The history of Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries, International, goes back more than forty years to 1970 when the Lord encountered Dennis Gene Peterson one evening and commissioned him to preach the Christian gospel. Eight years later, after responding to the Lord's invitation to partake of the Great Commission, and after seven years of in-service training, ministerial retreats, and attendance at the Charles Harrison Mason System of Bible Colleges, through the grace of God and favor among men, Minister Peterson was inducted into the presbyterial ministry August 29, 1978 by Bishop Gordon E. Vaughan, who was the presiding prelate of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and pastor of Miller Street Church of God in Christ, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Elder O. T. Tillman, who as Minister Peterson's pastor as well as a district overseer, recommended him to the Council of Elders because he observed Minister Peterson's seven-year dedication and faithfulness to Christ and his cause throughout spiritual oppression under the pastorate of an ordained elder. Following his ordination into the presbytery, ministerial colleagues impressed upon Elder Peterson to establish a Christian work for God. Giving credence to advice from senior ministers, he served the Lord as the founding pastor of a floundering missionary enterprise entitled: Paradise Church of God in Christ in rural Washington County, Pennsylvania. Elder Peterson also served as president, coordinator, and administrator of boards and auxiliaries within local C.O.G.I.C. churches. Within the next five years through endurance of life-changing events, during the month of March, 1980, Elder Peterson relocated to North Carolina to provide home/health nursing assistance to elderly relatives. Unbeknown to him, such a move provided him a pivotal opportunity for further ministry. He served as an associate pastor and an administrative assistant to a C.O.G.I.C. district elder in Raleigh, North Carolina.

After serving the Raleigh congregation, he reunited with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and was gradually inducted into its pastoral ranks. However, before Elder Peterson's full reception into the clerical ranks of the C.M.E. Church in 1985, he was required, as a candidate for full-time itinerant ministry, to complete their five year Bishops' Course of Study for Preachers on Trial which 1), introduced him to the basic discipline of the C.M.E. Church; 2), provided him a general overview of the Christian faith, history, and polity of Methodism and the C.M.E. Church; 3), committed him to a three-year ministerial internship regarding professional and practical training as a Christian preacher, leader of worship, conference administrator, and priestly sacerdotal functions; 4), supplied him as a ministerial apprentice with a fundamental understanding of essential Christian doctrines and sound Biblical interpretation; and 5), provided him numerous insights into the work of Christian ministry, Christian education, pastoral care, and general church administration. On July 16, 1982, Nathaniel Linsey, one of the bishops of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, set apart (ordained) "Reverend" Peterson to the office of a deacon, a man who, in the judgment of the Carolina Annual Conference was well qualified to administer the Sacraments and Ordinances and to feed the flock of Christ. Three years later, Oree Broomfield, Sr., another Christian Methodist Episcopal bishop, set apart (ordained) the "Reverend Deacon" to the office of a C.M.E. elder on the 12th day of July 1985. As a consequent of his induction into the C.M.E. eldership, Elder Peterson became eligible to receive a pastorate as well. While matriculating classes at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia during 1981-1982, he assisted the ministry of the "Reverend" James E. Robinson at Rock of Ages C.M.E. Church. Their presiding elder, the "Reverend" Luther R. Neal, asked Elder Peterson one Sunday afternoon in July 1982 to accept the rural pastorate of Woodlawn C.M.E. Church in Harlem, Georgia. He did. With one year of college to his credit, his vocation as a pastor began. Within months of his appointment however, and despite apparent success, he sensed that calling and commission were not enough to effectively equip him for pastoral ministry. More was needed. So he searched the Scriptures and desired to become that which Paul the Apostle described as a "wise master builder" ( 1 Corinthians 3:10). Hence, after much consideration, determination, and years of arduous persistence, he attained his personal goal and acquired a college and theological education, with seminary training in pastoral counseling.

