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The Rock of Rome United Pentecostal Church

114 Legion Dr
706-290-7777

Mission:

Our mission is to grow in relationship with JESUS and make disciples.  Our vision is to be an apostolic church in principle, practice, and power.

History:

The legacy of the first “united pentecostal church of rome began as sister mattie mae wilson used her home to hold fellowship meetings beginning in 1954. When an apostolic/pentecostal preacher was in the area she would host them in her home and have services. There was no upc presence in rome until then. Her son, rev. Billy jack wilson soon after received the baptism of the holy ghost in rockmart, ga, and was baptized in jesus name in 1955. Bro wilson received his call to preach shortly after his new birth experience. In 1956, the first upc of rome was established by the rev, billy jack wilson. Today we are celebrating this churches 60th birthday! The first upc of rome was born and history tells us it was one of the first 12 upc churches established in ga. Bro wilson persevered to find a building. A local baptist church near the mccall hospital gave bro wilson a house formerly used as sunday school rooms. The house was moved to wilkerson rd. This was the first official church building of the first upc of rome. The rev. And mrs. Bs cole attended one of the first services in this new facility. In 1957, another house was purchased and added to the existing location to add a platform and larger sanctuary space. In 1960, the church purchased their new location on crane st. James kilgore was the first guest speaker to preach in the crane street church in a thanksgiving service nov of 1960. July 1977, bro wilson was led in another direction and left the pastoral position in rome. He had served as the founding pastor for 21 years. Pastor thompson from texas was elected, came and served for 1 year from 1977-1978. In 1978, the rev. Claude smith was elected pastor and faithfully served the rome church until 1991. The lord took bro. Smith home to be with him in april of 1991. The interim ministry staff was sis smith and bro darryl bridges before electing the new pastor. The church then elected rev. Jimmy vanwinkle who pastored for 8 years from oct 1991 -oct 1999. Bro vanwinkle resigned and the rev. Rodney bankens was elected pastor. Bro. Bankens served as pastor for 5 years from oct. 1999-july 2004 bro. Bankens resigned and took a church in collins, mississippi. Cliff brown was elected pastor. He served in that capacity from 2004-2006. Then on march 12, 2006 this church elected rev. Greg bridges to be the pastor of the rock of rome! Bro. & sis. Bridges have faithfully served this church for 10!


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