The Founding of God’s Deliverance Church

“Hope In The Storm: Anchored in God’s Promises”

God’s Deliverance Church was divinely established through the leading of the Holy Spirit and the unwavering obedience of two faithful women of God—Pastor Mary Lou McKinnon and Evangelist Helen L. McAllister. At the time of its conception, both women were devoted members of St. Matthew United Church of God in Brooklyn, New York, serving under the spiritual guidance of Bishop Matthew J. Graham.

In the early 1970s, both Pastor McKinnon and Evangelist McAllister were individually led to relocate to Raeford, North Carolina. Without prior knowledge of each other’s move, they were soon divinely reconnected as members of Mt. Sinai Holy Church of God, under the leadership of Bishop J.A. Jackson. It was there that the Holy Spirit stirred their hearts for a greater work. In 1976, after much prayer and spiritual discernment, they sought Bishop Jackson’s counsel. He affirmed the call on their lives and released them to carry out the vision God had entrusted to them.

In May of that same year, God’s Deliverance For All People opened its doors with Pastor McKinnon serving as Senior Pastor and Evangelist McAllister as Assistant Pastor. What began as a vision in their hearts soon became a beacon of hope in the storm for many in the Raeford community and beyond. Anchored in God’s promises, the ministry was founded on fervent prayer, unwavering faith, and a love for people. Pastor McKinnon and Evangelist McAllister were known for their powerful noon-day prayer services and their commitment to intercession—often traveling from home to home, praying for families across the Jones Hill community and neighboring areas.

Their ministry was not built on comfort or convenience but on the unshakeable foundation of God’s Word. In seasons of uncertainty, they clung to the promises of God, believing that He who called them would also sustain them. It is through their faith and obedience that God’s Deliverance Church has continued to stand for nearly five decades as a refuge for the broken, a lighthouse for the lost, and a testament to God’s faithfulness.

Today, as we reflect on our legacy, we do so under the powerful theme “Hope In The Storm: Anchored in God’s Promises.” This theme is not just a phrase—it’s our testimony. Through every trial and triumph, God has been our anchor. The work birthed in 1976 continues to flourish, grounded in the same spiritual truths that sustained our founders.

We give honor and thanks to Pastor Mary Lou McKinnon and Evangelist Helen McAllister—for their yes to God, their relentless passion for souls, their legacy of prayer, and their unshakable hope. Though words could never fully capture their impact on Hoke County, the fruit of their labor continues to speak.

Today, God’s Deliverance Church remains committed to the mission—serving the residents of Hoke County and surrounding areas with compassion and purpose. We are proud to be an affiliate of Sanctuary Deliverance Churches of the Living Word, Inc., headquartered in Greensboro, NC, under the leadership of Presiding Prelate Bishop Arlester Simpson (Sidney Grove Church of Deliverance – Ellerbe, NC).

Through storms and seasons, our anchor holds. And that anchor is the faithful, unchanging promises of God.