Church History

During the middle 50’s the Holy Ghost was not common among the, " Blacks" in Walker until a seed was planted in Sis. Alice Reams by her employers Bro.and Sis. Frank Bunch .They cultivated the, holy seed, by praying, reading, discussing scriptures, fasting, and tarrying,with

Sis. Alice Reams until God baptized, her with the Holy Ghost Overjoyed with God's wonderful gift, Sis. Reams shared the joy with Bro. and Sis.Walter Bell. They began visiting churches and seeking holy teaching. Through the direction of Sis. Jesse Dixon,they served at First Church of God In Christ where they met the late, Superintendent Philip Rheams. Superintendent Rheams prayed and discussed the plan of salvation with them. Later they founded and organized the Church of God In Christ at Walker, Louisiana. God revealed to Superintendent Rheams to name, the newly organized church "Gloryland”. Service was held in both the Bells and Reams homes until the, Lord blessed them to build a church in Walker. They built a church and the first service was held June 13, 1963.

Many years passed and Superintendent Rheams led the church as God led him. Many great Sermons were preached. Many people, were saved and filled with the, Holy Ghost and many people, were healed. Elder Rheams health failed in 1981 and he felt he needed a co-pastor. He consulted the Lord and was directed to choose Elder Adams Edwards. Elder Edwards loved the Lord and he loved Superintendent Rheams, as well. Under his directions, Elder Edwards led the church. May l982 Gloryland celebrated its first Annual Homecoming and the Lord blessed Elder Rheams to come out and pray the opening prayer. October 1, 1982, the, Lord called Elder Rheams home. Though his death was a great lost, he still lives in the hearts of the Saints.

Elder Adams Edwards became the second pastor of Gloryland in November 1982. Pastor Edwards, his wife and children became a part of this great church. During this time, Service, at Gloryland started at 6:00 A.M. on Sunday morning. The Lord gave Elder Edwards a vision to locate land and build a church. Although he was told there was no land in Walker to build a church and he met many oppositions in locating land he was determined to fulfill his vision. Sure enough the Lord blessed him and in the Spring of 1983, plans were made to build the second Gloryland Church. Through the leadership and direction of our pastor, Gloryland opened the doors to our new church on October 16, 1983. As, Elder Edwards, prayed and labored among us, God truly blessed us naturally and spiritually. He taught us to live holy and sanctified lives. God blessed and laid on Pastor Edwards heart, to build a Fellowship Hall. July 1988 plans were made to build it. Our pastor, thinking on things, of others and on the love he shared for our former pastor, felt the newly built fellowship hall should be named "Philip Rheams Fellowship Hall."

The Lord continued to bless us and we at Gloryland was on a Spiritual high for the Lord. Then tragedy struck and our beautiful church was destroyed by a fire March 5, 1989 at 2:13 A.M. Yes, days were weary but our pastor reminded us that God was with us and He hadn't brought us this far to leave us. Again the word of the Lord comforted us. All things work together for them that love the Lord, and are called according to his purpose. Pastor Edwards prayed and trusted God. Like a good shepherd, he gathered his sheep together that Sunday night. He prayed and discussed the goodness of God and told us we would have a place to worship. The next Sunday, God had blessed Pastor Edwards with a Church for us. We at Gloryland have had good days, and some hills to climb but when we think things over all our good days outweigh our bad days, so we just won't complain. We continue praising God and giving Him the glory. God blessed us and on June 16, 1989, just eleven and one half weeks we opened the, doors of our newly built church. We then became Greater Gloryland COGIC. Pastor Edwards continued to lead us as God lead him. He continued to preach the word. On October of 1992 the cornerstone was laid. The Lord has added souls to the church, blessed, healed, and delivered us, down through the years. We have been blessed to see many of our pastor's visions come to pass.

We have grown tremendously,. We have been blessed to have a Leadership Conference each January. We have a Mother Board, M.O.D., Deacon Board, Deaconess Board, Office Committee, Big Sister Club, Tract Ministry, Praise Team, Music Ministry, Single Ministry, Evangelist Ministry, Tape Ministry, Video Ministry, Missionary Ministry, Photography Ministry, and we now have the, Charles Harrison Mason Bible Institute, here at Greater Gloryland on Monday nights. God has blessed us here at Greater Gloryland with a Supt., Prophet, an Elder, three Ministers, two Evangelists, and three Missionaries. Yes God is good to us and we are encouraged to work for him.