History of Inner Circle Holiness Church of Deliverance
In 2011, God called upon Chief Apostle Charles E. Marsh, Jr to step out on his own to begin a ministry for God's people. Chief Apostle Marsh, along with Prophet Pierre Cobb and Prophet Eric Marsh, began having services in the living room of Brother Reginald and Mother Novella Murphy.
People began to gather from across Robeson and neighboring counties to experience a move of God. This ministry had become a place for individuals who had grown exhausted from being bound and restricted in their walk with God and wanted to be free.
The Lord gave Chief Apostle Marsh the name Inner Circle Holiness Church because it represented a small group of individuals who desired an intimate relationship with God. On October 11, 2011 the Articles of Incorporation were filed with the state of North Carolina.
Starting with over 40 people in the living room of a church mother, God began to do great things in this house. Many people came to be saved, delivered, set free, sanctified, healed, and baptized with the Holy Ghost and Fire. God has moved in ways unknown and we wouldn’t have believed it unless we were there to witness for ourselves.
Brother Reginald Murphy, who isn’t saved, never put us out no matter how loud we got nor said anything to us out the way. He never rush our services, he allowed us to worship as loud and long as God was moving.
The crowd grew and the Murphy’s residence got too small and some wanted to add Morning Worship services with the night and mid-week services. The next location to host Inner Circle was the barn behind Apostle Marsh’s house. Years before Inner Circle was founded, Sister Kendra Jessup made a sign picking at Chief Apostle Marsh that read “Barn Tabernacle.” Little did she know, this very sign would be posted in the window. “Barn Tabernacle” that’s what many us would call it. In the winter, we used a wood heater. People would shout and fall out around the heater, but never hit it. One night, Chief Apostle Marsh stood against the heater preached thirty minutes never to be burn or get a blister. During the summer, we used fans and opened windows.
We out grew the barn and moved into a little house given to us by Brother Reginald Murphy. He isn’t saved, but believed Chief Apostle Marsh was a true man of God. This house was located at 195 McAllister Circle Red Springs, North Carolina in the Springside Community. There, this little house was fix up and clean so that the Inner Circle folks could continue to worship God.
In this location, people saw signs and wonders of God in a more powerful way. Prophet Eric Marsh was the first to receive the Holy Ghost and Fire. Elder Steven Jacobs was the first to run a revival which happened to be his first revival. If walls could talk, they would tell you about how God really moved in that little house.
This was a church unlike any other that believed in the true way of Holiness and carried the Apostolic message of the authority of Jesus' name. Because of this, many began to drift away but that did not stop the move of God that was taking place in the little blue house known as Inner Circle.
What was once a home, became a refuge and safe haven for people who needed a place to worship God without restriction. God began to add individuals that were excited about God and wanted to develop a stronger relationship no matter the cost. Prophet John Blakley along with the current Assistant Pastor, Prophetess Julia Blakley, joined the ministry followed by many others. While in Red Springs, God continued to add to the ministry and we knew that it was time to relocate to Lumberton, North Carolina.
While in search for a building, Chief Apostle Marsh received a call from Missionary Jo Ann Robinson of Cromartie Temple of Praise that there was a building that was vacant in the Lumberton area. While reluctant to make the transition, God opened the pathway and Inner Circle was able to secure the building at 45 Harrill Road in Lumberton and the church moved in on January 1, 2015.
While in Lumberton, God began to do new things in the ministry, including changing the name from Inner Circle Holiness Church to Inner Circle Holiness Church of Deliverance. Since the beginning of ICHCOD to its present state, we have faced many challenges and obstacles, but through the strength of God we have persevered and not once has the church stopped its mission. We are a ministry that allows God to move in us and in our services without limits. We took God out of the box and vowed to never restrict his presence and ability in our lives. Because of this, every individual that is a part of Inner Circle has been richly blessed by God and He continues to bless us each day.
Today, we are thankful to God and the Murphy family for blessing us with this place of worship. Chief Apostle Marsh is our Pastor and Founder. Prophet Stelford Smith was the first Assistant Pastor. His wife, Missionary Jessica Smith, was the first missionary at our church. Their son, Austin, became the first drummer and Junior Deacon in Training. God has them currently in the Evangelistic Field, but they are still members of the church. Missionary Sandra Mitchell received her ordination license and began working tentatively in the Missionary field.
Our first musician was Chief Apostle Marsh. He played his three notes in the traditional Holiness tune while singing his old time Holiness and Baptist songs. Prophet Cobb, who is our Junior Pastor and Vice Overseer, is now musician. Sister Shaneice McKinney shared her gift of drumming. She accompanied Prophet Cobb with flair. When playing along with Apostle Marsh, she would play the basics.
The first deacons at Inner Circle were Prophet Eric Marsh and Prophet John Blakley. Our current ministers are Prophet Cobb, Prophetess Blakley, Missionary Mitchell, Prophetess Streeter, Prophet Marsh, Prophet Blakley, Elder Jalen Baxley, Prophetess Glenda Lennon, Prophetess Phyllis Haywood, and Prophetess Sylvia Moran. Our church mothers are Mother Murphy, Mother Locklear, Mother Campbell, and Mother Blackmon. Our musicians are Prophet Cobb and Prophetess Streeter. Pray that Inner Circle goes on a little further.