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Time to Celebrate our Leadership
A Brief History...The story of Greater St. James starts in 1977, with then Superintendent James Woodson Markham.
Leading into 1977, Superintendent Markham had been baptized in the Holy Ghost in 1930 in Wilson, Arkansas, became an Elder and was called to the ministry in 1932. He served the Lord and His people together with his wife, Sister Jettye Markham. After following the Lord's lead and becoming Pastor James Markham in 1940, he and his wife served in ministry in North Chicago through prayer, fasting, neighborhood outreach, and various forms of ministry. In 1945, he was made Superintendent of the North Shore District of Northern Illinois in the Church of God in Christ. This is how we arrive to 1977. In 1977, after three years of developing a vision for a new church, Superintendent James Markham had a church built and completed at 2131 Wright Ave, where the saints continue to gather to this very day. In 1990, Superintendent Markham suffered the loss of his wife, Mother Jettye Markham, and after serving in the pastorate faithfully for 45 years, Presiding Bishop L.H. Ford consecrated him to the office of Auxiliary Bishop in the Church of God in Christ. He eventually went on to be with the Lord on March 13, 1992. On Thursday, March 19, 1992, the Lord led Bishop L. H. Ford to consecrate the young, but God-fearing Elder Torrance A. Markham, Bishop Markham's grandson, as the new pastor of Greater St. James Temple. With their first son on the way, he and his wife of five months, Missionary Marilyn L. Markham, agreed to follow the Lord's leading in their lives. |
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Under Pastor Torrance A. Markham’s leadership, the congregation embarked upon remodeling projects and land acquisitions that have totaled over $300,000.00. He has been committed to building upon the rich, spiritual foundation of his predecessor and grandfather, the late Bishop James W. Markham, and innovatively moving the congregation forward. Many have come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and numerous purposeful ministries have been established to nurture and develop the growing congregation. Through Pastor Markham’s vision to reach mankind for Jesus Christ, the congregation has been a dedicated sponsor of churches thru the Department of Missions of the Church of God in Christ in Santiago, Chile; Johannesburg, South Africa; and an orphanage in the Congo.
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Greater St. James Temple has partnered with various community organizations throughout the past 29 years, including:
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In 2001, Pastor Markham also organized a nonprofit, faith-based corporation named the Greater St. James Community Development Corporation (GSJCDC) of North Chicago, IL, which has awarded financial scholarships to high school and college students in Lake County, established a capital project fund on behalf of the North Chicago Community High School, partnered with Alice Sample's "Make A Child Smile" Foundation, and united with Tabitha Community Services of Chicago.
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Pastor and Lady Markham have served Greater St. James Temple and the surrounding community with 30 years of love, prayer, diligence, resources, and more. During these 30 years, we have been blessed to see their family grow into leaders with lovely personalities: Madelyn, Torrance Jr., James (Marisol), Andrew (Leia), Maridith, Maranda, Mallory, Malynda, Mariyah, and Theodore. They also have three grandchildren, Frederic, Marlyze, and Carrson. The Markham Family has served Greater St. James in everything from the Men's and Women's Departments, to the Music Department, Youth Department, Hospitality, as nurses and ushers, under various committees, and in capacities at the Regional and Jurisdictional levels. We are blessed to celebrate an anointed and talented family that has gone to such great lengths to serve the people of the Lord and has willingly seen and met the needs of the people around them. Let us celebrate the Lord's blessing and favor on their lives!
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