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Miracle
Center was born through Faith, Hope, Love, and Prayer. On Sunday, February
22, 1976, District Elder Petitt rented a storefront at 1551 West Jefferson
Blvd. in Los Angeles, California. With one member, its co-founder, First
Lady, and Assistant Pastor, Evangelist Bennie Ruth Petitt, a great miracle
was in the making. God was with Elder Petitt and Evangelist Petitt and
guided them every step of the way. The Pastor, Elder Petitt, was elated
over the storefront building with a seating capacity of fifty people. He
listened to the mandate of Jesus Christ to preach the good news to the poor
and the broken hearted. He was told by some of his peers that the days of
the storefront churches were over…that he was wasting his time. But God had
already spoken clearly to our Pastor, Dr. Petitt, and given him the
following message: Proverbs 24:27 “Prepare thy work without and make it fit
for thyself in the field, and afterwards build thine house.” He also spoke
to him through I Corinthians 16:9 saying, “For a great door and effectual,
is opened unto you, and there will be many adversaries.” But God said to
Dr. Petitt in Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against thee shall prosper.”
During our first service a backslider was reclaimed, filled with
the Holy Ghost, speaking in Tongues while standing at the altar as Pastor
Petitt prayed for her. It has been these kinds of experiences and
services that God has created an indomitable spirit in Dr. and Evangelist
Petitt and the congregation at Miracle Center. “To God Be The Glory.”
The first
worship service held in our storefront church was encouraging because all
fifty seats were filled to capacity with those seeking our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
We had no guest churches or pastors in our opening service.
We attributed this capacity crowd to the answer to prayer.
Every Sunday, the 50-seat storefront was filled.
In faith we passed out tracks, fliers, and canvassed the
neighborhood for two weeks.
The response gave birth to our Sunday School Department.
Approximately 18 months later in 1977, the Pastor directed a small
congregation and purchased the property located at 1639 W. Jefferson Bl., in
Los Angeles, CA.
The purchase of the property was made by telephone from the late Mr.
Oliver of Memphis, TN, Owner & CEO of Universal Life Insurance Company who
was asking $22,000 – however, having received counsel and wisdom from God,
Pastor Petitt negotiated the price and the building was purchased for
$19,000.
“Praise God” another miracle was performed!
It was a beautiful brick building, with a seating capacity
of 150 – 175 people.
Four years later in 1981,
the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA/LA) bought the same property through
imminent domain process.
The church received $103,000.
At that time, the Pastor, Evangelist Petitt and the members
had to pray and seek God for another place of worship.
With God’s counsel and direction following the CRA/LA
purchase of 1639 W. Jefferson Bl., Miracle Center was relocated to 2638 S.
Western Ave.
In the old CRA building, which was called the bungalows.
It was during this time that God re-affirmed and spoke to the Pastor
through His Word again in Proverbs 24:27:
“Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in
the field, and afterward build thing house.”
And being a man of great invincible faith, District Eld.
Petitt moved forward making plans to build God’s house – still another
miracle!
The Lord was with us, and guided our Pastor through each phase of the
ministry.
After God re-affirmed His Word, Pastor Petitt moved forward without having
prior approval or consent from the CRA/LA or the City and purchased two lots
(paying cash); one for $37,000 and the other for $45,000, so he could build
God’s house.
From 1981 – 1986, Miracle Center was housed at 2638 S. Western Ave., while
making preparations to demolish the old building for construction of the new
building.
To this day Miracle Center holds a unique position in the City of Los
Angeles because it is the only church built in a redevelopment area.
35 Years ago the City of Los Angeles was not “Church Friendly” as it
is today, so we had to fight and struggle against the Community, CRA/LA, and
the City of
Los Angeles to erect a church on this site.
A church is not a tax paying institution, and because the first
amendment speaks for the separation of “Church and State”, the City of Los
Angeles and CRA/LA tried to deny Miracle Center the right to build a church
in the redevelopment are. But by
faith we kept buying land near the site
so eventually the CRA/LA had to give into us!
During this struggle Dr. Petitt found
favor with the late Dr. Thomas Kilgore Jr. who was one of the commissioners
appointed by the late Mayor Tom Bradley to serve on the Board of
Commissioners of the CRA/LA.
Dr. Kilgore was the founder and president of the community
based organization “The Black Agenda.”
Dr. Kilgore became a close lifelong friend, advisor and
loyal supporter of Dr. Petitt and the Miracle Center Church Family.
He also appointed Dr. Petitt to serve as the President of
“The Black Agenda” after his retirement, where Dr. Petitt continues to serve
until this day.
Dr. Petitt also found favor with the Chairman of the Board of the
CRA/LA, the late Mr. James Wood for who 9th
Street was named after his demise.
Bishop Carl W. Stewart and other Apostolic Ministerial
Alliance Pastors supported Dr. Petitt and Miracle Center in this struggle to
build a church in the redevelopment area by going down to the City Hall.
