CHURCH HISTORY

The Deliverance Evangelistic Centers, Inc., (DEC Ministries) was incorporated on October 8,1957 by Apostle Arturo Skinner. From the very beginning, the church motto was: “To reach the lost at any cost with the message of Pentecost.” Although it grew to become a renowned national and international ministry, it began simply in the home of a woman by the name of Mother Mary Amartys who lived in Newark, New Jersey.

In her home the Gospel was preached, the sick were healed and soon the house was overflowing. The ministry moved to several locations before settling in at its first Headquarters Church at 505 Central Avenue in Newark, which would accommodate 1600 people.

At the same time Apostle Skinner was conducting services in the Brooklyn, New York area. In 1964 the Deliverance Tabernacle located at 785 Dekalb Avenue was purchased to accommodate weekly services there and to house church staff, the printing ministry and the other mechanics of what was now growing into an international ministry.

“The Supernatural Hour of Deliverance” radio broadcast reached over 20 million listeners in their homes. Because of the ministries magnitude of activities by this time, new branches of ministry outreach were established: The Deliverance Prayer Tower, where people could call in for prayer; the Deliverance Voice, an international monthly publication; and The Deliverance Bible Institute, which produced many pastors, missionaries, evangelists and teachers. From its inception Apostle Skinner said: “This Deliverance Ministry has been ordained of God to be a launching pad for the revival that will welcome Jesus Christ back.

Soon Deliverance churches spread from Florida to Massachusetts, eastward as far as Chicago, Illinois, throughout the Southern United States, the Caribbean, and Africa. By 1965 the ministry had between 40 and 50 affiliate churches worldwide. Long before television evangelism created the mega camp meetings recognized today. Deliverance made history by filling Madison Square Garden in New York City to capacity.

In 1973 the ministry purchased its present headquarters church, the former Temple B’nai Abraham at 621 Clinton Avenue in the Clinton Hill section of Newark, New Jersey. Apostle Skinner paid $250,000 in cash to the B’nai Abraham Congregation for the 2,000-seat sanctuary and complex.

Sadly, after having laid the foundation and spreading the Deliverance Ministry around the world, Apostle Arturo Skinner died suddenly on March 20, 1975. In June of 1975, with the assistance of church leaders, Ralph G. Shammah Nichol formally became the senior pastor of the Deliverance Ministries.

Young and dynamic with a heart for street ministry, Apostle Nichol immediately took DEC Ministries outdoors to the people. Having been saved from drug addition himself, he knew first hand “Christ Is The Answer.”  Always wanting to keep the message of Jesus Christ simple and clear, and accessible to everyone, Apostle Nichol carried a cross on his back on Good Friday, to demonstrate Christ love.

Since 1975 Apostle Nichol has consistently propelled the work of DEC Ministries forward from door-to-door campaigns and street services, to television ministry and international missions outreach. His desire is to get the Word of God into the hearts and hands of every person who does not know the love of God and especially to the disenfranchised of Newark, New Jersey and those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Today, DEC Ministries is writing a new chapter of history through the Nehemiah Project, a joint vision for the restoration of the Deliverance Temple and the Clinton Hill Community. Partnering with the local government, religious and civic groups, the church is presently devoted to helping to restore this important section of Newark to its former state of cohesiveness, beauty, safety and vitality.

Though its methods are changing, God’s vision for DEC Ministries remains the same: “To reach new generations, with the Power of Pentecost".