70th Church Anniversary Program

Prayer Tower Ministries

It is with great joy that we greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as we celebrate 70 years as an organized church. On behalf of all the members of Prayer Tower, past and present, we are humbled that God has shown us His Favor and Grace.

We can’t move forward without remembering our past and thanking God for our founder, the late Robert L. Dorris and the late pastor Warren C. Dorris, Sr., for their dedication to this ministry. We honor the memory of all those great saints who helped this ministry thrive who have been called from labor to reward. We shall never forget their sacrifice.

We would like to thank all of you who came to celebrate with us. You are always welcome here at Prayer Tower Ministries.

To God be the Glory for the things he has done.

Worship

Church of God in Christ

Testament

Testament

of Ceremonies

Van Sampleton

Prayer Tower Ministries, COGIC

.Pastor Frank Edmon, Jr. Lively Hope, COGIC

Pastor Willie Mingo Spirit & Power Ministries, COGIC

…Pastor Melvin Leach Perfect Love Ministries, COGIC

.Bishop Warren C. Dorris

Pastor Clarence Harris Love Feast COGIC Gary, IN

Choir

Missionary Beverly Kindle

Higher Heights Deliverance, COGIC

Elder Kevin Dorris Holy Temple, COGIC

Bishop Edwin Walker

Northern Illinois Jurisdiction, Prelate

Choir

Bishop Warren C. Dorris

Rita Dorris

Tower Ministries, COGIC

Pastor Dwayne Barefield

Nations, COGIC

Assist. L. Jerome Beal

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Warren C. Dorris

Bishop Warren C. Dorris

THE SPOKEN WORD

Bishop J. Drew Sheard

Chief Apostle, Presiding Bishop Church of God in Christ, Inc.

Bishop Warren and Lady Dorris

Prayer Tower Ministries

Church of God in Christ Est. 1952

1952 - 1998

Robert L. Dorris and his wife Mattye moved from Winona, Mississippi to Joliet, IL in 1941. Robert and Mattye were saved under the late Bishop Green. Robert was not satisfied with living in Joliet, consequently, he moved back to Mississippi. On April 14, 1944, Robert received the Holy Ghost while sitting on an old pine stump, and the Lord called him into the ministry the same day.

Between the years of 1944 and 1946, Elder Robert Dorris moved back and forth from Illinois to Mississippi several times before making Joliet his home in 1947. Robert and Mattye were blessed with four children (Charlotte Maxine, Edward Earl, Robert Donald and Beverly Rose). Robert joined the Water Street Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Pastor Harvey Brooks. He served as Junior Pastor and was faithful in the service of the Lord. As he was considering relocation to Michigan, the Lord began to deal with him and reveal his purpose. He ultimately decided to move to Lockport, IL, where the Lord had a great work for him to do.

Prayer Tower’s first place of worship was a borrowed army tent in Lockport, IL. The Lord blessed in that tent revival and many souls were saved. In 1952, when winter came, Elder Robert Dorris moved the church into the basement of his home. That year Elder Robert Dorris founded and established Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ. Later, the church moved from his basement into a small house that Elder and Sister Richard Chandler made available. The Lord saved souls in that small place, yokes were broken and God added to the church.

The Lord spoke to Pastor Robert Dorris and said, “Build me a House”; so the pastor and members went to work and built God a house. In 1957, the white block church was finished, and dedicated by the late Bishop John O. Mason. Pastor Robert Dorris and First Lady Mattye Dorris worked as a team. They used

wisdom and the leading of the Lord to organize the different departments in the church; The Music Department which consisted of the Shinettes, Junior Choir and Senior Choir, was organized by First Lady Mattye Dorris. She also started 6:00 a.m. morning prayer. As the church progressed, the morning prayer hour was changed to 9:00 a.m. Pastor Robert Dorris set up the Deacon’s Board, Usher Board and other Women’s Auxiliaries as needed.

As the membership grew, it was evident that a larger facility was needed to worship in. In 1971, Pastor Robert Dorris was led by God to purchase a building at 454 East Cass Street, Joliet, IL. In less than four years, the church was paid in full. God blessed his faithfulness!

