Church History

Soul Deliverance Tabernacle Church of the Apostolic Faith was founded in 1979 by Bishop Lucian D. Booker Sr. and Mother Mary Booker on Pine Street.  To bring God's vision to light, the Pastor and First Lady agreed to sacrifice and sell their brand new home for the work of the ministry.

As the membership increased, the church worked throughout the city in all directions, carrying the Gospel message through passing out tracks and having street meetings.  The services consisted of music, choirs, singers, testimonies, and preaching.  The church often had all night prayer and fasted regularly 3-5 days and nights each week.  The Bible states that God calls the young because they are strong, and the church was full of young singles; most joined the church around the age of twenty.

Within a five-year span, the number of God's Grace, souls were continually being added to the church.  It was needful to move to 426 Ash Street on the west-end of town, a building that had been a daycare owned by another church.  After the purchase of the building, male and female worked side by side in the remodeling.  The building had a foyer entrance, and the sanctuary, with wooden pews, hard floors, and windows covered with colorful stick-on paper, seated about 150 people.  There was one bathroom (with one toilet) for the men and one bathroom (with one toilet) for the women.

During the twelfth year, the Lord brought the vision to full focus as he gave Elder Booker directions to purchase another building through a bond issue.  After the purchase of the new 300 seat building, during the spring of 1989, the church became The Greater Soul Deliverance Tabernacle Church.

During the church's time in this building, the building has seen many modifications.  Once in the chapel of the church, the baptismal pool was brought into the sanctuary and eventually a new pool was installed behind the choir stand.  The sound system was upgraded and eventually, a permanent solution was installed.  The stage was modified and now sports a more open look.  It was also at the present location that the Road to Deliverance ministry was started.  This ministry helps addicts and alcoholics, as well as people with bad habits, kick the habit, and become stronger in the Lord.

With changes comes differences of opinions, and with that came a split in 2006.  However, the remaining saints pushed forward.  In a move to better structure the church, the chapel was turned into a bank of offices for the Pastor, the Assistant Pastor, and the Finance Team.  The former office for the Pastor was made into the main office and the former office for the Finance Team was made into Mother Booker's office.  The upper level of the kitchen and dining area became a larger kitchen, store, and board room.  Our transportation ministry also saw a huge boost with the acquisition of a school bus and a coach bus.

The changes and the split was enough for the church leadership to consider and put into effect a name change.  Thus, Greater Soul Deliverance Tabernacle Church became The New Greater Soul Deliverance Tabernacle Ministries.  A new board was formed and the new church became incorporated on July 2, 2007.

More importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ was delivered effectively, and souls were saved.  More than ever before, the church is positioned to reach and teach souls about the gospel of Jesus Christ, to let the world know that there is a better way in Christ Jesus!

In 2008, the church met with a bittersweet moment with the passing of the founder, Bishop Booker.  While many mourned the loss, as believers, many rejoiced because they knew that Bishop was now in a better place.  His work in the vineyard, his clean lifestyle rooted in holiness, and his biblically based preach words and teachings has assured him a place in heaven.  And just as God prophesied, the pastoral duties passed to his son, Elder Lucian D. Booker, Jr.

The New Greater Soul Deliverance Tabernacle Church has been proven by God to be a place where the Spirit of the Lord is, where God speaks to His people, and where His people are free to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  Until the time of the rapture, this church will continue in the path that God has assigned to it, to be a safe haven where people can come and hear the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, uncut and unadulterated.

God Bless.