Our Church History
In September of 1990, a Bible Study began in the family room of our home at 1031 N. Maple St. The bible study had been taking place at the home of Dermisha Davis, by a group of people that wanted to seek the deeper things of God. It started growing and needed a bigger place to meet. The study was conducted by Pastor Carolyn Wells and her team from Brooklyn, IL. The word began to spread about what the Lord was doing in those studies that the crowd grew to approximately 70 in attendance. Every room in the house was filled. There was a class for the adults in our family room, teenagers in our dining room and children in the living room. In February of 1991, prophesy went forth to then, Minister Henry Dabney that God had called him out to be the Moses of Centralia. A covenant was made between Min. and Lady Dabney, Min. Quinton and Debra Westbrook and Min. Michael and Jeanice Bryant; that whoever the Lord allowed to find a building that person would be the Pastor and the others would be part of the team to build the ministry. We then began to look for a building because we had outgrown the house. As God would have it, Lady Dabney was riding through town and saw a building for rent and inquired about it. Min. Dabney talked with the man that owned the building and he stated that he wanted something positive to go on in his building and was happy to rent it to us for a church at $150 a month including the utilities. Look at God already at work!
On Tuesday March 13, 1991 we held our first business meeting. Present were Pastor Henry Dabney, First Lady Linda Dabney, Sis. Connie Carr, Bro. Ricky Dabney, Min. Michael Bryant, Sis. Jeanice Bryant and Sis. Debra Westbrook. The main business for the evening was about starting a Sunday morning service. On Sunday Night, March 17, we held our first service in the now, Top Dollar Pawn Shop across from the then, Bell Tower Inn. Minister Dabney stated that he wanted to have men and women speakers. Min. Vince Offutt was the first speaker for the Sunday night service. Bro. Ricky Dabney was the usher and Min. Bryant led the service. Pastor Dabney spoke to Sis. Connie Carr about teaching bible Study during the week. Sis. Connie Carr was the clerk, Sis. Debra Westbrook was the secretary and First Lady Dabney was the treasurer and financial secretary. We were then encouraged to invite people to church and bring names of men and women of God to be speakers on Sunday Nights. And at the end of the service we were to ask them if they wanted to become part of the ministry. There was a dress code put in place for the leaders. We were told that we needed to make a difference. We were instructed to dress modest, especially the women. And that if we did as we knew to do and not get lax in our position, we would make a change in our community. We were told not to down a person for what they didn’t have and that if we saw a need, to do what we could do to help them get what they needed.
On Sunday Night March 24th, Sis. Anita Sledge, was the speaker and our first Sunday Morning Service was held on March 31st. Our first Revival was conducted by Evangelist B.K. Henton from Muskego, MI. God was moving mightily. Souls were saved, delivered and set free. Anyone that needed to be baptized, Rev. Hayden opened the doors of Macedonia Baptist Church for us to use their facility for baptism and anything else we would need it for.
On January 11, 1992, a business meeting was held to start off the New Year. In that meeting, Pastor Dabney expressed that he was pleased with the prayers of the church and the way the women have stood for God. He stated that the new year would bring more volunteer work for the ministry and that we were to train and license Ministers. He also said that if the church feels a licensed minister is not representing God and the church well, we have the right to take them back.
In February of 1993, Bro. Ferris Orange and his family joined the ministry and was very instrumental in us being blessed to move to a new location. We had the opportunity of sharing services and helping with the expenses at the Church of God, 620 E Rexford. The pastors were Steve and Jeanie Healey. After a month, the congregation had dwindled down to a few and they could no longer afford to stay in the building. As the Lord would have it, they offered to sell us the church and parsonage for $12,000. Praise God…..We took the offer!
On April 1, 1993, on a Thursday night, we had our first service there and that Sunday was Easter Sunday. The house was full, and God was on the move on that corner. On April 26, 1993, we held our first business meeting at the 620 E Rexford St. location. The loan at the bank had been approved and we started a building fund to help with the renovation of the building. We kept the old location open and used it to house the homeless. They could stay there for up to 60 days. While they were there, they had to seek employment, save 2 to 3 checks and look for a place to live. The building was closed due to lack of commitment to the program. Not long after we started services at our new location, Min. Ferris Orange started a ministry, first, in a building across from The New Harmony Baptist Church on N. Poplar St., then United Covenant of Faith Church in Mt. Vernon, IL.