Under his leadership, God blessed Prayer Tower with five dedicated women of God who have served as Church Mother. Ethel Chandler became the first Church Mother, followed by Mother Estelle Weathers, and Mother Beatrice Thomas, all of whom are deceased. Mother Mary Amos was appointed Church Mother after Mother Beatrice Thomas resigned to begin a street ministry that God had imparted into her heart. Also under his leadership, sixteen ministers were ordained (Elder Warren Dorris, Sr., Elder Lee Chester Dorris, Sr., Elder Willie Russell, Sr., Elder Robert Crawford, Elder Samuel Allen, Elder Leonard Rimpson, Elder O’Bryant, Elder Chester Lindsey, Elder Eldridge Smith, Elder Larry Burts, Elder Lee Chester Dorris, Jr., Elder Alex Moore, Jr., Elder John King, Elder Frank Edmon, Jr., Elder Melvin Leach and Elder Warren C. Dorris, Jr.).

Pastor Robert Dorris held the following positions in the Church of God in Christ: Superintendent of the Mt. Sinai District, Chairman of the Council of Pastors & Elders and 2nd Administrative Assistant of Northern IL Jurisdiction. He can be credited for always being a faithful supporter of the church and served under leadership of five Jurisdictional Bishops (Bishop William Roberts, Bishop Cain Scott, Bishop John O. Mason, Bishop Isaiah Roberts and Bishop Cody V. Marshall).

First Lady Mattye Dorris passed away on December 11, 1975. After her death, Pastor Robert Dorris married Sis. Jeffie Dorris, and she worked by his side faithfully for twenty two years serving as church choir president, church secretary, prayer and bible band teacher, homeless shelter ministry worker, nursing home ministry worker, Sunday school teacher, missionary and District Pastor & Ministers Wives’ President. Mother Jeffie Dorris, who currently serves on the Mother’s Board, was the pastor’s caregiver during his illness until his death.

Pastor Robert Dorris passed away on July 30, 1998 after forty-six years in ministry. Before his death, God blessed him to renovate and add an addition to the church at 454 East Cass St. Prayer Tower was blessed with a great founder and leader; a man with a vision. God ultimately promoted him again and said, “Well done my faithful servant, come up higher”.

1998 - 2005

On August 4, 1998, after the passing of the late Pastor Robert Dorris, Bishop Cody Marshall appointed the assistant pastor, Elder Warren C. Dorris, Sr. as pastor. Pastor Warren Dorris Sr. joined Prayer Tower in 1952 when the church was founded and was a devoted member working by his brother’s side with his wife First Lady Margaret Dorris. He served as a choir member, deacon, trustee and assistant pastor, while First Lady Margaret worked as president of the senior choir and on the fundraising committee, youth ministry, pastor’s aid board and Mother’s Board, where she served until her passing.

Pastor Warren C. Dorris, Sr. had his own style of preaching and proclaiming the gospel. His work was not only at Prayer Tower, it also took him outside the walls of Prayer Tower, serving in sever al state and district positions. He served faithfully as pastor for seven years. During his tenure, God blessed several men to become ministers and elders and several women to become mission aries. Mother Mary Amos worked alongside with Pastor Warren C. Dorris, Sr. until his retirement. Also, major renovations was made to the church’s basement facilities on Cass Street. After seven years of dedicated pastoral leadership, he assumed the position of pastor emeritus and his son, Warren C. Dorris, Jr. was appointed pastor of Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ. Pastor Warren C. Dorris, Sr. passed away on December 27, 2010 after fifty-eight years of dedicated service to Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ.

Warren C. Dorris,.Jr. PASTOR

2005 -

Elder Warren C. Dorris, Jr. was appointed assistant pastor of Prayer Tower in the fall of 2001. After Pastor Warren C. Dorris, Sr. retired in November 2005, Bishop Cody Marshall appointed Elder Warren C. Dorris, Jr. as pastor. Warren, a lifetime member of Prayer Tower, was called to the gospel ministry in 1993. He was ordained in 1996 by Bishop Cody Marshall. In 2021 he was elevated to Bishop of the Venezuela Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.

