Pastor & Church History
Our Former Pastor the late Aaron H., Sr. & First Lady Shelby F. Redd:
Our second former Pastor and first lady are multitalented servants of God. The late Bishop Aaron H. Redd, DDiv., served as Pastor for Grace Temple for 35 years. He is the son of our late
founding pastor, Viola Shelton Redd and Deacon Walter Harrison Redd.
Mother Shelby F. Redd is the daughter of the late, Cass and Janie Williams. They had been married for over 55 years and blessed with six sons. Aaron, Jr., (the late) Wayne, Michael, (the late) Karl, Terry, and Mark.
Pastor A.H. Redd received his Bachelor and Doctorate degrees from Aenon Bible College.
Bishop Redd had served in almost every capacity of the church including the Usher Board, choir, quartet,
Sunday School, Deacon Board, Trustee Board, and the office of Assistant Pastor.
In 1978, he was elevated to District Elder of the West Virginia and Tennessee Council of the Pentecostal
Assemblies of the World, Inc., (PAW). District Elder Redd was elevated to Suffragan Bishop in 1996, and after the passing of Bishop B.T. Jones in 1997, he served as Bishop of the 23rd Diocese of the PAW until 2009.
The Lord called Bishop Redd home for eternal rest on January 31, 2011.
​
Former First Lady Shelby Redd was the key pianist for Grace Temple for many years and is currently the Matriarch of Grace Temple Church.
_PNG.png)
Pastor Mark & First Lady Tasha Redd
Pastor Mark A. Redd is the son of Bishop Aaron H. Redd, Sr. and Mother Shelby Redd. Elder Redd was saved June 1990. After a two year struggle with the calling of the Lord, he accepted his calling in October 1999. In July 2004, he became a licensed, ordained minister of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. Pastor Redd was installed as Pastor of Grace Temple Church by PAW Presiding Bishop Charles Ellis, III in September of 2007. Pastor Redd was ordained a District Elder in the WV/ETN Council, District 23 in July of 2010.
Elder Redd has worked in many capacities within the church which include; Van Driver, Sunday School Teacher, Musician (Saxophone), Choir Member, Ordained Deacon, President and Vice-President of the Men's Ministry auxiliary, Vacation Bible School Coordinator, Sunday School Superintendent, Community Outreach ministries, and Bible Class Teacher. He has also held offices in the West Virginia and East Tennessee Council, District 23.
Pastor Redd is a 1982 Science Hill High School graduate; graduating from Northeast State Comm. College with an Assc. Degree in Mechanical Engineering and received a Bachelor’s degree from Newburgh Theological College in Pastoral Leadership.
In September of 1989, Elder Redd married Sister Tasha (Whiteside) Redd, and to their union was added (4) children.
Our Church History:
The founder and former pastor, Viola Shelton Redd was saved on August 6, 1925 in Gary, West Virginia. She returned to Johnson City, Tennessee in June 1928 to become a minister. Other ministers and workers joined her in soul-winning campaigns and a church, Grace Temple Church was organized.
V.S. Redd was installed as pastor. Walter Haynes and Walter Redd were placed as deacons. At a later date Evangelist, Verlie Haynes was placed as Assistant Pastor and still later; the late, Suffragan Bishop Ozell Carter became the assistant Pastor.
After the Church was organized, it was like the Tabernacle having no permanent house of worship, wandering. In 1941, Mr. James Brown (deceased) a dear friend built and sold to Grace Temple Church its first site, (in rear of the old church at 333 Magnolia Avenue). Mr. Jess Wilson sold to the lot at 333 Magnolia Avenue, where a brick-tile structure was erected, chiefly of community effort. This building was completed July 11, 1944 and
was dedicated by Bishop Samuel K. Grimes, (decreased) Presiding Bishop of the P.A. of W.
In the year of 1964, the city of Johnson City informed our church that the land in this area was for redevelopment. Our old church site was sold and a new building was erected in the name of the Lord at 130 Garden Drive. On the first Sunday of May 1965, the laying of the corner stone and the dedication services were held. Bishop B.T. Jones officiated.
In the year 1966, Elder Aaron H. Redd, Sr. was ordained to the ministry in Huntington, West Virginia
by Bishop of the Diocese, B.T. Jones. After the passing of his father, Deacon Walter H. Redd in 1967,
and later the passing of his mother, the former pastor V.S. Redd, Elder Aaron Redd, was installed by the
late Bishop B. T. Jones on January 9, 1971 and became the pastor of Grace Temple Church.
In 1983 we purchased another lot, which we hope will help us in building. In April 1985, we gained possession of the former Dunbar School property at 208 Garden Drive, which is located next door to Grace Temple Church, and which has many rooms and space for our long sought after expansion so much needed. Renovations now complete, on May 11, 1986, the late Bishop B.T. Jones dedicated the new edifice and the Corner Stone was laid, and the mortgage burned.
For over 30 years in our new location, God has blessed us continuously. The blessings do not stop here! The sanctuary was recently expanded to 6,750 square feet to seat a capacity of 500 people with
all new interior design completed August 2011 by current Pastor Mark Redd.
​
And the Vision Continues!