Let The Record Show
History of Greater Bible Way Temple
Let The Record Show………..
Under Bishop Benjamin F. Peterson, Sr. (1958 – 1983)
1958 Opened first mission for the Lord at 834 Bainbridge Street – (March 3rd, 1958)
1959 Purchased a church at 754-756 South 3rd Street, (3rd Sunday in March 1959)
1960 Constructed a new pulpit in the church
1961 Constructed a new baptism pool
1962 Painted the church and dining area
1963 Built windows throughout the church
1964 Built a choir stand and band stand
1965 Built a baptism dressing room
1966 Purchased the first church bus – Blue Bird
1967 Purchased a home for the saints at 773 South 3rd Street
1968 Remodeled the church and the sanctuary
1969 Acquired another home for the saints at 775 South 3rd Street
1970 Began a radio broadcast on station W.C.A.M.
1971 Began radio broadcast on station W.V.C.H.
1972 Sold the church at 754-756 South 3rd Street and the buildings at 773 & 775 S. 3rd Street
1973 Purchased a movie theater located at 5949-51 Spruce Street and four homes for the saints
1974 Dedicated the new church at 5949-51 Spruce Street and new chandeliers
1975 Installed a new heating systems and constructed baptism room
1976 Installed new radiation in the church sanctuary
1977 Purchased leather pulpit chairs
1978 Installed wall-to-wall carpet,, new pews and painted the church
1979 Installed central air conditioning and repaired the church
1980 Began radio broadcast on station W.C.A.A.
1981 Began radio broadcast on station W.S.S.J.
1982 Television broadcast on Channel 57, radio broadcast on station W.S.S.J., and purchased a van for the church
1983 Radio broadcast on station W.T.M.R.
On 52nd Street
1984 Sold church at 5949-51 Spruce Street, May 5th-purchased the former St. Gregory Complex at 52nd Media Street (5184, 5186, and 5188 Media Street and 5151 Warren Street). July 7th – Grand processional march to 52nd Street. Installed seven bathrooms and baptismal pool.
1985 Renovated the dining area and offices in the lower auditorium, installed new pews in the main sanctuary and opened the Bible Way Academy, purchased stove and steam table for lower dining area
1986 March – Hosted the 29th Bishop’s Council and Worker’s Conference of the Bible Way Churches Worldwide, purchased a school bus for the Bible Way Academy
1987 Began a radio broadcast in South Carolina on station W.Q.I.Z. telecast cable network on Channel 23
1988 Installed central, purchased church in Harrisburg, PA and purchased a new school bus for the church
1989 Purchased home on Warren Street, Philadelphia, PA
1990 Renovated and dedicated Lancaster Hall, installed television lighting and constructed a chapel located at 5186 Media Street
1991 June 2nd – Mayor W. Wilson Goode along with Apostle and Mother Smallwood E. Williams re-named the street from Media Street to Bible Way Street, Installed a new sound system in the sanctuary, installed pews in the chapel, Final mortgage payment was paid on the Complex
1992 Rebuilt the church pulpit and installed a communion section in the main sanctuary,
1993 Purchased a 21-passenger mini bus and built a garage for the buses and vans
Under the Leadership of Bishop Benjamin F Peterson, Jr. ( 1984 – Present)
1994 Pastoral installation Service for District Elder Benjamin F. Peterson, Jr.
1995 Co-Founder of the New Life Center for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Rehabilitation program, extended church pulpit
1996 Installed new heating in the church, GBT Ministries telecast channel 75
1997 Purchase new van
1998 Extended parking lot area
1999 Cleaned the exterior stone of the church building
2000 Paid off stone cleaning and purchased new copier, Bishop Peterson, Sr. called from Labor to Reward
2001 Appointed to succeed as Diocesan of the United Pennsylvania Diocese, Harambee Charter School moved into school building
2002 Started renovations of the school building; Radio broadcast on WNJC-1360 AM; started renovations of Community Service building at 5186 Bible Way Street
2003 Established computer lab and purchase of new color copier, Richard Allen Charter School leased school building;
2004 Acquired new church van, color copier, phone system, new chairs for dining area and kitchen equipment; leased space in the Community Center to program for Adjudicated Youth, Renovated the alleyway to construct “The Atrium” including facility for banquets, dining and conferences; Television broadcast on Philly Channel 7,
2005 Black top church/school parking lot, installed air condition and heating in “The Atrium”, Celebrated 21 years on 52nd Street; Constructed “The View”, purchase new tables and chairs for “the View”
2006 Upgraded sound system, purchased electric baby grand piano for sanctuary, painted lower dining area, purchased tables and chairs for dining area, cleaned exterior stone of school building, Construction of the Sports Complex has begun, and Shepherd Mother Estella Peterson was called from Labor to Reward
2007 Continued building Founders’ Center, purchased 25 passenger mini-bus and making minor repairs and upgrades,
2008 “The Vision Continues!” We celebrate 50 years of ministry – The year of Jubilee