House of God Miracle Temple, Apostolic Faith

The House of God, Miracle Temple (hereafter referred to as “The Ministry”) is a bible-based faith believing church that promotes Christianity and a lifestyle that is reflective of the teachings of the Holy Bible. The Ministry meets the state’s definition of an eleemosynary organization and as such will seek to maintain the trust of its members, its community, and the general public. The Ministry will prepare its members and other Christians within the sphere of its influence for successful Christian living by teaching the Word of God and through appropriate and effective programs and services. The Ministry will serve as a house of prayer, worship, fellowship, comfort, teaching and salvation for all Christians through a variety of communication and technological means. The Ministry will foster as well as support successful Christian living by adhering to the teachings of; the Christian bible, a customized and perpetually revised Church Model Plan (to the extent that it supports successful Christian living) and by engaging in a variety of religious and other wholesome activities and exercises.

The House of God Miracle Temple was founded in 1966. It began in Miami, Florida, under the humble but fervent leadership of Anna Stevenson, who held the role of founder and overseer of the ministry. Many of us referred to her more fondly as Mother Stevenson. Mother Stevenson gave spiritual birth to more than thirty churches, established in southeastern states, like Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. A host of bishops, overseers, pastors, evangelists, ministers, and missionaries have sprung forth from this ministry.
Mother Stevenson is a well-known woman of God and her memories continue to live within our hearts. May God continue to bless the House of God Miracle Temple of the Apostolic Faith.

Pastoral History

Bishop and Missionary Oree met in the fall of 1975 through a college friend.  At the time our bishop was attending the College of Charleston and Missionary Oree was at the Baptist College at Charleston (now Southern University).   Bishop Oree had just moved down from Miami, Florida after living there for about ten years.  Early on during those ten years he invited to a holiness church and got saved and filled with the Holy Ghost at the age of 18.  He also served in the military for two years and lived and served on the Gospel field under Mother Dorothy Williams for another two years in Ideal, Georgia.  Then after ten years of being away the Lord allowed him to come back home to start a church in Adams Run, SC. 

Missionary Oree grew up in Dale, SC.  In 1973 she started college life at Baptist College at Charleston, SC.  During her first year she got saved and filled with the Holy Ghost.  She went home for a spring break vacation and arrived home the night her mom and had gotten saved and filled with the Holy Ghost.  Her mom came home testifying and glorifying God.  She made up in her mind that Jesus was the answer to many to her internal fears and concerns.  She didn’t say anything to anyone, but went back to college with a mind made up to serve the Lord.  That she did.  She let go of what she knew wasn’t right and begin to do what she knew was godly and the Lord gave her some good saints to help her along the way.  Eventually that’s what led her to connect with Minister Oree at the time.  They met in a revival where she and a lot of other college girls were lifting up the name of Jesus and glorifying God.

Bishop and Missionary were married in August of 1976 and have five wonderful children, who are now grown and living prosperous lives of their own.  They both have master’s degrees and continue to pursue higher education.  Bishop Oree is currently working on his dissertation and will soon acquire his Ph D from Capella University.  This puts him at the status of becoming a psychologist.  In 2009 both Bishop and Assistant Pastor Oree received their Honorary Doctoral Degrees from Grace Hill Bible College.  Shortly afterward Bishop Oree initiated the start of Grace Hill Bible College at the Adams Run Civic Center, in North Charleston across from Trident Technical College, and in Miami, Florida.  Our first graduates were nine students who received an Associate Degree in Christian Education on July of 2010.  The college is continuing to prepare students for ministry and understanding of the Word.  In April 2011, our Bishop helped to initiate another branch of Grace Hill Bible College in Tampa, Florida under the leadership of Dr. Betty Oats.  Assistant Pastor Oree was also led to start an outreach in 2010 called P.A.T.T., (Passing Along the Torch).  For the past two years she has headed a three days/two night’s women’s conference in Savannah, Georgia, where many women came together attending workshops on women’s issues while taking a moment to rejuvenate themselves.

The ministry has brought forth several pastors, many ministers of the gospel, helped to bring numerous souls to the Lord, and has served as an inspiration to a number of others who are carrying on ministry.  Our church is basically debt free and the Lord has blessed us to launch out in the community as a hub for programs that benefit everyone.  For example Adams Run Civic Center serves as a site for political and secular services that benefit our community.  With the leadership of our Pastors were have experienced many opportunities to break ground in many areas we would not have attempted on our own.  We have traveled far and near to be a blessing to others and we continue to strive for excellence in ministry.

Our pastor became the Bishop of the House of God, Miracle Temple, Apostolic, Inc. a few years (around 2003/04), after the founder and overseer Mother Anna Stevenson deceased in 2001.  Under his leadership the work continues to grow.  We have moved from 10 to 12 churches to now 24 to 26 churches in the movement.  A number of structural agendas have been put in place and he continues to serve as an inspiration and spiritual leader to the churches.  He is on the post of duty and the churches continue to stay in his heart and spirit.  His support is not lip service, but he travels extensively and keeps contact with the churches via phone, mail, and e-mail.  Missionary Oree has always been a constant support at his side and shares the burden of the ministry he carries.  Now that the Lord as retired her from public school teaching she is more available for His service.  In June 2011, after 20 years of teaching, she let it go as the Lord instructed.  Together, our pastors continue to faithfully serve the ministry of House of God, Miracle Temple and have done so for the past 36 years.