We prayerfully chose our architect, contractor, and sub-contractors to
make our Church Edifice a Blessing to the Community.
The careful and discriminating taste was employed in the
color selections, types of materials, quality of merchandise, and the
artistic genius of Dr. and Evangelist Petitt was divinely motivated to
acquire the blend of harmony for this unique coordination.
Long hours of prayer, sharing, exchanging ideas, hours of
negotiations with Divine guidance from the Almighty made the beauty of this
edifice come together.
The Church was temporarily housed at the
Betty Hill Recreational Center, 3570 South Denker Avenue while our present
sanctuary was being built. God blessed us when these doors were opened to
us.
After 2 years of waiting for our beautiful new edifice to be erected, on
Sunday, September 18, 1988, we motorcaded from 3570 South Denker Avenue to
2638 South Western Avenue where the ‘MIRACLE ON WESTERN AVENUE” had been
performed with the support of Bishop Carl W. Stewart, Dr. Thomas Kilgore,
Jr. and others.
And, that’s not all – the miracles
continued! In
1989, Miracle Center purchased the building next door for $250,000.
With $50,000 down to close escrow, this was another leap of
faith. The
same year that the Medical Center next door was purchased for $250,000 Dr.
Petitt rejected a legal Bill of Sale offer of $650,000.
By so doing he refused to except a $400,000 profit, this was
yet another leap of faith.
In 1996, the church purchased an additional property, a
single family home at 2646 South Western Avenue.
We have a “New Vision” at Miracle Center, and the Miracles continue…
In 2002, God inspired our pastor to
completely eliminate the mortgage debt on Miracle Center after 14 years, in
preparation for continued expansion and growth. Under the direction of God
and the leadership of our pastor, Miracle Center has stepped out once again
on faith and committed to purchase
two parcels of land adjacent to our existing church property. The
parcels of land span the distance from 27th Street expanding from Hobart
Ave. to Western Avenue. The size of both parcels combined is 22,500 square
feet. The purchase price including fees for both parcels was approximately
$550,000. What a wonderful addition to God’s House!
Therefore, this is a twofold celebration, one, The Burning
of the Mortgage and secondly the acquisition of the property on 27th
street expanding from Hobart to Western.
God
already has a plan for this valuable asset. Future plans for the recently
acquired site is to create additional parking and to develop a Senior
Citizen’s Complex or an Affordable Housing Project. The plans are already in
progress; our pastor has been working diligently for years with community
leaders on redevelopment plans for the community. To date he has commitments
from many that will support our project, through faith and by the grace of
God the work is done.
Our Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Officers and Members are
anticipating expanded growth for a Child Care Center and Educational
facility adjacent to our Church property.
Our Church has been powerfully blessed with great
men, women, and children who have stood up for our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. We
have sacrificed, prayed, and proclaimed the Kingdom of God.
Officers and members have joined hearts and hands in prayer
for the “Miracle On Western Avenue.”
“To God Be the Glory!”
Our church edifice stands as a monument to our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. The fair market values
of our properties are in excess of 5.5 to 6 million dollars.
Every goal and objective was divinely inspired.
Through the entire project, God was, and is, always with us!
It took a MIRACLE! To God
Be The Glory!
Miracle Center Ministries
Some of the ministries at Miracle Center include; The Miracle Center
Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Christian Education Department, Usher
Board, Voices of Hope and Deliverance Choir, The Anointed Ones, Brotherhood,
Healthcare Professionals , Singles Ministry, Adult Care Ministry, The Rites
of Passage Program for boys and girls, Sick and Shut-In Ministry, Hurting
Women’s Ministry, Youth Ministry the 19 year old “Faith For Today” Radio
Broadcast which can be heard Monday through Friday from 8:00 – 8:15 a.m. and
7:15 – 8:15 p.m. on
KTYM 1460 A.M. dial, and the Pastor’s Aid Committee.
Over the past 35 years of ministry, thousands of souls have been touched
and many of souls have been saved through the anointed preaching of the
unadulterated Word of God by Suff. Bishop Petitt, Assistant Pastor, First
Lady Dr. Bennie R. Petitt and Associate Ministers.
We will continue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all
that will hear until Jesus comes.
The Vision and Dream continues as Bishop Petitt, Pastor and Dr. Bennie
R. Petitt, First Lady and Assistant Pastor, Officers, and Members have
committed themselves to make the great “MIRACLE ON WESTERN AVENUE” an
anointed place of worship.
Remember it takes Team Work to make the Dream Work and
Together
Everyone
Achieves
More.
We are grateful to our Almighty God for the “MIRACLE ON WESTERN
AVENUE!” TO
GOD BE THE GLORY!
“We’ve Come Thus Far by Faith!”
Without a doubt, “The Lord Has Done Great Things For Us Whereof We Are
Glad.”
(Psalms 126:3)
Revised
4/9/2011
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