FLAGG MEMORIAL FULL GOSPEL CHURCH OF GOD, INC.

 

The history of Flagg Memorial Full Gospel Church of God began 50 years ago when a tiny congregation with a newly elected pastor embarked on a journey that has culminated today with this dedication.

 

The Burlington Church of God

 

The Church of God, Burlington, which was the name of the first congregational body in the history of this church, was located at 139 Belmont Street, in Burlington, NJ, on the corner of York and Belmont Streets. The word “tiny” not only described the size of the congregation but the size of church itself. For the church was housed in tiny two-story home that was converted to have an apartment upstairs and a front room downstairs for the church. The church was a part of the national Church of God body, headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee.

 

In 1967 Reverend Roosevelt Flagg was elected Pastor and moved from Newark, NJ with his wife and 7 children. The Flaggs were joined by several other families from Newark, NJ, expanding the congregation. As the Pastor and the fledgling church strove to remain true to God’s call to true holiness and to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ the notoriety of the church grew. The little church on the corner, as the church was sometimes called, gained quite a reputation for the preaching of the “old time gospel message” in the “old time way. This preaching was not confined within the building walls. The Lord led Rev. Roosevelt Flagg to “literally take the message to the streets”. With the permission of the city of Burlington and assistances of the men of the church, York Street was blocked and transformed for open-air Street Services. The “Good News” of the gospel was also heard by those that stopped to listen through the open church windows. You see we did not have air conditioning in the building in those days.

 

In April of 1980 there was a disastrous fire that burned down the entire building leaving the congregation without a place to worship. The church moved to the basement of Deacon Robert Smith and his family in the vicinity of Burlington. Shortly after this transition the congregation elected to separate from the national body of the Church of God to become an independent body.

 

The congregation later moved to the home of Rev. Flagg in Willingboro, NJ to hold its services. After leaving Rev. Flagg’s home the church held services at a number of other locations in Willingboro:

• Somerset Elementary School (Stuart School)

• John F. Kennedy High School

• Millbrook Park Elementary School

• And again back to Rev. Flagg’s home.

 

Full Gospel Church of God

 

After remaining in Willingboro area for quite a few years, the small congregation consisting of about 6 households moved to 100 Manor Drive in Delran, NJ. It was there that church adopted the name “Full Gospel Church of God”. The church there served as a small haven and a place of refuge for the community.

 

During the year of 2004 the congregation was displaced again due to a change in use by the building owners. While searching for another location the congregation suffered what was thought to be one of the greatest losses of all. On May 5, 2005 the church suffered the death of Bishop Roosevelt Flagg, its founder. Not only was the church without a home, but now they had lost their Pastor. But as the scripture says in Deuteronomy 32:11&12:

 

11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

12 So the Lord alone did lead him …

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Determining that the work of God needed to go on, the congregation forged ahead. They believed that if they kept their hands in God’s hand and followed his word, God would see them through. The congregation then elected Shepherd Mother Edythe Flagg to become the new pastor. And heeding the call of God Mother Flagg accepted the pastor steward, believing God to lead the way. Services were then held in the home of Mother Flagg in Willingboro, NJ.

 

Flagg Memorial Full Gospel Church of God, Inc.

 

God was indeed preparing the congregation for this marvelous day. To this end:

• The power of God began filling committed members with the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

• In December 2005 the congregation moved from Willingboro to this present location 1300 Mt. Holly Road, Edgewater Park, NJ

• In 2006, Pastor, Shepherd Mother Edythe Flagg and the members adopted a new and final name in honor of our founder – Flagg Memorial Full Gospel Church of God.

• In October 2013 the congregation broke ground to build the Sanctuary we are dedicating today.

 

We the members of Flagg Memorial Full Gospel Church of God can truly say The Lord God has brought us from a “mighty long way.” It has been 50 years in the making but, Thanks God, we have arrived.

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Author: Sister Claudette Reeves, History Committee