In the year of 1938, the late Elder Charlie Thomas, founder and father in the Lord of Thomas Temple, said the Lord told him to go across the Seaboard Railroad tracks and build a church. At that time the area was called Seaboard Highland. It was a vastly wooded area and there were only a few houses, but that did not discourage Elder Thomas. He obeyed the Lord's command and built the first church, which was a "Bush-Harbor". It was made of tin, paste-board and other objects that Elder Thomas could find. There was a sawdust floor and the seats were bean hampers. This little bush-harbor church looked so bad until the man that sold Elder Thomas the lot told him that he would have to tear it down because he was having a difficult time selling adjacent property. Elder Thomas did not let this stop him. The Lord blessed him with Missionary Cooper of Valdosta, Georgia. She was a faithful worker and mother in the church. The Phillips and McCloud girls were his first members.

God began to send so many souls until this little bush-harbor became too small. Elder Thomas then did a magnicicent thing. He went into the swamp by himself and hewed out limbs for the first foundation of the church and dragged them out by himself. Shortly afterwards, God sent him two wonderful helpers--the late Elder Talmadge McCloud and the late Elder Paul Hunter-- who financed and helped build the first church. Mother Susie Jackson became the first church mother. The late Elder Talmadge McCloud was the first assistant pastor. The late Deacon Frazier was the church's first secretary. The late Mother Ella McClendon, mother of our current church mother, Mother Edmond, was the church's fourth church mother. She was appointed by the late Elder Charlie Thomas in 1948 and served in this capacity for over 30 years. The late Elder Sam Watkins was Eler Thomas' first ordained Deacon Board Chairman. Other deacons appointed by Elder Thomas include Deacon David Rolle, Deacon Jethro Thompkins, and Deacon Theodis Jordan.

With these great men and women of God, the church progressed greatly. This church was always blessed with many helpers. Some of them helped build part of the current structure. Among them was the late Jim Cartwright, who in later years the Lord saved and he became a member of the church. He and the men who worked with him came by and for free laid the blocks for the church's north wall. Although Elder Thomas suffered with a hearing handicap , God still blessed his work and ministry in a miraculous way.

Another person instrumental in the growth of the church was the late Bishop A. Turner who would come and run four to six week revival meetings in which many souls were saved. The church has been called a seedbed because of the number of other churches that grew out of God's blessings to Thomas Temple. From this church came many pastors, missionaries, state, national, and international workers. Many of them came through those great revival meetings that were held here at Thomas Temple. We are happy to say that we still have one of the bush-harbor members with us today, Sister Mae Joe Fulton. She has been a member of Thomas Temple longer than any other member of this church.

In the year 1954, Elder Robert L. Robinson was appointed as assistant pastor. He worked faithfully by Elder Thomas' side and held his arms up as Elder Thomas' health declined. As Elder Thomas became ill and unable to serve the late Bishop E. D. Johnson appointed Elder Robinson as pastor of Thomas Temple in 1967. Because of Elder Thomas health he was placed in a resthome. Elder Robinson did a wonderful unselfish thing. He forfeited his right to support from the church and used it to keep Elder Thomas in the rest home. The Lord has honored his sacrifice and the church has progressed greatly, spiritually and naturally under his leadership.