During his quest toward becoming a wise master builder, the Lord provided Elder Peterson with several experiences and opportunities for ministerial growth and spiritual enrichment. Some of those opportunities included seven pastorates within the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Under the bishoprics of Joseph C. Coles, Nathaniel Lindsey, Oree Broomfield, and Charles Lee Helton, and a mentoring friendship with Presiding Elder Willie B. McLeod, he served the Lord through pastorates at Woodlawn C.M.E. Church in Harlem, Georgia; Medley Chapel C.M.E. Church in Bethel, North Carolina; Rogers Chapel C.M.E. Church in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina; the "Brooklyn Circuit" composed of the Union Grove, Mount Pleasant, and Wesley Chapel C.M.E. Churches in Halifax County, Virginia; and Reynolds Temple C.M.E. Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Following the deaths of his elderly aunt and uncle during 1992, he conducted a series of church organization meetings that began during the month of September and concluded with the act of incorporation during the month of May in 1993. Along with Elder Peterson, our intention was to design, plan, and organize a cell-based trans-denominational missionary church entitled: Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries. Initially, our ministry model adopted Methodist ecclesiastical polity and procedure. Gradually however, after several fledging attempts toward actualizing our functional and legal prescription, we were able to develop a more synthesized ministerial concept of organized ministry unique to our purpose.

Throughout the twenty-four years prior to actualizing Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries, Pastor Peterson's life was fraught with difficulty. He learned, however, that God was forming in him the character; integrity and wisdom he needed to become a courageous leader, and not be afraid of facing the daunting task of pasturing not just a single congregation, but multiple Christian churches. Coincidentally, during the intervening years of his service to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries, Elder Peterson has provided additional service to the Church of God in Christ, as well as to the United Holy Church of America, Inc. from which he has received certified recognition as an ordained Christian minister with full clerical rights, honors, privileges, and responsibilities form both religious denominations. Pastor Peterson often tells us that he has learned through hardship all things do indeed work together for good to them that love God, who are purposefully called to be conformed to the image of God's Son" (Romans 8:29-30). Despite those trying years, Elder Peterson continues to express profound gratitude to God for the many providential experiences and disciplinary challenges he encountered.

Within the book of the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord God promised that he would provide true shepherds for those who believe in him. He said that he would send his shepherds to search for those inactive God-Fearers, clergy and lay, who may be disillusioned; bring again those who are driven away, restore those who are cast aside, bind up those who are broken, sick, and wounded and strengthen those who may have become spiritual carnage through oppression, sin, hypocrisy, or adversity. Elder Peterson, whom we recognize as the ecumenical patriarch and elected presiding bishop of our church, conducts himself as one who has received a genuine commission by the Lord to his scattered people. Whether within the pews or on the streets, he demonstrates an abiding compassion toward strengthening and restoring the Lord's flock. Loving God's people is his heart-cry and passion and he leads others to demonstrate the same. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "What is my hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not you in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" Anyone therefore, who is willing to abide within the counsel of the Word of God, participate in Christ's holy lifestyle of spiritual discipline and ministry, and desire true Christian fellowship and nurturing, then we recommend our church, Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries, International - a Pentecostal-Holiness dynamic that purposely engages the people of God, both clergy and laity, for the end-time work and events of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

Our Statement of Purpose

Primary Purpose:

Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries was created in 1993 with a mission to organize, finance and operate a Christ-centered connectional church whose primary missionary purpose is to provide a nurturing and uplifting, non-competitive, trans-denominational, trans-cultural, multiethnic, authentic Christian community in which the Word of God is proclaimed, where the elect of God and those searching for a place to spiritually rest and worship may meet in covenant within an attractive and user-friendly environment for equipping, mentoring, and comprehensive ministerial support toward the eschatological fulfillment of the Great Commission and ministry of the Holy One of Israel - Jesus of Nazareth.

Bilateral Purpose:

Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries secondary missionary purpose interprets Christ's admonition within the parable of ten pounds that citizens of God's Kingdom as servant stewards should "occupy" [pragmat?uômai - i.e. to busy oneself, to trade, to engage in business activity] until he comes again (Luke 19:13). Our doctrine, discipline, and practice therefore embodies the biblical injunction to carry and proclaim Christ's gospel to all nations with accompanying good works, through engagement of ecumenical, apostolic, and entrepreneurial characteristics of the Great Commission with intent to promulgate biblical-evangelistic outreach, theological educational activities, church and para-church ministry planting, corporate and personal benevolence, community development, and humanitarian relief through servanthood evangelism, social action, and various business ventures.

