It all began in the heart of God; however, in September 1957, a little more than one year after arriving in the Northwest, Elder T.L. Westbrook, his wife, Lois, and their six children started the New Jerusalem Mission , that later became the New Jerusalem Church of God In Christ. The first location was a storefront at 21st & “G” Street in the Hilltop Area of Tacoma. The congregation remained there for four years. There are growth and prosperity for the small congregation. Several families became members of the congregation; souls were saved, blessed and revived.
The congregation then relocated to 14th & “M” Street where it would stay from 1961 until 1974. This was an exciting time for the congregation because we purchased surrounding lots of with houses on them. Many souls were added to the church during these thirteen years. Many of the new members came through childbirth from the many young families that were attracted to this thriving ministry. The services were anointed to the point that persons form other churches in town would leave their services and come to New Jerusalem to experience the outpouring of God’s Spirit. The outpouring of the God’s Spirit was so great and the congregation continued to grow with the addition of many families from the military, extended families of the existing members and youth from the community. The choir blossomed, the departments and auxiliaries grew. The ministers, missionaries and deacons boards grew to unprecedented proportions and the radio broadcast reached many souls. Elder T.L. Westbrook was promoted to Supt. Westbrook and the President of the State Youth Department. He preached under such great anointing that the congregation grew to the point that required us to pursue a larger facility.
God blessed us to locate a church building through a land developer and the doors were opened for us to purchase the 11th and “J” Street property with a church building and parsonage. The youth choir under the direction of “Sonny” Byers became the “New Jerusalem Singers” and cut an album – “Walk Out On The Water”. The ministry continued to grow through the newly opened daycare and the bus ministry. The radio broadcast continues to reach listeners in Tacoma and surrounding communities. There were many great preachers, revivals and teachers that nourished the congregation that fostered the continued growth. It was at this location that our young people began calling our church “New J”.
In three short years, it was time for the congregation to make another move but in addition it was time for God to make another move, not only with the congregation but it was time for another move for our pastor. In 1997, after the demise of Bishop R.E. Altheimer, the jurisdictional pastors voted unanimously for Elder T.L. Westbrook to be appointed as “Bishop” of the State of Washington Jurisdiction - Church Of God In Christ. To God be the Glory! In response to the heartfelt desire of our pastor to house additional ministries, the congregation rallied to purchase another church property.
With the help of God and the inspiration of our leader, the New Jerusalem congregation accomplished the seemingly impossible according to the critics. We did what they said no Black Congregation or group could do – we purchased our current property, 11th & Grant Avenue from the Central Baptist Church. They all said that it could not be done but God and our leader made the difference. Bishop and Mother made the greatest sacrifice for this great and marvelous accomplishment and the local and state ministries soared to new heights. New ministries were born: the New Jerusalem Christian Academy (New Jerusalem Christian School as of 2009 -10 school term), the Sunrise Daycare, Feeding and Clothing Program for the Needy, and SafeHaven Development Association, a non-profit community service agency that is responsible for the first new development in many years and built the Commonwealth Housing Development on the first property that the church purchased on 14th and M Streets. That development is yet thriving with beautiful 3 bedroom apartments for the low-income families.
Our motto is: “We are the Church in the Heart of the City with the City at Heart.”
In 2009, our building was featured in the Tacoma Historic Sacred Places magazine as one of Tacoma’s sacred spaces of worship sponsored by the Tacoma Historical Society.
On February 5, 2012, our beloved Mother Westbrook went home to be with the Lord and Bishop Westbrook made his transition to receive his eternal reward from this life on October 3, 2013.
Dr. Dennis McCain was appointed as pastor on April 12, 2014 by Bishop Jerry Macklin 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church Of God in Christ, and officially installed on November 29, 2014 by the Washington State Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop Leo C. Brown, Jr.
The congregation then relocated to 14th & “M” Street where it would stay from 1961 until 1974. This was an exciting time for the congregation because we purchased surrounding lots of with houses on them. Many souls were added to the church during these thirteen years. Many of the new members came through childbirth from the many young families that were attracted to this thriving ministry. The services were anointed to the point that persons form other churches in town would leave their services and come to New Jerusalem to experience the outpouring of God’s Spirit. The outpouring of the God’s Spirit was so great and the congregation continued to grow with the addition of many families from the military, extended families of the existing members and youth from the community. The choir blossomed, the departments and auxiliaries grew. The ministers, missionaries and deacons boards grew to unprecedented proportions and the radio broadcast reached many souls. Elder T.L. Westbrook was promoted to Supt. Westbrook and the President of the State Youth Department. He preached under such great anointing that the congregation grew to the point that required us to pursue a larger facility.
God blessed us to locate a church building through a land developer and the doors were opened for us to purchase the 11th and “J” Street property with a church building and parsonage. The youth choir under the direction of “Sonny” Byers became the “New Jerusalem Singers” and cut an album – “Walk Out On The Water”. The ministry continued to grow through the newly opened daycare and the bus ministry. The radio broadcast continues to reach listeners in Tacoma and surrounding communities. There were many great preachers, revivals and teachers that nourished the congregation that fostered the continued growth. It was at this location that our young people began calling our church “New J”.
In three short years, it was time for the congregation to make another move but in addition it was time for God to make another move, not only with the congregation but it was time for another move for our pastor. In 1997, after the demise of Bishop R.E. Altheimer, the jurisdictional pastors voted unanimously for Elder T.L. Westbrook to be appointed as “Bishop” of the State of Washington Jurisdiction - Church Of God In Christ. To God be the Glory! In response to the heartfelt desire of our pastor to house additional ministries, the congregation rallied to purchase another church property.
With the help of God and the inspiration of our leader, the New Jerusalem congregation accomplished the seemingly impossible according to the critics. We did what they said no Black Congregation or group could do – we purchased our current property, 11th & Grant Avenue from the Central Baptist Church. They all said that it could not be done but God and our leader made the difference. Bishop and Mother made the greatest sacrifice for this great and marvelous accomplishment and the local and state ministries soared to new heights. New ministries were born: the New Jerusalem Christian Academy (New Jerusalem Christian School as of 2009 -10 school term), the Sunrise Daycare, Feeding and Clothing Program for the Needy, and SafeHaven Development Association, a non-profit community service agency that is responsible for the first new development in many years and built the Commonwealth Housing Development on the first property that the church purchased on 14th and M Streets. That development is yet thriving with beautiful 3 bedroom apartments for the low-income families.
Our motto is: “We are the Church in the Heart of the City with the City at Heart.”
In 2009, our building was featured in the Tacoma Historic Sacred Places magazine as one of Tacoma’s sacred spaces of worship sponsored by the Tacoma Historical Society.
On February 5, 2012, our beloved Mother Westbrook went home to be with the Lord and Bishop Westbrook made his transition to receive his eternal reward from this life on October 3, 2013.
Dr. Dennis McCain was appointed as pastor on April 12, 2014 by Bishop Jerry Macklin 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church Of God in Christ, and officially installed on November 29, 2014 by the Washington State Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop Leo C. Brown, Jr.