Church History
The journey to 610 Brooksdale drive began on Saturday 18, 1993, when twenty-three people bringing folding chairs met in the empty Woolworth building to hear Rev. Earnest Palmer’s Revelation. The following Saturday, a second meeting was held at the same sight. The Woolworth and Brown Department stores were toured as Rev. Palmer explained his plans. Cornerstone Baptist Church was organized.
The stores were located in a business zone and the group met with the Zoning Board to acquire a permit to use the area as a church site. Several merchants attended and expressed their disapproval of a church being in the downtown area. One merchant produced a receipt, showing that he had purchased the property earlier that day. The permit was approved; however there was still no place to meet.
As a last resort, Mr. Paul C. Rollins, owner of Rollins Mortuary, rented his chapel enabling us to hold our first service on October 3, 1993. Deacon Joseph Williams began Sunday School with forty people in attendance. Eighty-four people listened attentively to Pastor Palmer’s first sermon, “Is God Among Us or Not?” Exodus 17:4-7. During the invitation to Discipleship one person came under Christian Experience, followed by the Holy Communion, the service was broadcast over station WWPG.
During the next days, church meetings were held at Rollins Mortuary, McDonald Hughes Center, Stillman College and the homes of Deacon Johnny Kirk and Deacon Marshall Bryant. Cornerstone Ministries was incorporated. We were informed of the availability of two churches, and upon touring both, Emmanuel Baptist was chosen as our prospective site.
The first services were held on October 17, 24, and 31 at 1:00 pm because Emmanuel members held their services at 11 am. On November 7, 1993, our journey was completed as we marched into the church at 10:45 am. Pastor Palmer's first 11am message was “The Cornerstone of God’s Habitation” Ephesians 1:19-22 and I Peter 2:5-6. Cornerstone was first dedicated and consecrated on Sunday, April 29, 1994. Pastor Myron Hamner delivered the message followed by a one night Revival with Bishop Paul S. Morton, pastor of Greater St. Stephens Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA. His sermon “Dealing With Impossibilities” Matthew 14:28-29 was very inspiring. Four people united with Cornerstone, three for baptism and one by letter.
After attending the first Full Gospel Baptist Church Conference, Pastor Palmer was selected by Bishop Morton and the Bishop’s Council in January of 1995 as State Overseer of Alabama. At the 1999 Conference in New Orleans he was selected from a list of nominees to the office of Bishopric, and was consecrated on November 2, 1999, at the State house Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church became the headquarters of the Alabama Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.
In order to accommodate the masses of people, two Bible Studies on Wednesdays, 12 noon and Wednesday Night Life at 7:00 pm and two Sunday morning services were established. The first 8:00 am service, morning glory was held April 7, 1996. A second session of Christian Education was added in January 2001 and worship services were rescheduled to 9:30 and 11:00 am. The first Twilight Sunday School was held on Saturday, July 29, 2001 at 6:30 pm.
Cornerstone has hosted the Southern Regional Conference of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship and several State Conferences. We have been blessed by the presence of many great men and many of God. To this today, we are still “Changing a Generation”.
The stores were located in a business zone and the group met with the Zoning Board to acquire a permit to use the area as a church site. Several merchants attended and expressed their disapproval of a church being in the downtown area. One merchant produced a receipt, showing that he had purchased the property earlier that day. The permit was approved; however there was still no place to meet.
As a last resort, Mr. Paul C. Rollins, owner of Rollins Mortuary, rented his chapel enabling us to hold our first service on October 3, 1993. Deacon Joseph Williams began Sunday School with forty people in attendance. Eighty-four people listened attentively to Pastor Palmer’s first sermon, “Is God Among Us or Not?” Exodus 17:4-7. During the invitation to Discipleship one person came under Christian Experience, followed by the Holy Communion, the service was broadcast over station WWPG.
During the next days, church meetings were held at Rollins Mortuary, McDonald Hughes Center, Stillman College and the homes of Deacon Johnny Kirk and Deacon Marshall Bryant. Cornerstone Ministries was incorporated. We were informed of the availability of two churches, and upon touring both, Emmanuel Baptist was chosen as our prospective site.
The first services were held on October 17, 24, and 31 at 1:00 pm because Emmanuel members held their services at 11 am. On November 7, 1993, our journey was completed as we marched into the church at 10:45 am. Pastor Palmer's first 11am message was “The Cornerstone of God’s Habitation” Ephesians 1:19-22 and I Peter 2:5-6. Cornerstone was first dedicated and consecrated on Sunday, April 29, 1994. Pastor Myron Hamner delivered the message followed by a one night Revival with Bishop Paul S. Morton, pastor of Greater St. Stephens Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA. His sermon “Dealing With Impossibilities” Matthew 14:28-29 was very inspiring. Four people united with Cornerstone, three for baptism and one by letter.
After attending the first Full Gospel Baptist Church Conference, Pastor Palmer was selected by Bishop Morton and the Bishop’s Council in January of 1995 as State Overseer of Alabama. At the 1999 Conference in New Orleans he was selected from a list of nominees to the office of Bishopric, and was consecrated on November 2, 1999, at the State house Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church became the headquarters of the Alabama Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.
In order to accommodate the masses of people, two Bible Studies on Wednesdays, 12 noon and Wednesday Night Life at 7:00 pm and two Sunday morning services were established. The first 8:00 am service, morning glory was held April 7, 1996. A second session of Christian Education was added in January 2001 and worship services were rescheduled to 9:30 and 11:00 am. The first Twilight Sunday School was held on Saturday, July 29, 2001 at 6:30 pm.
Cornerstone has hosted the Southern Regional Conference of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship and several State Conferences. We have been blessed by the presence of many great men and many of God. To this today, we are still “Changing a Generation”.