Pastor Warren C. Dorris, Jr. appointed Elizabeth Brooks to be the church mother and Meredith Beene as assistant church mother. He also appointed Elder Scott Brooks, Sr. to be senior assistant pastor. Elder Brooks and Mother Brooks served faithfully in the church until they relocated to Texas in 2017. After the Brooks moved to Texas, Mother Meredith Beene was appointed Church Mother and Elder Van Sampleton was appointed senior assistant pastor.

Pastor Warren C. Dorris, Jr. is an anointed and dynamic preacher of the gospel. He is forceful and energetic in his approach to the ministry and meets with much success in the matter of soul winning. He is committed to winning souls for Christ. His wife, First Lady Rita Dorris, works faithfully by his side and is the chairperson of the Women’s Ministry. Under her leadership, a book store was established to provide women of all ages with information in the areas of spiritual growth, health awareness and social support. She has been dedicated to the outreach ministry at Daybreak, a shelter for the homeless, Morning Star Missions, and continued the Prayer Tower’s food pantry to feed the homeless.

Pastor Warren C. Dorris, Jr. was led by the Lord to build the edifice at 500 Stryker Avenue in Joliet, Illinois. In the fall of 2012, the new edifice was dedicated to the Lord. God continues to bless, save, heal and deliver people from their infirmities. Under his ministry, history was made when four great women of God was licensed by the state of Illinois as ordained elders, (Elder Lena Alexander, Elder Delores Hampton, Elder Denise Montgomery and Elder Lynette Samuel). There have also been men who became ministers and elders.

Prayer Tower has a tradition of being actively involved in the lives of those in need. Pastor Warren C. Dorris, Jr. and First Lady Rita Dorris has kept the foundation that this church was built upon and still have been able to move it forward to meet the needs of the people currently. The church participates in outreach programs such as feeding and ministering to the homeless, ministering to the elderly, visiting the sick in area hospitals and nursing facilities and intercessory prayer. He believes the goal of the church is to make a difference in the immediate neighborhood and community.

Pastor Warren C. Dorris, Jr., First Lady Rita Dorris, along with the members of Prayer Tower Ministries strives to remain a church that is committed to prayer. A church where love dwells, built on hopes, dreams and visions. A church that is the rock of faith and the vault of God’s grace. A church

“Committed to Winning Souls for Christ”.

Bishop John Drew Sheard was born on January 1, 1959, in Detroit, Michigan, to Bishop and Mrs. John Henry Sheard. He matriculated at Wayne State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, and a Master of Education degree in Mathematics. He was saved at a young age under the pastorate of the late Bishop John Seth Bailey, and later acknowledged his call to the ministry under the guidance of his father. He worked diligently in several positions in the church locally and nationally including serving as choir director, Chairman of both local and state youth departments, as National Adjutant Overseer, Executive Secretary of the International Youth Department, and in various civic capacities including Executive Director of the Michigan Chapter of the SCLC, and as a board member of the Michigan Anti-Apartheid Council.

Bishop Sheard’s visionary leadership provoked phenomenal growth and the implementation of innovative programs in both his local church and the International church. During his tenure as International Youth Department President for the Churches of God in Christ, the national youth department instituted many youth programs including the formation of the “Peersuaders,” Young Women of Excellence – “YWE,” Young Men of Valor – “YMV,” the Young Excited and Saved Club –“YES” Club, and the implementation of area rallies leading up to the annual Music & Youth –“MY” convention. He was also the founder of the C. D. Owens Scholarship that assisted gifted and aspiring students entering college with some of their many expenses. While Chairman of the “AIM” Convention, he helped boost that convention’s attendance and fiscal accountability.

Bishop Sheard’s ideas have propelled him to the forefront of both the civic and religious community, and have gained him recognition as a “bridge builder” to other denominations. Currently, he serves as a member of the Presidium of the Church of God in Christ, Jurisdictional Bishop of the Michigan- North Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and as the Senior Pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit, MI. In 2004, Bishop Sheard received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree, and in 2007 was inducted into the prestigious Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers.

