Our Story
In the early 70’s, Elder Alvin and Sister Mamie Leonard pursued their call to a powerful ministry. In 1973, Elder Alvin Leonard was ordained as an elder in the Church of God in Christ by the late Bishop J.A. Blake, Sr. and appointed as assistant pastor of Mount Calvary Church of God in Christ, in Los Angeles, California.
After serving as assistant pastor for more than fifteen years, in November 1986, he was called to a pastoral ministry and began holding services in their home where the Greater Deliverance Church of God in Christ was birthed! After a very short period of time, the congregation relocated to Inglewood, California and services were held at the Airport Park Hotel.
In January 1987, God blessed the church to relocate to 6117 West Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. It was here that God led Sister Mamie Leonard to begin a weekly prayer meeting. Through her obedience to God, a powerful anointing was ushered into the midst of God’s people. This powerful and anointed prayer meeting of Sister Mamie Leonard and her identical twin sister, Sister Martha Featherston, along with their faithful and dedicated spiritual warfare team has now grown into an Inter-Denominational Prayer Ministry, which is renowned all over the world.
In May 1992, Greater Deliverance was blessed to purchase a building down the street, located at 6419 West Boulevard, Inglewood, California, which we thought would be our new church home, but God had other plans. The building was utilized by our own Sister Dorothy Johnson (“Momma Dot”) as a food distribution center for over 10 years. This building now serves as our Youth Center and is an outreach ministry and educational center for our community.
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.” (Luke 6:38). Through Pastor Leonard’s leadership and hard work, the Greater Deliverance Church family is here today, debt-free!
In 2003, Elder Mark Leonard, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, came to stand by his father’s side in the ministry and in the pulpit, after serving faithfully in the ministries at Church of the Harvest International, located in Hollywood, California, under the leadership of Bishop Clarence E. McClendon. Elder Mark Leonard also has a passion for young people and served as Greater Deliverance’s Youth Pastor.
Pastor Alvin Leonard’s legacy continues as the “spiritual mantle” has been passed to his ordained and visionary son, Elder Mark Leonard, who now serves as the Pastor of Greater Deliverance Church of God in Christ.
(First Lady Emeritus Mamie Leonard)and his brother, Minister Timothy Leonard (gifted song-bird and brilliant percussionist), Pastor Mark Leonard will continue to take this church to new spiritual heights, as he prepares us all with the Word to seek God’s kingdom first and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33); utilize our power through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and to be ready when Jesus comes!