Church HistoryA vacant building was found at 165 East 12th Street in Pomona, California. In 1951, that building was purchased by Superintendent Pleas and Mother Jessie Thomas, our foundering Pastor and was named the Mount Sinai Church of God in Christ. Mother Thomas and some of the other sisters conducted a prayer revival and 19 souls were saved. As the membership began to grow, Pastor and Mother Thomas knew they had to expand. After meeting with some of the members, they decided to sell, and in 1957, they purchased the property at 915 South White Avenue. Soon after, Pastor Thomas moved the church to 9th and White, the founder of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason came to Mount Sinai and prayed over and blessed the building, leaders and members. Even where we are today, Bishop Mason walked these grounds and prayed.

Pastor and Mother Thomas worked hard raising money to add classrooms and a dining room to the building. Souls were continually saved and the membership continued to grow, so Pastor Thomas expanded the building and added a pulpit.

In 1980, the Lord visited Pastor Thomas in a vision concerning the “Mt. Sinai Corner”. The church purchased one and a half acres of land adjacent to the property. Later, two additional acres were purchased for expansion. In 1984, the ground breaking ceremony took place for the new sanctuary. During this time of building and reconstruction, the motto was, “It can be done, and by the help of God, we’re going to do it”! On February 17, 1986, Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop Charles E. Blake officiated the dedication services of the lovely sanctuary. The vision became a reality for Pastor and Mother Thomas and the Mt. Sinai Church family. Shortly after the new sanctuary was built, Pastor Thomas expressed his desire for the church to own the convalescent home on White Avenue, the apartment complexes on Ninth Street and the properties across the street from the church. When he was asked which properties across the street, he would laugh and simply say, “All of it”.

We became the Mother Church of several local churches in the Inland Valley. The first Head Start in the Valley began at Mt. Sinai. Mt. Sinai provided a variety of ministries over the years to meet the needs of the community and its growing membership.

Pastor Thomas encouraged his members to be faithful as well. After each service, he would close with the saying, “faithfulness is the price of the crown”, taken from Revelations 2:10. He also encouraged his members to love first, the Lord, and second, all people. He was often heard saying, “if you don’t love everybody, there’s no use of loving anybody.”

Pastor Thomas entered the Church Triumphant on Friday, January 12, 1996 after several years of faithful service to the ministry and to God. Less than a year prior to his passing, Mother Jessie Thomas left her home on earth and made heaven her new home. They both left a great legacy of love and teaching with the Mt. Sinai Church family, the region, state and throughout the brotherhood.
In 1996, Elder John Merchant was appointed as Pastor. Elder Merchant brought new ideas and energy to a growing ministry. His genuine concern for the people of God and his fiery preaching style will never be forgotten.

In July of 2002, Elder Terence P. Rhone was appointed as Senior Pastor of the Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ by Bishop Charles E. Blake. Under his leadership, the ministry has experienced significant growth—membership-wise and financially. Because of this, former building debt was resolved. Also, in keeping with the vision of the “Mt. Sinai Corner”, two more additional acres have been purchased to continue the expansion project. Not only are we acquiring property, we are also renovation and beautifying our current edifice. A new roof was placed on the annex and dining hall, the parking lot has been resurfaced, the parsonage has been renovated and a new nursery has been added. Because Dr. Rhone believes in cutting edge technology, our administrative offices have been fully automated and new audio/visual system has been added to enhance our worship.

Many ministries continue to emanate out of the Mt. Sinai Church. To the plethora of ministries already operating to minister to the needs of the community, we have recently added a food pantry ministry, annual Harvest Festival and a transportation ministry. We are also supporting three foreign missions projects and yearly send missionary teams to two countries.

Mt. Sinai continues to move into another dimension of ministry. There is much to do to bring the vision of “Mt. Sinai Corner” to fruition. The mantle of this burden has been given to Elder Rhone, our Pastor. It will take “A New Thing” and working together “with the help of God”. The Mt. Sinai Family’s resolve is, “We’re going to do it for the glory of God and for the up-building of His Kingdom!”