In 2009, Bishop Sheard and his wife, Karen Clark-Sheard, founded Karew Records, a faith-based record label focusing on various forms of Gospel, Christian and Inspirational music.

Bishop Sheard’s accomplishments, coupled with his abundant love and unfeigned devotion to God and the church, instills within his members the confidence that he is a leader capable of taking them to the next level of Ministry.

Bishop Sheard is married to Evg. Karen Clark Sheard and has two children, Kierra Valencia and J. Drew, II. He is the proud grandfather of two.

Lady Beverly Kindle is the First Lady at Higher Heights Deliverance COGIC, St. Louis, Mo; where her spouse Admin. Assist.- Superintendent Melvin Kindle serves as pastor. She is the daughter of the late Robert Lee Dorris and the late Mattye Lee Dorris, founders of Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ.

The Lord began dealing with Beverly at a young age; she experienced the Holy Ghost at the age of six. Throughout those formative years as she followed her mother to services, prayer meetings and conventions, the Lord was preparing her for the work she’s now doing.

The Lord birthed in her to have a women’s conference to empower thwm to live a holy life of purpose. Seeing that so many women that dealt with self-worth issues, the Lord gave her to name the conference “Women of Worth.” That conference has touched the lives of many women and they look forward to it every year. She also works in Eastern Missouri First Jurisdiction Department of Women as President of the Board of Examiners and Chairman of the Program Committee. She is the Coordinator for Angel Tree, with Prison Fellowship hosting Christmas Parties for children with an incarcerated parent. She looks for resources and supporters to help God’s people in every area of their lives. Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” has been a scripture to propel her to work in the spirit of excellence. She continues seeking God for avenues to support the people of God.

Lady Kindle retired from a non-profit organization as Office Manager. She take pride in being a wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many.

Administrative Assistant-Superintendent Melvin L. Kindle is the Pastor and founder of the Higher Heights Deliverance Church of God in Christ, located on the south side of St. Louis, Mo.

He was saved in 1975 under his father in law, the late Supt. Robert L. Dorris at Prayer Tower COGIC, Joliet, IL.

Supt. Kindle has a B.S. Degree from The Ohio State University and a MBA from the University of Chicago. Supt. Kindle is retired from his career in Corporate America which took him and his family to several cities and states. During that time he continued to serve under the leadership of each pastors in various positions including: Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Supt., YPWW Teacher, Deacon, Jr. Pastor, Asst. Pastor, Brotherhood President and Chief Financial Officer of EMFJ and other duties as assigned. Superintendent Kindle now serves as an Admin. Assistant of under the leadership of Bishop William L. Harper, Eastern Missouri First Jurisdiction.

Supt. Kindle is married to First Lady Beverly Dorris Kindle and they have two children; Stephanie (Henry) Wimbley and Nicholas (Teressa) Kindle; and four grandchildren; Lauren, Alexis, Liam and Jayden.

Most importantly, Supt. Kindle loves praying, preaching, and teaching the word and doing whatever he can do to advance the kingdom.

We would like to recognize and extend a heartfelt thanks to the members of the 70th Church Anniversary Committee for making this celebration a success. We would also like to acknowledge the Reunion Choir for their participation.

Bishop Warren C Dorris, Jr.

First Lady Rita Dorris Mother Meridth Beene Elder Demmond Dorris Elder Jeremiah Edwards Minister Michael Knight

Bro. Jamal Gardner

Sis. Brenda Wood

Sis. Lisa Moulton Sis. Jeanette Hamilton Elder Brad Leach, Jr. Excell Amos, Jr

Sis. Cameshia Dorris

Sis. Ivory Crosby

Sis. Tameka Moore Bro.Bill Hamilton Jr

Sis. Reagan Dorris Sis. Wendy Russell

HOSPITALITY

USHERS BOARD NURSE’S UNITSECURITY MEDIA DEPARTMENT

We hope that this occasion will continue to bless your hearts with fond memories to come.