Our History...



Bro. Samuel J. Allen was the Apostle, Pastor and Founder of Israel Church of God 7th-Day Holiness. Its conception was in early September 1956 when the very first in-home prayer began in Bro. and Sis. Allen's first home on Dumas Street in San Bernardino, CA. At that time, visiting relatives, who were recently Holy Ghost filled, called the family around for prayer. That day, two of the three teenage Allen children received the Holy Ghost. After wondering whether the receiving the Holy Ghost was right, Sis. Allen also received it sometime in September after much prayerful consideration. When Bro. Allen pondered about the infilling of the Holy Ghost, God clearly revealed it to him in a vision that it was required. In November of 1956, Bro. Allen and his son both received the Holy Ghost. In March and April of 1957, the gifts of prophesy, healing, and preaching the Gospel were conferred upon Bro. Allen. This in-home prayer quickly became a custom, and before long the Allen family was hosting prayer meetings routinely. Chairs replaced the living room sofas in order to accommodate the seekers. Word spread and other people in the nearby communities joined in and began to host the prayer meetings in their homes. Various people in the prayer meetings got saved and filled with the Holy Ghost.
 

Allen Family Decendents: Right to Left Bro. John Allen, Sis. Ruby (Allen) Olive, Sis. Ozell (Allen) Byrd, and Sis. Ether Allen, wife of John Allen.

As the group grew, it became difficult to go from house to house. Bro. and Sis. Allen's home became the home of the "Saturday Night Prayer Band." In April of 1957, the group was commanded by God to keep the seventh-day Sabbath holy. Soon Sabbath mornings were devoted to bible study and prayer, starting with the Allen family. One day, an elder came by and united with the family, and before long, others came by and joined in the Saturday morning prayer and bible study. In a short time, worship service followed the Sabbath School where their living room served as the sanctuary. In 1959, the prayer group was established as a church and God commanded its name to be "Israel Church of God", with the doctrine "after the manner of Jesus Christ."

In 1963, the church obtained a building, an old court house, which was moved in and set up on property donated to the church by Bro. Allen. The members volunteered time and money to secure the building. The congregation moved from the Allen's home to this new location as 263 E. Dumas Street in San Bernardino. In 1967, the church was led to pray on Friday evenings for the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and the revelation of His glory. There was also a Monday night prayer which eventually evolved into Monday night prayer and bible study. At some point, faithful members began praying at the church on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which was known as "Noon Day Prayer." Bro. Allen was called home in 1996, but the church continued and prospered. The current property, formerly known as "The Old Bank of America building", was purchased in 1998. The final renovations to this former bank were completed in February of 2004.The church continues under the direction of the Holy Spirit.