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he Open Door Church of God in Christ-Detroit, also known as ODC, was conceived in the heart of a sincere and holy man of God who has a passion for the word of God and the souls of men. Our founder, Superintendent Pastor Alan Ross Evans Sr, was called to the pastoral ministry at the age of 34, along with his beautiful wife, Missionary Shernetta Evans, while serving as a faithful elder and musician at the New Maclin Temple Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Pastor James M. Maclin Sr. The Holy Spirit lead our Shepard into this ministry from Genesis 12:1-3:1) “And the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: 2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” From Revelation 4:1 came the name Open Door “After this I looked and, behold, a door was opened in heaven; and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.” Through much prayer and fasting the Man of God answered The Great Call and The Open Door Church of God in Christ was founded in December 1992. Although God had anointed our pastor to form the Open Door ministry it was not without challenges and trials, but it was his unwavering faith in God that allowed him to walk by faith- and not by sight. With less than six families a building was leased at 17140 Hayes, Detroit (between Seymour and Spring Garden). The first service was canceled due to a power outage, but God being sovereign designed for our first service to
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occur on Sunday, December 29, 1992 at approximately 10am. (Thank God for his faithfulness and for faithful laborers!) Founding families/members are: foremost his First and ONLY Lady Missionary Shernetta Evans and children: Alan Evans II, Sherlana Evans (Hill), Brandi Evans (Haywood), and Rhonda Evans; Mother Ruth Evans and family; Elder Ricky Sykes and family; Rebecca Denise Evans and family; Deacon Ronald Hill and family; and Sis. Sharon Evans (church secretary) and family. Our first church building consisted of four walls, one bathroom, a tiny hallway and two small rooms, which became the Pastor’s study and the fellowship hall. (The Bible says “despise not the day of small things). As the church began to experience growth, the church was in desperate need of a larger and more adequate facility. The Lord heard the prayers and rewarded the church’s faithfulness by laying on our Pastor’s heart to establish a building fund. The 4th Sunday of every month was designated “Building Fund Sunday” and in one year the church raised $50,000 along with tithes and offerings. Through the leading of the Holy Ghost and the late Superintendent Lori’s Upshaw Sr., Pastor Evans discovered this current facility as a possible church building for the Open Door congregation. In true fashion of how God works, there were challenges and set-backs in acquiring this building, but God…He [God] allowed a millionaire to meet and speak with our pastor in this very building and without any verification of credibility this millionaire sent a $175,000 check to the closing to purchase this building. (How many know from experience that God may not come when you want Him, but He’s always on time!) We held our first service in this new facility in the spring of 1998.
Faith is what has maintained and grown this church ministry and our leaders. God by faith allowed Open Door to continue to acquire property on 7 Mile through these years in this location. We currently own two grass lots on the southeast corner of 7mile and Queen (which is on the next block) and an annex building on the north side of 7mile west of Hayes. As a testament of our faithful leaders, God laid it on the heart of our pastor to boldly ask our next door neighbors (Johnny Mack Cookie Factory) to sign over the deed of their facility to the church as there was an economic downturn in 2009. The owner decided to grant his request and the building next door was named the Annie Ruth Evans Multi-Purpose Community Center (AREMPCC), in honor of the mother of our Pastor, and was used as a dining hall and multi-purpose facility for the church and community for the past 6 years. On Tuesday, January 31st, 2017, the AREMPCC building was sold to another ministry and the same week on February 3rd the church mortgage was paid in full at a savings of $35,154.32 Most importantly the Lord has added to this church such as should be saved through the many services, community events, clothing and food giveaways, family and friend/pack the pew days, musical concerts, memorial/funeral services, tape/cd ministry, and social media. Several ministries within Open Door has been established such as our Drama Department, Liturgical/Mime/Step dance ministry, Evangelist Department, Children’s Church, Youth Department, Media Department and many other auxiliaries and departments. The Lord has also wrought miraculous healing in this ministry and present building. Several members have been healed in the service from cancer and terminal illnesses as well as souls delivered from the power of addiction and other bondages of Satan. Within the last few years God has continued to show us his favor and blessings. In September 2010, The Open Door Choir recorded our first
CD titled “The Secret Place” which features our pastor and first lady as lead vocalists on several of the songs. And in 2015, it should be noted that God’s healing virtue continued to go forth in this ministry by the wondrous healing of our pastor and First Lady. In 2015 our monthly Unity Offering was established, along with the generosity of our dedicated members the Unity Offering has allowed us to do repairs, remodel and update the air condition and heating unit, tile the main sanctuary floors out to the foyer, front chapel, and AREMPCC center foyer, and many other improvements. After which, beginning in 2016, this facility was and is placed on the market for purchase as we are once again walking by faith, seeking a church building to acquire as we continue to expand. During the 17 years, at our current location we were able to refinance the original mortgage at $215,000.00 and receive $101,000.00 for remodeling and repairs. Bringing the total mortgage to $316,000.00 which was paid in full on February 3, 2017. To God be the Glory!! Finally let us take heed that faith is and has been our hallmark and it has kept us in ministry these 25 years. Will this entire congregation sing with me…We’ve come this far by faith… Our 2017 theme is, “Expect a miracle in 2017, and don’t let anyone tell you anything different.”
