At Caine Creek, under a brush
arbor near Wrightville, Arkansas in April 1888, a
minister named Rev. William Christian having been
pastor of a Baptist church in Ft. Smith Arkansas,
began preaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ as 1aid
down in the Bible. His difference of opinion with
Dr. Howe, another Baptist minister, caused him to
leave the Baptist church. He intended to begin a
work known as Christian's Friendship Work but
through divine revelation and close study of the
scriptures lead him to the truth that the church is
known as Church of the Living God.
The first members were Elder K.
C. Adams who became the first National Secretary,
Rev. Josh Adams, Rev. Russell Stowe, Wm. Pierce and
Tim Jones, a land owner in Wrightsville. Mr.
Shackelford, a lawyer in Little Rock, incorporated
the church in the state of Arkansas. Rev. John
Christian, the brother of Rev. Wm. Christian, was
with him in the early work. In 1895 in Pine Bluff,
Arkansas, a difference of opinion arose that caused
them to separate. Both maintained the name of the
Church of the Living God, one using Motto C.W.F.F.
and the other the pillar and ground of the truth
following the name. Only by the use of the motto' (C.W.F.F.)
in parenthesis is the temple identified as a part of
the Brotherhood.
There have been numerous
secessions, but the Church of the Living God
Brotherhood organized by Rev. Christian still is the
parent body. The organization itself is
non-denominational and non-sectarian. It emphasizes
believers' baptism by immersion, the use of water
and unleavened bread element in the Lord's Supper
and the washing of saint's feet (which is required
only when one unites with the church).
The local organizations are
known as "Temple" rather than as "Churches" and are
subject to the authority of the general assembly.
The presiding officer is styled as "chief bishop."
The ministry includes bishops, overseers,
evangelists, pastors, missionaries and local
preachers, The Executive Board is in charge of the
operation of the entire organization, at, the
absence of the Annual Assembly. Synod. Annual,
General Assembly meets quadrennial |