Our Early Beginnings (1950s)
During the 1950’s Evangelist Mother Janie Mae Mitchell was running revivals on the North Carolina District, mainly in Dublin, North Carolina. The Lord was manifesting Himself greatly and many souls were saved. Among those individuals blessed in the revivals were several young men from Lumberton, namely George Cromartie, Isaiah Richardson, James Griffin, and Daniel Washington. The Lord called George Cromartie into the ministry.
Prayer, Sacrifice, and the Call to Build
Elder David Barnwell, who was the Pastor at David’s Chapel in Lagoon, NC, was residing in Lumberton. He and Elder James Griffin (then Deacon Griffin) had been anointed to pray for the sick. A Prayer Band was organized and Sunday morning Sunrise Services were held in the homes of the Saints, and in the homes of anyone who would open their doors for the service. At the end of Sunrise Service, the Lumberton members would drive to Dublin for worship service, carrying children and food for the day-long services. These faithful, dedicated members endured the highways until land was purchased in the E. M. Johnson subdivision and construction was completed on this church. Meanwhile, Minister George Cromartie opened a Mission on Kinlaw Street where he had two members: Lee and Savannah Smith. The Mission was closed when Minister Cromartie was ordained as an Elder and he was appointed as Pastor of St. Mary First Born Church in Russellville, SC. The Saints from Lumberton, though still members at Dublin, would accompany him as often as possible.
The Church Is Built (1963)
On January 5, 1963, a great awakening occurred - - work began on the new church! The men of the church worked tirelessly on the building in the evenings and on Saturdays. Everyone worked together and helped out in any area that was needed in the name of LOVE. Elder Barnwell and his family also helped with the construction and purchased a window for the sanctuary, as did the other families. Deacon Griffin hauled all of the wood for the church on a trailer he made from spare parts. Deacon Isaiah Richardson worked as a long-distance truck driver and could not be here to help with a lot of the construction, so he and his family donated the materials to construct the roof. With the help of the Lord, the church was completed and the churches of the North Carolina District of the First Born Church of the Living God gathered here for Dedicatory Services on Sunday, September 8, 1963. Elder Curtis P. Townsend, Presiding Elder of the North Carolina District, delivered the Dedicatory message and consecrated the building.
The Founding Members
The founding congregation was small, and consisted of eight adults and eleven children, namely George and Bertha Cromartie and their children Joyce and Clarence; Isaiah and Geneva Richardson, and their children Micah, Wayne, and Victor; James and Jeanette Griffin, and their children Judy and Pam; and Daniel and Syvalla Washington and their children Dan Jr., Linda, Sandra, and Aliesa.
Growth of the Congregation
The congregation began to grow and several other families joined, including Sadie Howell and her children, Linda and John; Hugh and Alice Vample and their children, Hugh Jr., Phyllis, Larry, Ellie, Sabrina, Cedrick, and Valerie; Earlie J. Killens and her family; Newman and Ethel Howell; Will and Josephine Ford (Mother Ford was our first Church Mother); and Bessie T. Smith and her family (Missionary Smith was our first Church Missionary). The congregation continued to grow, and the Lord manifested His blessings upon this church even the more.
Loss, Leadership, and Unity (1979)
The years that followed provided many opportunities for evangelizing and strengthening the church that resulted in Sister Syvalla Washington being called into the ministry. She was scheduled to do her Initial Message on March 4, 1979. In the meantime, on February 2, 1979 Elder George Cromartie was called from Labor to Reward. In his passing, the Lord directed Sister Washington to lead the congregation in a 21-day fast and tarry service. As a result, the congregation felt a strong bond and had a greater desire to remain together.
Pastoral Leadership Transitions
Elder James Griffin (who was now residing in Fayetteville, NC), agreed to serve as our Pastor and was appointed by Presiding Elder C. P. Townsend and Diocese Bishop James Potter. Elder Griffin served our congregation from March 1979 until September 1984. During the 1984 Diocese Assembly, Minister Franklin L. Graham of Bolton, NC was appointed as our Pastor. He was ordained an Elder in November 1985, and served our congregation until October 6, 1991.
