Our History: The Late Bishop L Hunter
Bishop Hunter was first called to the ministry in 1940. He initially rejected Gods call. His premise was that preaching was a serious job and not to be taken unconscientiously. He felt he was unworthy to carry the gospel of Christ. Bishops years of resistance was spent in agony, pain, and illness, of which, he had never experienced before. He decided to then move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For some time, God continued to deal with Bishop Hunter. Eventually, he became convinced that if he did not surrender to the Lord, his life would be taken. After running for three years, he then gave heed to the heavenly voice of the Lord and preached his first sermon on March 18, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Lord gave this young man a vision. He showed him in that vision a Church; the interior walls, the ceiling, floors, pews, pulpit, and even the furniture. However, the location was unknown. A few months later, while walking along, he saw a sign, Church For Rent. He called the number inscribed and made an appointment to meet with the owner. Bishop Hunter was relying totally on the Lord to guide and direct him. In doing so, he told the Lord that if it was his will for him to rent this church, let the owner be in the office awaiting and asleep. When he arrived at the office, the proprietor was asleep. The owner unlocked the door of the building and it was IDENTICAL to the vision the Lord had shown him earlier. Bishop Hunter preached at this location fervently (16th Street and Columbia Avenue). After several months, another location was offered in South Philadelphia, at 22nd and Federal. Many souls were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and were filled with the Holy Ghost.
After about 3 years of ministering in Philadelphia, another major change took place in Bishop Hunters life. God began to deal with him again. This time according to Bishop Hunter, God was saying, Go to South Carolina. Again he was reluctant to give heed to the voice of the Lord. He felt as though he would never accomplish anything in South Carolina. As Bishop would say, The Lord continued to say, South Carolina. One morning around 2 A.M., the Lord showed him a vision of the condition of South Carolina, and why he needed to go there. The sight was terrible. Bishop described the force applied to his neck, whenever he rebelled against going to South Carolina. It was as if his breathing was being hindered. In other words, being cut off. On a previous occasion this had happened because of his rejection. The people of the South were being taken advantage of and there seemed to be no rest or relief for the people. This vision troubled Bishop. So much that he immediately got dressed and was ready to go to South Carolina that instant, if it meant him having to walk there.