In November 2003, after over 25 years of faithful service as a minister of music, Pastor Marvin E. McCoy began making plans to obey the voice of God and plant a church.  With the blessing Archbishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr., their spiritual father and pastor of over eighteen years, Pastor Marvin and Co-Pastor Veda McCoy held the first service of Judah Christian Center Church on Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004, at the Best Western Hotel, 5910 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, Maryland, with over 250 supporters in attendance.  The church was founded with their children Minister Marvin Myer-Allen McCoy, MIT Johntae Marvyce McCoy and one additional charter member, Elder Bobby Dunmore.  During the first six months, the church was also supported by a group of ministry friends and colleagues known as the Ministry Inception Cohort Group.

The church’s mission is to cultivate a spirit-led, bible-based environment that trains disciples for Jesus Christ and advances the Kingdom of God.  Embodying its 8-part vision that seeks to manifest Great Word, Great Worship and Great Work, the church has continued to grow and fulfilled its divine mandate to serve the people of God, the surrounding communities, the Body of Christ and the world.

 

In its early days at the hotel, the church worshipped on 2nd and 4th Sundays at 5:00 pm, and the power of God and His approval were apparent from the very beginning. God added some 20 or so members to the ministry, and within four months the church moved to a weekly worship service.  Also while there, the Youth Ministry, Praise Team, Ministerial Staff and Finance Committee were all set in place.  Weekly Bible study was held at the New Carrollton and Bowie Community Libraries. 

 

In April 2005, after just one year, the church moved to its first permanent location at 1453 Howard Road, SE, Washington, DC.  While there, God continued to add to the church as the membership grew to over 75 people.  Under Pastor and Co-Pastor McCoy’s vision and leadership, the church sponsored community outreach days, school supplies give-a-ways, outdoor worship services, evangelistic witnessing and other outreach activities.  In 2005, the Food Assistance Program was established feeding 20 or more families each month and providing Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.  Since that time, Judah has become an official S.H.A.R.E. Food Host Site and continues to provide food and other emergency assistance and referral services to members of the Suitland community and surrounding areas.  During this time, the church also appointed its first Board of Deacons and established other ministries, including the Jewels Women’s Ministry. 

 

In November 2006, God permitted the church to completely renovate a former check cashing facility into their current worship edifice now located at 6501 Suitland Road, in Suitland, Maryland.  Presently, the church has over 130 members and over 35 ministries, departments and community services.  In addition to those already in place, the work of the ministry now includes Disciples Training Institute, young girls mentoring program, reading tutoring program, children and youth ministries, GEMS Men’s Ministry, intercessory prayer ministry, dance ministry, and many more. 

 

In March 2007, the James Joseph Clanton, Jr., Memorial Scholarship was established through which the church annually awards, scholarships, tuition assistance and book awards to young people desiring to pursue higher education.  In May 2007, the church officially established Judah Cares Cooperative Group for Community Development to better facilitate its community partnerships and its efforts to empower people to make meaningful connections to God and to enhance their lives for the better.  Judah Cares offers programs such as the Eagles Wings Program for Employment and Financial Development, Operation Liberation Drug and Alcohol Addiction Assistance Program, Temple Tactics Personal Health and Fitness Program, Fresh Oil Counseling and Emotional Assistance Program, and others. 

 

In September 2009, the church sponsored its first Annual Fall Conference, which includes a concert, workshops and powerful anointed services.  In March 2010, the church held its first baptism with over 10 new and recommitted converts.  The church has also successfully completed two major upgrades to the Suitland Road location.   

 

A five-fold operational ministry with an apostolic anointing and mandate, the church also trains and equips persons for the work of ministry and the edification of the body of Christ through its School of Leadership and Development (S.O.L.D).  In June 2007, the church birthed and licensed its first son in the ministry, then Minister Gregory B. Cutler.  In April 2009, the church trained and ordained its first ecclesiastical order, including six (6) elders, five (5) deacons and one (1) minister.   Pastors Marvin and Veda McCoy are also mentors and models for persons who are called to church leadership, lay ministry and five-fold ministry. 

 

God has certainly been faithful to Pastor Marvin and Co-Pastor Veda McCoy and those who have aligned themselves with the vision of this great church.  They continue to hold fast to their confessions and the promises of God to do many more great and might things in the life of Judah Christian Center Church. 

 

To God Be the Glory!