Pastor Syvalla Washington’s Historic Leadership
Evangelist Syvalla Washington was placed in charge of the church in October 1991, and was officially named Pastor by Presiding Elder Ned Graham and Diocese Bishop James Potter at the Bishops, Elders, and Laymen’s Council in Elizabethtown, NC on January 25, 1992. During the October 1995 Diocese Assembly in Cincinnati, Ohio, Pastor Washington was ordained as a Minister of the First Born Church of the Living, Inc., making her the first woman in the 82-year history of the Church to receive such an honorable distinction! On January 19, 2003, Pastor Washington was elevated to Overseer by Apostle R. L. Garner, Founder and President of the First Pentecostal Church of Deliverance, Inc. Over 35 years of serving God and man culminated in her receiving an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Judah Bible Ministry on October 15, 2006.
Early Building Improvements
Since the original structure was erected in 1963, the following changes were made over the years:
Installed restrooms and remodeled the interior
Added a dining room at the back of the church
Covered our existing pews
Installed ceiling fans
Purchased a Hammond organ, and
Installed central heating and air conditioning
Major Renovations and Expansions (1992–1995)
In January 1992, construction began on the renovation of the sanctuary to include:
Fellowship Hall erected on west-side of sanctuary on newly acquired land
- Dining room removed
- Choir loft and sanctuary enlarged
- Wooden floor removed and replaced with concrete, and
- New pews and carpet installed
The Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary renovations were dedicated on May 24, 1992 by Diocese Bishop Cornell Sweet. Under the leadership of Pastor Washington, the church continued to experience growth that once again led to renovations of our sanctuary in December 1995 that included:
- Sanctuary enlarged that doubled its seating capacity
- Addition of two classrooms
- Upstairs children’s nursery
- Church Office
- Pastor’s Study with private restroom
- Baptism Room with pool and additional seating for dining purposes
- Bricked the exterior, including sanctuary, fellowship hall and baptism room, and
- Erected a steeple.
Stewardship, Giving, and Vision
Well-disciplined by her peers to read the Word and preach It with power, Pastor Washington continued to lead the church with courage. One of her deep convictions is in giving. Following her example, the church emphasized the principle of Tithing, and began to participate actively in that activity. Her own involvement encourages church members to participate in new programs. As a result of its growth, the church again saw the need to improve its facilities.
Reva Road Expansion and Cemetery Vision
A search for cemetery land initiated in 1994 was completed in 1998 with the purchase of 30-plus acres on Reva Road near Fairmont, NC. The Lord allowed us to purchase the land in March 1998, and hire a surveyor to design the cemetery plots and individual graves. Great foresight was exhibited by our Deacons for future growth, and a building was erected on the property to be utilized for funerals, weddings, formal dinners, workshops/conferences, meetings, etc. It was a vision from which the church now prospers and consists of:
[existing list unchanged]
Reva Lake Park and Community Outreach
After much anticipation and preparation, the building was dedicated on July 11, 1999 with a week of praise services July 12 – 17. In 2000, construction began on Reva Lake Park and was completed in 2002 on the following:
- [existing list unchanged]
- Due to a change in insurance regulations, the park was closed to public access in 2005.
Housing and Property Expansion
In 2010, a mobile home was purchased and placed on the property on Reva Road. This home is rented to families who need shelter and are willing to provide security for the complex.
In 2001, the property of Ms. Sarah McNeill at 101 Lessane Street was purchased by the Church…
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Establishing Our Identity (2002)
In January 2002, after intense, fervent prayer, the Pastor, Deacons and members of Cromartie Temple First Born Church voted to sever ties with the First Born Church of the Living God, Inc. and establish our own identity…
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Hurricane Matthew and Restoration (2016–2017)
On Saturday, October 8, 2016, Hurricane Matthew struck the southeast coast of North Carolina…
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The COVID-19 Pandemic and Faithful Adaptation
On March 15, 2020, the entire world had been inundated with the COVID-19 outbreak…
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Giving God All the Glory
Above and beyond the buildings, programs and land expansions, Cromartie Temple members have experienced the joy of reaching lost souls for Christ, and we realize that without God we could not have done these things over the years. God has truly blessed us, and we give all the glory and honor to Him!
