About FGHT Houston
In 1997, The Houston Full Gospel Holy Temple Church held their first service in July, at the Ramada Inn Hotel. Church services were held twice a week in a 10 x 10 room with a glass door. We were told by the hotel attendant that we didn’t have enough people to get a regular banquet room. Instead we got the old gift shop area to begin having church until we grew. But with a handful of people and a steadfast determination, our journey began and the Lord did not disappoint. Pastor Andre L. Lee and his lovely wife, Evangelist Amy Lee embarked upon a mission to reach souls under the astute leadership of Founder and Overseer of the Full Gospel Holy Temple Churches Incorporated, Dr. Apostle Lobias Murray and Dr. Evangelist Shirley Murray. The Lord blessed in every service and souls were delivered, refreshed and set free. Somehow the word got out about the ministry and people found us and were in search of new life. Soon our membership began to grow and the 10x10 room could no longer facilitate our growth, so services were moved to banquet rooms. Over the next few months, we located a building that was in need of renovation while continuing to have church in the hotel. This old building over the years was everything from a feed store for animals to a paint and body shop. But God saw fit to allow us to convert it to place of deliverance. After much prayer, hard work, and fundraiser such as barbeques, fish fry’s, car washes, and more, we held our first church service in this renovated building at 5132 Pinemont Drive in December of 1997 with borrowed chairs and no air conditioning or heat.
The Building Dedication was held February of 1998 by Dr. Apostle Lobias Murray. In December of 1998, the Helping Hand Ministry was implemented and the first Christmas Giveaway was held. Since that time, the Helping Hand Ministry has expanded to include Feeding the Homeless, Bible and Blanket Giveaways, and Back to School Giveaways and providing complete Thanksgiving dinners to the underprivileged families. In the year of 2000 the Good News Broadcast on Cable Television and Radio was established. In the Summer of 2001 God blessed us to reach a harvest of souls through various ministries such as Witnessing, Street Service, Nursing Homes and Women’s Shelters ministries.
In January 2002 Youth programs such as Mentorship, Boys to Men, Girls with Purpose, Teen Summits, and Youth Shut-Ins were formulated in an effort to encourage todays youth and teach them the responsibility of living a holy and Godly life in these critical time and in the midst of the wicked and perverse world.
Recognizing the necessity for adequate room because of the influx of souls, God place a vision on Pastor Lee's heart to purchase land and build a larger edifice to facilitate our growth and desire to spread the gospel to people of all walks of life. In November 2004, Houston Full Gospel Holy Temple Church paid cashed and purchased just over an acre of land from the YMCA. On September 5, 2005,the excitement began at the Groundbreaking Service and Celebration where Pastor Lee proclaimed, The Best Is Yet to Come! God allowed Pastor Lee to oversee all aspects and phases of the construction process from concept to completion of Phase I which included a beautiful brand new sanctuary, library, nursery, executive offices, and multiple classrooms. Our first service was held on a Friday, April 28, 2006 at 5925 Knox Street.
All the saints gathered for service in the newly constructed sanctuary as Pastor Lee delivered the first message entitle, “Its Good For Us To Be Here” This message has resonated in the minds and hearts of the people from that day forward. God confirmed his presence in the building by saving and filling with Holy Ghost in the very first service in the new sanctuary, and adding membership to the church.
Phase II of the vision for growth, expansion and renovations have been completed and the newly remodeled sanctuary adding over 250 new seats looks phenomenal. This is the Lords doing and it is MARVELOUS in our eyes.
Phase III of the vision includes future additional land acquisition, a gymnasium to facilitate after school activities, and more community programs to change our culture and impact the lives of our city. The level of expectancy and excitement continues to build as we forge ahead to be a light that sets upon a hill that cannot be hid. As Houston is poised to move to the position of the 3rd largest city in the United States, Houston Full Gospel Holy Temple Church is positioning ouselves as those that Moses sent out and and returned with the report that
"WE HAVE VIEWED THE LAND AND WE ARE WELL ABLE TO TAKE IT"
HOUSTON WE HAVE A MISSION!