We soon started adding services at our new location; a weekly Bible Study, and W.I.N.N.E.R.S. Night for those struggling with drug addiction. Later on we added a Youth Service, a Praise Dance Team, and started a Prison Ministry. We traveled to Robinson Correctional Center on the 1st Sunday night, Vandalia Correctional Center and Work Camp on the 2nd and 3rd Sunday night, Centralia Correctional Center on the 4th Sunday night and Big Muddy Correctional Center every other Friday. The Prison Ministry continued from 1995 until 2016.
The Prison Ministry team was: Pastor and Lady Dabney, Quinton Westbrook, Debra Westbrook, Paula Adams, Phillis Dabney, Faylanda Webster, Dawn Oestreich and Gloria McDonald. Occasionally Pastor Orange and Debra Westbrook would join us.
Ministers were trained and licensed.
In the early hours on the morning on July 5, 2003, there was a tragic fire that took place. The life of our dear brother Ricky Dabney was claimed and our building was a total loss. This was a devastating time for our ministry. It was definitely a time to seek the Lord to see if this was our end….or a new beginning. The saints gathered around, prayed and helped Pastor Dabney and his family through this trying time. Pastor Dabney was asked what his plans were as far as the ministry. He said we are moving forward and continue with God’s plan. Well, that next Sunday we held service in the Community Youth Center. After a few months there, we rented the former House of Kai to hold our services until our new building was completed. We never skipped a beat! The owner of the building also let us use one of his storefront buildings downtown for our youth. God continues to move and add to the church. We even performed a few weddings at that location.
In the fall of 2003, we became member of the F.A.W. (Fellowship Apostolic Worldwide) organization under the leadership of Bishop Ernest J. Miller of Greenwood, MS. Pastor Dabney was ordained as Bishop at a conference in Brookhaven, MS.
On Sunday June 20, 2004, which was Father’s Day, we had our first service in our new building. Oh what a joyous time we had that day! The ministry continued to grow especially the youth church under the leadership of Sis. Debra Westbrook. The children were getting saved and baptized. There were many activities and trips planned and buses were chartered to take us to the St. Louis Zoo, Six Flags, and Raging Rivers. Also a Food Pantry was started by Sis. Ruthie Dabney.
In 2004, Pastor Charles Fields of Bible Way House of Prayer in Mulberry Grove, IL, Bishop and Lady Dabney’s pastor, passed away, leaving that ministry without a leader. Bible Way had a Pastor for a couple of years, then as the Lord would have it, Eld. Field’s daughter, Patrice White stepped up as Pastor of Bible Way House of Prayer. She, realizing that she needed a covering, asked Bishop Dabney if he would be the overseer of her ministry. In 2006, Bishop Dabney ordained Lady Linda Dabney, Evangelist Faylanda Webster, Evangelist Phyllis Dabney and Min. Patrice White as Pastors. This was the beginning of the Covenant Ministries Diocese. The churches in the Diocese were: New Covenant Ministries, Co-Pastor Linda Dabney, United Covenant of Faith, Pastor Ferris Orange, Bible Way House of Prayer, Pastor Patrice White, Grace Covenant, Pastor Faylanda Webster, and Mid-West Covenant, Pastor Phillis Dabney.
Many of the staff that started with us have moved on but New Covenant is still standing by the Grace and Favor of God. He is continuing to grow us into the plan and purpose He has for this ministry. We are continuing to train and license ministers and expand the outreach portion of the ministry. To date, our staff consists of Bishop Henry and Pastor Linda Dabney, Sr. Pastors, Pastor Faylanda Webster, Assoc. Pastor/Teacher, Cedric Webster, Min. of Music/Youth Pastor, Karlton Stacey & Chris Pitts, Administrators, Min. Kenya Stacey, Secretary/Finance Team, Min. Sabrina Chase, Asst. Secretary, Eld. Rita Poore, Women’s Ministry/Asst. Youth Leader, Evang. Marva Clemons, Prayer Ministry/Teacher, Eld. Todd Glispie, Teacher, Sis. Debbie Dabney, Intercessor, Sis. Ruthie Dabney, Food Pantry Director, Sis. Jone Webster, Finance Team/Ushers. Min. Kamilah Terry, Event Co Ordinator. Ministers: Min. LaShanda Brumfield, Serita Dabney, Roy Luke, Tanya Christian, Michelle Jackson, John Roethlisberger.
The vision for the near future is to purchase a newer van to transport the people to church and events and to build a Ministry Center on the empty lot next to us so we have a place to expand and have more room for our youth ministry, and a larger kitchen to host events such as a soup kitchen, wedding receptions, repasts, etc. for our community.
In the words of an old familiar song: We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord. Trusting in His Holy Word, He’s never failed us yet. Oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh, oh can’t turn around, we’ve come this far by faith!