HIGHTOWER MEMORIAL TEMPLE House of God Saints in Christ, Inc.
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Our History 

 
The History of Hightower Memorial Temple 
Hightower Memorial Temple HOGSIC, formerly named New Bethel HOGSIC was first found as a mission around 1938 in the Old "New Quarters" in the home of Mother Cora Coney. The Church was organized under the leadership of the late Bishop Nick Hightower, Sr. who appointed Elder Mack as pastor. Some founding members were: Mother Julia Simpson, Deacon Boy Simpson, Deacon Will Love, Mother Hattie Love, Mother Cora Coney, Sis. Sue Washington, Mother Mattie Carswell, Elder Buster Wilcox (also, served as pastor), Sis. Dana Wilcox and Deacon Will Coney. Bishop Hightower became the Pastor after Elder Buster Wilcox.

The first church building was a small wooden frame structure built in 1945. Later, the congregation and Bishop Hightower were blessed to buy an old larger wooden frame church from a white congregation, The Assembly of God. This structure was moved from that location to Coffee Avenue, right across the street from this present location. Bishop Hightower was pastor at the time. When Urban Renewal, a federal government program was established in Douglas, the site across the street was purchased and plans to relocate were made.
 
After much prayer, many drives, negotiations and donations from all over the organization the newly erected modern brick structure was completed and dedicated to the Lord around 1960, under the leadership of Bishop Nick Hightower, Sr. New Bethel Holiness Church, as it was called at that time, was chosen as the headquarters church of the House of God Saints in Christ, Inc. For many years, many meetings were held here. New Bethel flourished. People would come from miles around to be in the services and to hear Bishop Hightower preach in his very unique style. Bishop Hightower pastored New Bethel HOGSIC for over 25 years until his demise on July 11, 1971. After the passing of our late founder and chief apostle, Bishop Nick Hightower. Sr., Bishop Johnny L. Litman was elected presiding bishop and he became pastor of New Bethel HOGSIC. Again, the church flourished. The Lord added to the church and changes took place. Different programs and activities were implemented. A building fund was started at that time the pastor and members thought they would expand the church because of the overflowing crowds that packed into the sanctuary on pastoral Sundays and special occasions. A blue print was drawn up and the members worked. It was during Bishop Litman's administration that the General Board of Directors agreed that it was fitting and proper to change the name of the church from New Bethel HOGSIC to Hightower Memorial Temple in memory of our late founder, Bishop Nick Hightower, Sr., for his works and dedication to the HOGSIC. Bishop Litman pastored for the next 23 years, until his demise on April 25,1994. This church held high "the blood-stained banner. " Jesus said, "Upon this rock I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. For this cause, every auxiliary grew. The choir has grown from just one member, the founder, to four award winning choirs. The Sunday School has grown from its beginning of just one family to many families. An aspiring and active youth department, an anointed praise team, Mothers' Board, missionary department and a very efficient ministerial staff are just a few of the organized auxiliaries operating at HMT. 
 
Elder Frank J. Bussey, Sr. became pastor after the passing of Bishop Litman in 1994, at the General Assembly held at the headquarters in Albany, GA. Elder Bussey came and did a tremendous job in just eight short years. He was in a hurry to do a work for the Lord. Again, changes were made to better reach people. At first, Elder Bussey thought he would continue Bishop Litman's vision to renovate and expand the church on Coffee Avenue. But after much consideration and prayer and many meetings, the decision was made to build a new facility. So, to add to the building fund account, a vigorous fund raising drive commenced. The land was purchased from the First Born Church of the Living God. A blue print to construct a new edifice was drawn up, a contractor was acquired and the foundation was poured. The new building was underway! Elder Bussey was committed to completing the new sanctuary. It looked as though we would be going into the new building in the latter part of 2002. On August 30, 2002, returning home from a fishing trip, Elder Bussey died in a car accident. We know "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." Many of the saints didn't understand and began to ask, "Why Lord?" "Why in the middle of this building project?" We are reminded of Habakkuk 2:3 which says,
"Though the vision tarry, wait for it. It will come and it will speak."
 
Bishop Lorenzo Moore, presiding prelate of HOGSIC, became interim pastor November 30, 2002. The vision continued under his leadership. He made many sacrifices and great strides and he saw the vision through to fruition and we are blessed. HMT dedicated it's new sanctuary under the leadership of Bishop L. Moore in February of 2003. In April 2003,   Bishop Moore appointed Elder Randolph D. Scott, Sr. as Pastor, to carry the church on to greater heights and new dimensions in God.