In days of old, history for many was scarcely put in writing but was passed on by word of mouth.  It is reported that this church was established in 1924 by a small group of saints who were resolved to obey the voice of God.

 

They had no building to assemble in so they met at various homes of the members of this newly established church that they called, THE HOLY OF HOLINESS CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.  After being faithful in that which they had, God blessed them to obtain a storefront on Hobson Street in Itta Bena, MS where they began to assemble, worshipping and praising the God of their salvation. At this point in the church’s pilgrimage the Lord revealed a new name for the church to Elder Pitts who was not the pastor but a faithful member and minister of the gospel.  The new name was SAINTS REST CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.  This name emerged as the saints could now rest from their traveling and meeting from house to house.

 

The first pastor was Elder Isaac Williams.  Names of other pioneers, elders and possibly even pastors were:  Elder David Pitchford, Elder Nathan Johnson, Elder H.G. Higgs, and Elder Henson, Otho Pinnington, John Welts, and George Giles.  The records indicate that the trustees of the church on January 24, 1928 purchased real estate property for the purpose of building a new church.

 

Another pastor was Elder J. Johnson and in 1936 the Lord called him from labor here on earth to his reward in heaven.  God in His faithfulness promoted as pastor Elder V.C. Thompson who served until his passing.  Bishop B.S. Lyles served as the interim pastor at the passing of Elder Thompson. Bishop Lyles commenced to lead the congregation in the building of a new church.  It was erected but not completed.   He appointed Elder I. Slack as the new pastor with the assignment to complete the new building.   Elder Slack did finish the building and added a dining hall for the saints to fellowship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In later years, Elder Slack was reassigned.  The Saints Rest Church received Elder T. B. Copprue, Sr. who served faithfully preaching the word, praying for the saints and playing his guitar until the Lord called him home to his reward.

 

Before Elder Copprue passed, due to failing health God in his faithfulness provided someone to assist him in his declining years in the person of Elder W. B. Davis.  In 1972 Elder Copprue was succeeded by the preacher who had so diligently assisted him.  Elder William Birkett Davis, Sr. became the next pastor of Saints Rest and served for 31 years.

 

When Elder Davis took over the church it was an old wood frame building.  In 1985 the new brick building was dedicated unto the Lord for service under the leadership of Elder Davis.

 

At the passing of Elder Davis the Lord promoted a young man who had been raised up in the church, Elder Samuel Sago became his successor in March of 2003.  Elder Sago spent 18 years in Texas and having been instructed of the Lord, he and the late Renat Sago and their two children returned to Mississippi in 1995.  The church has progressed in many ways both naturally and spiritually.  After the passing of his first wife the Lord showed Pastor Sago great favor and blessed him with another lovely wife, Evang. Barbara Jackson Sago and Lord has added to the church and has wonderfully blessed the saints.  Pastor Sago says “it’s alright if we change the method as long as we don’t change the message of Jesus Christ."

 

After much planning and labor, in August 2015 the Lord blessed this growing congregation to enter into PHASE ONE of their building project which is a brand new sanctuary able to seat approximately 500 souls.  God has been good to the Saints Rest Church Family in years past but He spoke to this pastor that the time of the saints resting was now over and it was time to begin to walk in a more victorious way, so the church was renamed as the Victorious Faith Ministries COGIC according to I John 5:4 “… this is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith..”  We believe this is our finest hour and that the best is yet to come as we endeavor to provide a place of exceptional ministry for the masses.  A place where everybody can feel like somebody, the bound can be loosed, the oppressed can be set free, the sick can be healed, the gospel can be preached as well as lived, the sinner can be saved from all their sin and the Lord our God can receive all the glory that is due unto His holy name.