THE FOUNDER
 

In 1949, Brother James A. Sheridan accepted Christ as his personal Savior in Amite, Louisiana. A year later,
Brother Sheridan confessed to receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost and under the leadership of Overseer
Lizard, accepted the call to the ministry and was licensed as a Minister in the Church of God in Christ. Minister
James A. Sheridan married Sister Margaret Woolridge on June 15, 1951 and in 1953, he relocated his wife and
two children to Detroit, Michigan.
 

In Detroit, their family expanded and three more children were born to the couple. Minister Sheridan and his
family joined a small mission that was affiliated with the Church of God in Christ. After the Pastor of the
mission moved to Chicago, the Sheridan family begin to attend a church in their neighbor, Bailey Temple
Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Bishop John S. Bailey.
 

Late one night in 1958, Minister James A. Sheridan said the Lord was talking to him and told him to start
praying. He was troubled because he did not know just what was expected of him. However, he obeyed the
voice of the Lord. It was on the night of October 27, 1958, that Minister Sheridan opened his home at 4600
McKinley Street for prayer. His invitation said, “Whosoever will, let him come.” Seven people accepted his
invitation. The Lord met and blessed them in the prayer service and they had a wonderful time.
 

Thank God for the souls who were there at the birthing of Holy Ghost Temple Church. Those present were
Sister Annie Vining, Brother Frank Vining, Brother Eugene Vining, Sister Beverly Vining, Sister Gail Lewis,
Sister Muriel Love, Sister Lenora Glasses, his wife, Sister Margaret Sheridan and his five children: Joyce,
Patricia, Gary, Kassandra and Carolyn. Sister Margaret Sheridan closed the first meeting by saying, “Thank
God for all the souls and may God add a blessing upon us.”
 

God moved quickly in 1958, in that year, seven more families who had also been members of the small mission
that had closed, showed up for Sunday Service at Minister Sheridan’s home on McKinley Street. Holy Ghost
Temple’s membership was growing. It was also in 1958 that Minister James A. Sheridan joined his church with
the Northeast Michigan State COGIC where he was ordained as an Elder by the late

Bishop Cleveland L. Anderson, Sr..
 

Holy Ghost Temple COGIC’s first church building was located at 6503 St. Aubin. The congregation moved
several times after leaving St Aubin to East Canfield, to Davidson and Dequindre, to Labelle Street in Highland
Park and finally to the current location, 809 Oakman Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan.. In February, 1998, the Superintendent James A. Sheridan had a vision to help others and he formed the True
Gospel of Christ Fellowship of which he became the Overseer.
 

In February, 2009, God led Overseer James A. Sheridan to rejoin the Church of God in Christ, under the
leadership of the late Bishop Clifford C. Dunlap in the Michigan Great Lakes First Jurisdiction.
In June, 2015, Overseer James A. Sheridan made the decision to step-down as Pastor of Holy Ghost Temple
Church and was emeritized. He passed the mantle on to his son-in-law, Elder Willie B. Sims and continued to
serve under Pastor Sims until he entered the Church Triumph in May, 2020.

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