Trilateral Purpose:

Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries values and promotes within its membership the creation, establishment, and perpetuity of a congregation, ministry, ministry agency, para-ministry, and/or Christian business that conveys and complements its connectional vision, message, and mission. Therefore, to safeguard Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries' nonprofit status and social position as an ecclesiastical enterprise, it is required of all persons, independent ministries, missions, congregations, and businesses that corporately engage such vision, message, and mission to implement a shared autonomous form of administrative activity and capacity in their congregational, ministerial, or business proposals and charters with this Connectional Ministry. Pursuant to Luke 14:28-30, all successful ministry proposals should be comprehensive in scope and preparation, and must be submitted for professional review, acknowledgement, and certified endorsement from the Executive Connectional Board of Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries, International. As needed, institutional assistance is available upon request. Elements of a successful submitted proposal shall include a cover letter, table of contents, executive summary, project abstract, purpose, doctrinal statement, polity, needs assessment; concrete, realistic and measurable goals and objectives; ministry plans involving timelines for setup, logistics and materials, personnel qualifications and training, infrastructure, membership qualification and intake procedures, ministry implementation, finance, annual budgets, administration, policies, procedures, and evaluation of ministerial outcomes. Any official, member, or employee who fails to acquiesce to Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries' process of ministerial proposal and review shall be considered to have withdrawn from this Connectional Ministry and immediately waives and forfeits past, present and future claims to all benefits, funds, titles, positions, and certifications of Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries, International.

Quadlateral Purpose:

Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries advocates the prevalent and ancient institution of tithing. As a sacred institution, tithing - which preceded Abraham, was the practice of proportional giving of one-tenth of one's property or produce to support religious institutions, the priesthood, assistants to the priesthood, strangers, widows, orphans, and the poor (Genesis 14: 17-20; Deuteronomy 14:22-29). Under the Deuteronomic Code and Judaism, tithing was an integral part of the system of transitory propitiation, whereby priests received tithe toward their natural support as they administered their sacred offices and duties on behalf of sinful people. Although the tithe, according to Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-32; Deuteronomy 14:22-29; 26:2-15 was prescribed as a tributary gift (tax) or offering imposed on the entire nation of Israel by God, its primary fiduciary purpose in redemptive history was to undergird the temple, its personnel, administration, and Levites in their propitiatory duties and responsibilities. According to Nehemiah 10:38-39, 12:44, 13: 5, 13; 2 Chronicles 31:4-14, and Malachi 3:10 temple administrators were responsible for the substantive and temporal welfare of those engaged in ministry. Judaism also required that its system of proportional giving be centralized through a depository within the temple precincts in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 14:23; Mark 12:42; Luke 21:2), and the prophet Malachi invited his own people and their priesthood, however dishonest, ungrateful and faithless in their disposition, to return and re-engage YAHWEH's pure unadulterated process of propitiation and redemption.

Whereas, Hebrews 7:6, 8-9 reveal that following Malachi's petition, Israel's priesthood changed from the participation of many to a participant of one after the order of Melchisedec, Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries accepts the New Testament concept of the "holy priesthood" of believers in Jesus Christ who offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:5, 9); and Whereas, the Christian church continues to depend on tithes or proportional financial giving in different ways and varying degrees for its livelihood, we therefore conclude that entitlements of a financial system endorsed by the church should be obligatory for the mutual undergirding and benefit of even the humblest member of the holy priesthood of Christian believers who participates in the Great Commission of Jesus Christ and faithfully supports the vision and mission of the local congregation through tithe or proportional giving, and attendance.

Criterion of Association:

Ministers of the gospel and professional business persons who desire to associate with Shekhinah Christian Life Ministries, International at an ecumenical level should have an attested personal experience and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, resulting in acceptance of Jesus of Nazareth as Son of God, Lord and personal redeemer; 2) persevere to demonstrate a lifestyle of spiritual authority, vocational responsibility, and professional accountability that is consistent with the disciplined example portrayed by Jesus Christ within Holy Scripture; 3) be a certified resident of the State and municipality in which membership is established; 4) be a loyal member of an accepted and approved Christian church or denomination; and 5) maintain a consistent record and witness as a dedicated practitioner of biblical Christian faith within such local congregation of said denomination.