Church History

Founded in 1944 by the late Pastor Pearlie Blanchard, originally established as Pentecostal Holiness Church of the Workers’ Training Home, Inc. Three years later, several other elders came (one by the name of Elder Franklin). Elder Franklin shortly left and was followed by Elder Winford F. Lamb. Elder Lamb became the pastor, and all property was conveyed to the Guiding Light Apostolic Church of Christ.

When Elder Lamb came, the original site was not as attractive as it is now. At that time there was no gravel, no tar, and no cement streets. Only a dirt path, with woods and muddy water, that led to the almost cardboard place of worship. Elder Lamb was not very impressed with what he saw, but felt in his heart that God led him there to bring the church out of the wilderness.

Through much prayer and fasting, he sought the Lord for confirmation of his stay, in which he requested God to send someone he had never seen before. The request was answered with the arrival of an elderly saint. Then Elder Lamb was inspired to continue on. During the next few difficult years, with about five or six elderly members and some children, he began working on the building of the second church. The five or six elderly members did not depress Elder Lamb. For many days he worked alone, but because of his zeal, the second house of God was completed, round altar and all. God continued to direct the steps of Elder Lamb.

Elder Lamb had another vision for Guiding Light, and again the work began. With the help of faithful brethren, the dining room was built on the second floor. As Elijah said there would be no rain for a season, Elder Lamb prayed there would be no rain until the roof was on, and it was so. God honored his request. It rained around it, but not on it.

In 1954, Elder Lamb had a vision to go to Belcross, NC, and start a second church for the Lord. The building consisted of one room, a worn porch, cinder blocks for stairs, worn benches to sit on, an old heater, kerosene lamps to see by night, a man-made pulpit, a piano, one old drum, and an out-house in the woods. Just like in Virginia, Elder Lamb had a vision to build a new place of worship, and it came to pass. He was faithful, traveling between Virginia and North Carolina to have services at both places of worship.

Later, Elder Lamb became bishop. He encountered sickness, in which he asked God to give him five more years to live. God again granted his request and gave him three years more. Bishop Lamb touched many lives with his wisdom, faith, and endurance. There is nothing new to be said of Bishop Lamb. There is nothing new to be said of the mountains, the sea, or the stars. The years may go their way, but the same old mountains lift their granite shoulders above the drifting clouds. The same mysterious seas beat upon the shore, and the same silent stars keep holy vigil above the world. But to mountains and seas and stars, men turn forever in unwearied homage, and thus it was with Bishop Lamb. For he was a mountain in grandeur of soul. He was the sea, deep in voice of mystic lowliness. He was a star in steadfast purity of purpose and of service.

Next, Bishop Alfred P. Bolden, Sr. became the pastor after the passing away of Bishop Lamb in 1995. Bishop Bolden took the mantle and continued the work of the Lord. The Lord gave Bishop Bolden a vision to rebuild the sanctuary. He hired a contractor and an architect to remove the middle of the old church to build the new sanctuary. The separate kitchen/dining room building was integrated into the new construction to make one building, keeping the legacy and memory of the old with the vision and future of the new.

The church address was 115 Cavalier Blvd, but after the new construction started, Bishop Bolden had it changed to the address of the adjacent building, which made all the structures one.

One Lord (1), one faith (1), one baptism (1)
111 Cavalier Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23701.

Bishop Douglas M. Anthony, Sr. became the pastor after the passing away of Bishop Bolden in 2007. The construction was finished in March 2009. The work of the Lord continues to go forth.