In 1980 Elder E. A. Perry, along with his wife Missionary Delores Perry, his sister Dorothy (Dot) and children Trea and Andrew II began having prayer meetings and Bible Study in their home located in Castle Haynes a suburb of Wilmington, NC. Students from the University of North Carolina Wilmington UNCW, where Elder Perry was employed full - time began to join them.
November 1980 the Lord directed Elder Perry to rent a store front building in Holy Ridge, NC. This was the beginning of the United Temple Church of God In Christ and the call of a Great Pioneer. Military Families stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC began attending services at the Holy Ridge location. In spite of the 25 mile drive they eagerly rushed to Sunday Morning Worship Services. As the attendance grew the Vision of serving military personnel stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC and surrounding bases lead to military relocating to Jacksonville, NC
In 1983 the ministry moved to a storefront building located in the downtown Jacksonville area. 414 Mill Avenue was the new home for United Temple Church of God In Christ. Military and civilian families began witnessing the power of God as the Gospel was taught and preached by Elder E. A. Perry. After 17 months of worship in the Mill Avenue Storefront the desire to worship God in a Church edifice began to overshadow all other plans. An old Church building, which served as a former Community Action for Senior Citizens was purchased.
Hard work was a prerequisite for moving into the old building located at 124 Market Street off of Bell Fork Road. At that time Bell Fork Road was the only major access road that intersected Hwy 17 North/South and Hwy 24 East/West leading in and out of Jacksonville. All local travel eventually led to the Bell Fork Road vicinity.
November, 1984 the first Sunday Worship Service was held in Church Edifice. The first sermon was titled "New Beginnings." Elder E. A. Perry and all members began to pray for a great outpouring of God's blessing on the community and the city of Jacksonville. The theme for the ministry was found in Proverbs 29:18 "Where There Is No Vision The People Perish".
1988 the ministry's name was changed from United Temple to Beth'EL Word Ministries COGIC. In 1989 God spoke to Pastor E. A. Perry to build a New Church Home. While ministering at the Market Street location Prophet Mark Chirrona confirmed the new church to be built on a major thoroughfare. Worship Services began being held in Bell Fork Elementary School to accommodate the growth in membership. Land was purchased off Bell Fork Road to begin building. The groundbreaking ceremony was held when God again spoke to Pastor E. A. Perry stating that the property (2 acres) was not large enough. The Vision was much larger than the land purchased.
In 1990 property was purchased on Branch Drive (off Bell Fork Road) to house a Learning Center which served youth ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age.
The ministry continued to grow with military and civilian partners traveling 45 miles one way to attend the services. Partners traveled from Craven, Carteret, Duplin, Pender and New Hanover Counties.
The Market Street Community began experiencing a rise in drug activity and crimes related to drugs. The ministry began prayer vigils for the community along with Community Awareness programs in conjunction with local law enforcement, civic groups and banking institutions. Residents were soon able to return to the quiet southern lifestyle they were accustomed to. The ministry donated land to the city of Jacksonville to develop a park to serve elementary and middle school aged youth. The Market Street Building was renovated to serve as a Youth Center. The Youth Center was a toll of transforming young minds from a lifestyle plagued by violence to a future of hope and peace.
In 1993 Hunters Creek Middle School located in the Piney Green Suburbs of Jacksonville was chosen as the site to hold Sunday Worship Service. Over 70 percent of the partners currently lived in the piney Green Suburbs and travel time was reduced for partners traveling from Cherry Point, and other Northeastern towns. This was all part of the plan of God. The State of North Carolina Transportation Division had begun developing Piney Green Road to serve as the major thoroughfare to Hwy 17 and Hwy 24. With Gods favor 13 acres of land was purchased on Halltown Road (Corner of Piney Green) to build the new church.
10 years later prophecy was fulfilled in May 1999 with the Dedication Services for Beth'EL Word Ministries, Inc. Outreach and Enrichment Center 1675 Halltown Road located on the corner and major thoroughfare in Jacksonville, NC.
Once the building process was finished Pastor E. A. Perry and staff focused on building the people. The years 2000 through 2003 being a season of equipping ministry workers and training lay members for harvest of souls coming from North, South, East and West. The Harvest Campaign was implemented in 2004 with a commitment from new disciples and a rededication from lay members in Evangelism.
The ministry has witnessed spiritual sons and daughters of the Gospel who currently pastor churches in various cities and states returning to join in covenant ministry with Drs. E.A. & Delores Perry to form the Northeastern Fellowship Churches with Beth'EL Word Ministries, Inc. serving as the headquarters.
These Pastors are: Pastor Leroy Kirkland of Elohim Ministries located in Garden City, GA; Pastor Earnest Thomas of Sword of the Spirit Ministries located in Charlotte, NC and Pastor Gary Cypress of New Commission Fellowship located in Havelock, NC.
