HISTORY
The Church of Christ Holiness Unto the Lord, Inc. is in reality a continuation of the first century church, which was born on the Day of Pentecost. In an upper room, the city of Jerusalem, about one-hundred and twenty followers of the risen Lord were baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. These God-anointed witnesses were so endued with power from on high, that they virtually turned the world upside down. Those first church-men went everywhere preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church of Christ Holiness Unto the Lord began in the period between 1925 and 1927, as a Holiness sect in Savannah, Georgia, through the leadership of Elder Milton Solomon Bennett, who was a building contractor, and formerly a member of the Methodist Church of Hardeeville, South Carolina. He moved from Hardeeville to Savannah, Georgia. He was introduced to Holiness through a house-to house mission worker, by the name of Sister Dora Keels, who was a member of the Apostolic Holiness Church. Milton Solomon Bennett accepted the baptism of the Holy Ghost speaking in othr tongues. In a very short time, he was called to preach, and was ordained in the Apostolic Holiness Church (Savannah, Georgia) by Bishop Davis, who at that time, was the General Overseer of the Apostolic Church.
A few years later, Elder Bennett was alarmed by some things that were being taught by Bishop Davis that raised serious questions. He made serveral attempts to discuss the matter with Bishop Davis, but was denied every time.
Elder Milton Solomon Bennett withdrew his membership and began holding services in a small building on Indian Lane and Ann Street in Savannah, Georgia.
For months, just he and his wife, Sister Lilla Bennett, worshipped alone. However, it was not very long before other members of the Apostolic Church came and joined with him. Those members were: Sister Dora Keels, Mother Sarah Brown, Deacon Saul Keels, Sister Nellie Brown, Sister Annie Axson, Sister L. B. Baker, and Sister Elsie Ellis.
It was not long before it was evident to Elder Bennett that God was blessing his efforts, revival "broke out" in Savannah and began spreading into other communities. The Lord began adding souls to the church such as would be saved. Many that were members of other organizations heard Elder Bennett preach true holiness and were convinced that they did not have the Pentecostal baptism. These people came and joined with Elder Bennett and prayed at the altar until they received the baptism with the Holy Ghost, speaking with other tongues as the Spirit game them utterance (Acts 2:4).
In 1926, this small band of saints organized The Church of Christ Holiness Unto the Lord. The name for the church was taken from Romans 16:16, CHURCH OF CHRIST, and Zech. 14:20, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD. It may be referred to as the C.C.H.L.
This Church, from its very beginning, was purposed to be a church where Christ would be fully honored as "Head of the Church" where the true gospel could be fully preached, where righteousness and true holiness would be practiced, and where worldliness and immoral sins would not be tolerated.
The Church of Christ Holiness Unto the Lord does not claim to be the only true church, but does assert its place as one of the few Holiness bodies that stresses true Holiness and proclaim the gospel message of full salvation.
In 1927, The Church of Christ Holiness Unto the Lord held its first Assembly during the month of September at the small building on Indian Lane and Ann Street in Savannah, Georgia. Approximately 125 members were present. This small flock was joyful, and singing:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
Although, this Assembly was small, it elected Elder Milton Solomon Bennett for General Overseer, who became known as Bishop M. S. Bennett, Sister Lula Baker was elected secretary, and Sister Dora Keels was elected treasurer. The articles of faith were adopted.
Among those present was Elder Aaron Wilcox, who was one of the notable ministers that preached in that first Assembly. Although times were hard and very little money was in circulation, this small flock was prepared to suffer for the cause of Christ. Only a few people had transportation other than mules and wagons. To own a horse and buggy was like owning a cadillac today. It is reported that ministers walked as far as thirty miles in one day. The saints would walk seven and eight miles nightly attending revival meetings. Women carried their babies in their arms through the cold, and many times rain would overtake them before they arrived. In the summer months, many of the saints would take off their shoes to avoid wearing out the shoe soles, and walk bare foot until they got to church.
In those early times, the church consisted of an old house with the partitions removed. In many cases, when it rained the roof would leak so badly that the saints would sit on their Bibles to keep them from getting wet. They worshipped under bush arbors, preached under oak trees, and went into every home that would permit them to enter. Some saints were driven away and they were run out of town. Many churches were burned to the ground and bush arbors were set on fire. Those that were run out of town shook the dust off their feet against it, and moved on to another town or community. In one instance during the early thirties, the late outstanding Evangelist W. W. Grant, refused to leave town as he was conducting a revival meeting in Tattnall County, Georgia, in the Tyson Community, near Glennville. The impact of the revival was felt throughout the whole community, with reports of people being healed, among white and black. A conspiracy arose against him, and those who were loyal to him asked him to leave town, but he refused. A man was hired to kill him. On the night he was to be killed, he and his wife prayed all night. The man that was hired to kill him could not fire his gun. He fell under conviction, and early the next morning, came and made open confession and begged for forgiveness.
Among the women, the late Evangelist Rosa Smalls was thrown in jail in Ludowici, Georgia. Men and women suffered much in those early years. A great price of suffering and sacrificing was paid by those Spirit-filled children of God. They counted it joy to suffer for the cause of Christ.
This church has been truly tried in the fire. She has endured the storms of Life, and stood up against the vicious attacks that have been waged against her.
CHURCH GROWTH
During the thirties, the church grew quite rapidly. The ministers, men and women were revivalists, mission minded, and full of spiritual life and vigor. Churches sprung up along the northeast coast of Georgia and spread into South Carolina.
In the forties, Mother Elizabeth Smith went to Brooklyn, New York. It was not long before a little church was organized at 38 Osborn Street, and later spread into other cities.
In 1963 Evangelist Jay C. Kelly opened a mission in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Later, missions sprung up in other cities in New Jersey.
In 1961, the ground work was laid for C.C.H.L. in North Carolina through the dynamic Evangelist Jay C. Kelly.
The C.C.H.L did not spread into the deep south (Florida) until 1955. A group of young Spirit-filled saints moved from Halcyondale, Georgia, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, seeking employment. These Spirit-filled young people began holding Bible Study from house to house. There was not a minister among them, but this Bible Study attracted many people in the neighborhood. The house where the Bible Study was held was packed to an overflow. In 1956, this Bible Study was strengthened even more, by the arrival of the late Evangelist Annie Mack, who had been asked to go to Fort Lauderdale and to organize these young people.
On July 22, 1956, the first service was held in a very small building on Fifth Avenue and Second Street (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida). It was not long before a revival "broke out" and the service from the revival continued for one year, and Florida was on the map of the Church of Christ Holiness Unto the Lord.
On February 22, 1952, the Church of Christ Holiness Unto the Lord was saddened by the death of its founder, Bishop M. S. Bennett. He was stricken with a stroke while preaching on a live radio broadcast, from the Headquarters Church on West Oglethorpe Avenue in Savannah, Georgia.
At the 1952 General Assembly, Bishop Benjamin Franklin Colty was elected General Overseer. In 1960, due to the schism that had developed in the church, Bishop James Kelly, was elected General Overseer. For seventeen years, Bishop James Kelly laboured hard to reaffirm the foundation upon which the church was built.
Because of the several younger, brilliant, Spirit-filled ministers who were emerging to leadership, the Church of Christ Holiness Unto the Lord was secured with a promising Hope for the future.
In retrospect, to those who have passed on, we shall remember them as brave warriors who are greatly missed. Through the years, some became discontented and withdrew their membership. Many have stood fast and went on to perfection. Thank God for those that have lived with us, worked, and served in this organization until the Master called them home to be with him.