatians 5:22 and in Ephesians 5:9; as follows, "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth".  His method of operation is preaching the unadulterated truth.  His method of operation is doing the will of the Lord.

Bishop, History may not remember you as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, or the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, but you will be a member of God's Hall of Fame in that New Jerusalem.  One great man in history said, "Some see things as they are and say why, I see things that never were, and say why not".  Your vision years ago birthed this great church, Greater Soul Deliverance.  Many probably thought you would fail, many thought things would never come to pass, but with prayer and God's help, your vision has been brought to pass.  George Washington is said to be the father of this great nation.  Bishop Booker, you are the father of this great congregation and will always be remembered as it's founder.  Many of us came from one parent homes or loss our parents at an early age.  By society, we have been labeled dysfunctional because of our backgrounds, but because of you, we have become functional in our society and in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And finally Bishop, what is our legacy to this world?  Many of us may never become famous or rich.  Many of us may never be in the history books for things that we do, but because of your teaching, preaching, and example, you have instilled in this congregation a legacy that will be eternal, and that legacy that we as a congregation want to be able to say on that Great Day, "I PLEASED GOD"!!!!

THANK YOU BISHOP FOR YOUR SACRIFICES, YOUR ADVICE, YOUR TEACHING, YOUR PREACHING, AND THE MANY THINGS YOU HAVE DONE.  THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, MAY GOD BLESS AND HEAVEN SMILE UPON YOU.

Having fought the good fight of faith and having ran his course, he was called home to be with the Lord on February 29, 2008.  You were a friend, a brother, a father, and our Pastor, and you will be greatly missed!

First Lady Mary Shannon Booker was born to the late Walter and Polly Shannon. As a small child she had many experiences that caused her to know God is ever present. There's a bible passage that states, "...I formed you ...l knew you in your mother's womb."

She was baptized at the age of 10. The late Sis. Bates and Sis. Porter were instrumental in developing her love for the word of God. She often states that the late Sis. Dorothy Turner mentored her and influenced her tremendously at youth services and assisted her in attendance of church councils. Also during her teen years, the late District Elder Robert Lewis' first wife was very ill and she was often used to sit with her while the pastor attended the church services.

At the age of 15, God healed her of a life threatening tumor. She often recalls the time when she was told that the tumor had taken root in her jawbone. During her stay in the hospital visitors looked hopeless. She remembers working to straighten her face and mouth from the damage the surgery left. She believes this was a turning point in her healing faith being developed. She states that experience made her vow within herself that she would trust God for healing. She married Bishop Lucian Booker, October 10, 1964. Lady Booker had suffered an issue of blood in her teens that carried into her early years of marriage. When she attempted to have children, she discovered the issue had damaged her reproductive system. She went to a specialist seeking to resolve the problem. She was told by several doctors her ovaries were hard as a rock and she would never have children. Thus, began the journey of mountain moving faith, faith that comes from God. She had to believe God's word (the thing that is impossible with man is possible with God and all things are possible to them that believe). She began to pray and ask God for healing. The Lord spoke and said, "I see the seed of thy son." Lady Booker went through several miscarriages before God's word proved sure. She often states, "I had an inner drive in me to prove God could do it. The fact I got pregnant was a miracle in itself. I knew God could do the completed work." She suffered many things, but at the end her faith moved mountains. To that union they were blessed with four children, the late Sherry Booker Harris, Lucretia Booker Weathers, Lucian Dell Booker, Jr., and Dena Booker Dunn. She also has four grandchildren.

Bishop Booker recalls that when he was called to Pastor, First Lady Booker made a statement to him, "Just make sure God called you." I believe she knew that it was going to take a surety of mind to withstand the journey ahead. In the early years of the church it was needful for her to agree to sale her brand-new home for the work of the ministry. The Pastor told her that in about six years they could move. During the sale of the new home, they moved from new to very old. The church had purchased property on Ash Street. This property became a church in the front and family dwelling in the back. The first lady states, "If God says he will do it, it will come to pass." When the six years were up Bishop Booker saw no evidence for the ability to move. The congregation was small and mostly teens and young adults. The young adults were not established and had very little income. First Lady Booker told him, "If we step out on God, he will do it and if we don't try, we will never know what he is able to do."

The Pastor went out by her word and sought another dwelling. He returned with a "praise report" a new condominium, $300 down and $300 a month. This was just the beginning of her manifestation of a woman of God with the belief of taking hold of possessing the land.

As the church prospered, we moved from the Ash Street location to the present location. The First Lady, again, had the belief God could move them up a little higher in their living situation.

She recalls that the Pastor said they were not ready to move. She went out with the church realtor, Evangeline Johnson and found a new home on the same day the new church was signed for. The home on Beulah Park was a non-qualifying loan. Again, she had faith that moved the mountain. After being on Beulah Park a while, she was ready to do some remodeling. Bishop said he would rather move than remodel. He didn't know that First Lady Booker would take him at his word. Again, she and Evangeline Johnson was on a mission. Their new home on Bellmeade was found immediately. The owners were desiring to sell quickly and under the actual value of the home. Later on, the First Lady desired a pool. Bishop kept promising and promising to get it. The First Lady was out walking one day and said, "I am going to get me a pool."  WELL, GUESS WHAT?!! A check came in the mail - with her name on it - with enough money to get a pool and more.

First Lady Mary Booker is a former employee of Eastern State Hospital. She has done foster-care in her home. She has a host of former teens that stayed in her home that considers her Mother Booker. She is an educator and a liberator. She is a true believer that all bad habits can be broken and all that are bound can be set free. She skillfully teaches the word of God to the congregation as the church Sunday School teacher, counselor, and president of the women's department. She is an ordained teacher and has a Master's Degree in Religious Counseling. She is a firm believer that if God said it, it shall come to pass. She also believes that God is bound by his word.   There is no failure - no shortage - you can rely on Him.