Miracle Deliverance Church was birth out of a revival that started by a man and woman of God who was hungry for Souls and passionate for the work of God. It all started in 1971, when a gospel tent was set up on the corner of Roosevelt Drive and Cove Boulevard. Under the Leadership and direction of Brother Joe L. Paige & Mother Vinnie B. Payge from Edison, GA who was anointed to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ without fear or favor. Demons were subject to the power of God and many people were set free, blind eyes opened, dead people were raised. There wasn’t a time when we assembled, that God didn’t show up and prove himself to the people.
After about a year of preaching and ministering to the need of the people, the Lord blessed the many faithful members to purchase the Washington Funeral Home located on this very spot May 21, 1973 from Mr. W. W. Hill. Renovations were later done and for the next 5 years and after many struggles God continued to move and many were added to the church such as should be saved.
Then in 1974, as the membership grew Brother Paige chose Brother King Evans as his assistant Pastor. It was during that time, that over 80 members were baptized in Martin Lake. This was an awesome sight to see as people stopped they’re cars along the road to see what was going on as the precious souls were coming out of the water speaking in tongues as the spirit of God gave them utterance.
About 2 years later, in 1976, the congregation was blessed by Brother Ike Mincy and his construction team to volunteer their time and build the very sanctuary that we are seated in today. The love was so strong that strangers from the street would stop to see what they could do to help with the construction. Some of the members, planted gardens and sold diners to raise money to help buy materials in support of the new building. Our own Mother Annie Will Jones and her husband purchased the first set of carpet for the floors. Even members from other churches were willing to help with building. Deacon Lige Johnson built the first pulpit and women from the original 50 Women Prayer Band purchased tile for the bathroom, vaster view and porch. It was a great blessing to see God’s people working together on this house of prayer.
Then in 1978 the house of God was finished and ready to be dedicated to the Lord. For the next few years, Brother Paige would labor as both Pastor and Apostle of Miracle Deliverance Church Inc. Although he remained the Apostle of MDC, he appointed Elder Hosea Mincy as Pastor in 1988 and Mother Annie Will Jones as the Assistant Pastor. They all worked faithfully together for seven years until Mother Jones passed away in 1995. It was after this time that Elder Walter J. Finley Sr. became the Assistant Pastor under the leadership of Elder Hosea Mincy. Due to an illness in 2002, Elder Hosea Mincy resigned as the Pastor of MDC of Panama City. The office of Pastor was passed on to Elder Walter J. Finley Sr. in July 2002, where he has appointed Willie C. Chambers as Assistant Pastor.
Now here we are today. We are still standing as a power house of faith, love, and compassion for the word of God and the people of God. Down through the years we have had many struggles, disappointment’s, and pit falls thrown in our way. But the Lord has given us a spirit of perseverance. Yes, we are overcomers and all those things that were stumbling blocks in our way, became a stepping stone to more faith, more love and more compassion.
We praise and thank God from where he has brought us from and what he has carried us through. We praise God for all the faithful prayer warriors and faithful believers of God. Who not only saw the vision but did not give up on the vision but held on to their belief in God until the completion….. We praise God for all those who refused to give up and compromise even when things got rough. We thank God we are still here and standing strong.
