OUR FOUNDER

Apostle and Prophet, Dr. Samuel Demetrius James, II, was pre-ordained from his mother’s womb a chosen vessel and Messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Called to preach the Gospel in the late 1940’s, he delivered his first sermon at the Emerson Street Church of Good in Christ, Montgomery, Alabama, in revival with Elder Abraham Isaac Jacob Swanson. (The pastor, Elder Harris, is presently Alabama State Bishop of the Churches of God in Christ and residing in Huntsville, Alabama). In 1947, a serpent was prepared to take the Apostle’s life before this great ministry could come forth but God, through Mother James, intervened just in time to snatch Samuel away by his shirt-tail from the venomous strike. Guardian Angels were with him all his life.

Being ordained of God, the Apostle and Prophet demonstrated great wisdom from an early age, as did the Lord Jesus Christ before him. He was reading the Bible by age three; he evangelized in Cleveland, Ohio at age four; He was in the third grade by age seven; He was licensed to preach at the same age and began traveling as an evangelist on Trailway and Greyhound buses alone; He graduated from Brown’s Elementary School at age 10. He graduated from Loveless Junior High School at age 13. He graduated from George Washington Carver High School at age 16; and went on to complete higher studies at Alabama State University, Hampton University-Virginia, Auburn University, Miracle Valley Bible College, etc. He was already doing student teaching at age 19. Over the years, he was head band percussionist at Loveless Junior High School. He was Senior High School Chaplain, a member of the Male Glee Club, Gentleman’s Club, high school track team, choir and Student Government Association. At the college level, he was initiated into the Beta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in 1963. He led baritone-bass in the college choir and was vice-president of the Pan Hellenic Council. Furthermore, he was a chemical laboratory assistant to Dr. Curtis McDonald during which time their research in Spectrophotometry led to the development of the polyester fiber. He also completed graduate studies in geology and was a fellow of the National Science Foundation. Photographs in the Department of Archives and other memorabilia recall his academic years of laboratory research; teaching secondary school teachers for degree upgrades; teaching physics, chemistry and mathematics; and developing science fairs to display student research potential.

 

Spiritually, Apostle James became a proficient child-evangelist by the age 12 under the tutorship of Prince Fred L. Davis of Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ who taught hundreds of aspiring young ministers of many religious organizations. Apostle James pastored his first church by appointment in Greenville, Alabama [chief apostle] a at age 17 and was ordained at age 18 by Bishop J. E. Townsend with whom he also traveled, was taught in the prophetic ways, and brought to the Junior Bishopric. He was ordained a Prophet at age 19.

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By 1969, he had built two churches, instituted the International Youth Congress, and served on the Board of Bishops and Elders, assisted in many ordinations, worked with Evangelist A. A. Allen and preached throughout the United States. When the Lord began to move on him in the 1960’s, ordaining him a prophet and showing him many open visions, little did he know that Bishop C. H. Mason, Bishop J. E. Townsend, Bishop D. C. Rice, Bishop W.T. Phillips and Evangelist A. A. Allen who inspired him….all would leave the scene and that the torch would be passed to him to carry the Gospel of the kingdom to all nations.

He was dedicated to the work, serving faithfully as the Senior Bishop of Evangelistic Pentecostal Churches (Worldwide), Inc. He was the Chief Executive Officer of the S.D. James Evangelistic Association, Incorporated; the President of Maranatha Bible College & Ministries Training Institute; Chief Minister of the Alpha B’Eta Omega Messianic Brotherhood; the CEO of Jerusalem Campground, Bethlehem Ephratah Ranch Operations; President of Bio-Nutritional Supplements, Ltd.; President of S.D. James Enterprises; Editor-in-Chief of Open Door Publications/Outreach Magazine; and author of over 200 books, transcripts & periodicals. He formerly sat on the Advisory Board of the African American Leadership Conference at Troy University; Troy, Alabama.

He traveled extensively to many countries, such as: England, Jordan, Holland, Greece, Israel Germany, South Africa, Zambia, France, Syria, Austria, Turkey, St. Maarten Netherlands Antilles, Bahamas, Jamaica, Italy, Barbados, Trinidad/Tobago, Antigua, Mexico, British Honduras, Montserrat, Anquila, St. Lucia, Egypt, U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Canada, South America, Zimbabwe, & St. Kitts/Nevis declaring the Gospel of the Kingdom to all nations.

 

Chief Apostle Dr. S.D. James gained Heavenly Wings on Sunday, November 15, 2020.