Our Story continued (Page 2)
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The church went to the District Convention in Miami. Reverend F.A. Spence was sent to pastor the church.
God’s people decided to build a building in which to worship. Of course, the devil was ready to attack as always. Some Port Salerno citizens started circulating a petition to prohibit the construction of a church building. Sister McKinney heard of their plans and told Brother Jesse Anderson. Brother Anderson being led by the Holy Spirit of God knew that the best thing to do was to secure a building permit before the petition could be filed. Sister McKinney gave Brother Anderson one dollar ($1.00) to purchase the permit. He went to Mrs. Witfield, the City Clerk and purchased the permit for twenty-five cents. It was customary for the board to meet before issuing a building permit, but Brother Anderson was given the permit that very day. The board finally met, the citizens’ petition was there, but the permit had already been granted. The petitioners could only say, “That Jesse Anderson!”
Brother Anderson served as a business manager for the group. He was somewhat younger than the rest, extremely active and kept things moving. Satan lost another round; however, he used another tactic that is the building would have to be started by a certain period of time.
These were the years of Depression; there was no work and no money. People were on welfare; however, God stepped in and labor and materials were donated freely. All the brothers and sisters in the church worked hard and well together to complete the twenty by thirty feet building. The building was dedicated by Bishop George Wallace. Bishop Elijah Johnson delivered the dedicatory sermon.
Verbal account contributed by the late Bishop Jesse H. Anderson, Sr., and the late Mother Anna E. Mackey
Recorded and written by Mrs. Marian M. Carpenter (updated and rewritten for the website by Chandler M. Josie)