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pen Door, it has been my joy to serve you now these twenty five years this year 2017. I hope that you were encouraged through our 25th Anniversary celebrations throughout the year. God has been so gracious and so good to us these years. But as we look ahead, I pray that you would really see with spiritual eyes. This move we are endeavoring to make in the coming year of 2018 is God’s opportunity to us. To represent him, and to honor all those that went before us. We are connected to them by our faith. We are a statement to this apostate world that there are yet those that believe in the true and living God, and are willing to demonstrate their faith by undertaking to make a strong statement of faith in this present hour. Let us be courageous, and move forward with a sense of commitment and purpose to do the will of the living God, and give glory to his Holy name. Habakkuk 2:4 says, “Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Live out your faith by works in 2018!
Pastor Alan R. Evans Sr. 6
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cts 27: 31 , 41-44 “Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship , ye cannot be saved.”
During these hard times some fall away and other faint, but the Word is saying no matter what you’re going through. Abide in the Ship. Keep your focus and don’t let go of God’s hand. We know that we must go through these trials and tribulations and it seems like we are going under water , but God is able to hold us up on our toes until the water subsides. God is our strength and our fortress and a very present help in time of trouble. May God continue to secure us during this New Year.
Lady Shernetta Evans
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CONGRATULATIONS TO SUPERINTENDENT ALAN EVANS & FIRST LADY SHERNETTA EVANS AND THE OPEN DOOR COGIC ON 25 YEARS IN MINISTRY
SERVING SERVING DETROIT FOR OVER 45 YEARS
2017 2017 LINCOLN LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CONTINENTAL
2017 FORD FORD EXPLORER EXPLORER 2017 NOW SERVICING SERVICING ALL MAKES AND MODELS AT ANY LOCATION NOW LOCATION FREE CAR WASH WITH EVERY SERVICE VISIT FREE VISIT OPEN SATURDAYS FOR SALES AND SERVICE OPEN SERVICE FAMILY OWNED FOR OVER 45 YEARS FAMILY FREE SERVICE LOANERS AVAILABLE FREE 11
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Dec. Percy Curtis
Bro. Randal Rhymes
Dec. Thomas Huckleberry
Bro. Michael Johnson
Mo. Flora Beasley – Williams
Mo. Nellie Jackson
Sis. Sherrena Shumake-Shaw
Bro. James Copprue
Miss’y Patrice Gunn
Bro. Arthur Lawson
Sis. Denise Evans
Sis. Phyllis Lawson
Michael Riley Allen
Sis. Sizie Love
Baby Springer
Mo. Ella Moore
Baby Christain
Mo. Mary Paige
Bro. Ray Maddox
Bro. Kenny Young
Bro. Joseph Schoonmaker
Dec. Milton Smith
Sis. Thomasine Lyles
Miss’y Chana Jackson
Bro. tommie Lee Hoyt
Bro. Anthony Henderson
Mo. Carolyn Kinnard
Sis. Cynthia Norfleet-Wagner
Mo. Daisy Jackson Mo. Annie Ruth Evans
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Heilmann Recreation Center congratulates
The Open Door On their 25th Church Anniversary Heilmann Recreation Center 19601 Crusade Detroit, Michigan 48205 313-224-9334 Byron Spivey, RCS II
Swimming Archery Ballroom Dancing Exercise Classes Special Populations Program
Website: detroitmi.gov/recreation Facebook: Heilmann Recreation Center—DPRD
Inesha Watts Christina Thomas Essie Williams Janice Paige Michelle P. Thomas Richard Martin Vernessa Wilson Lisa Towns Jerome Ward Margrette Crossmon Lena Warren Chris L Lyric Newton Kozy Nails Lorraine Jankovicz Kathy Gibson
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