Bishop David DeLarge

Founder and Pastor, Saving Faith Christian Assembly
Pensacola, Florida

Elder David DeLarge was saved at the Mt. Moriah Pentecostal Holiness Church, Phila. Pa. in February 1976; he became a member under the Pastorate of Bishop Christopher Clark. He was filled with the Holy Ghost during a noon-day prayer service. He served as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and worked with Evangelism Team. Bishop DeLarge received his “call” into the ministry in 1981; served as Associate Minister at Mt. Moriah, Associate Minister with Pastor Louise Long and later as Assistant Pastor at Christ Like Assembly Church under the Pastorate of Elder Thomas Taylor. In June of 1990 Elder DeLarge (led by the Spirit), and family (wife Ethel, daughters Keya and Johari) relocated to Pensacola, Florida where they began Saving Faith Ministries, Inc. and Saving Faith Christian Assembly Church. The ministry began in September 1990 as a neighborhood home Bible study. Through this interaction of Bible study, prayer and God’s leading, they began the ministry in January of 1991. All necessary paperwork was prepared and submitted to the state of Florida for incorporation as a non-profit entity. They organized and established a Sunday School Department, conducted neighborhood evangelism in their community through door-to-door contact. They have established foreign missions support in West Africa and the Philippines. Bishop DeLarge believes in the practical application of the Word of God through our daily living, Jesus Christ is to be involved in every area of our lives; home, school, work, etc. Therefore they take seriously the “equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry” given in Ephesians 4:11-12. It is his desire to establish a biblical training institute as well as a Christian school for grades K thru 12. The ministry is currently a member church of the Apostolic Assemblies Fellowship, under the leadership of Bishop James E. Finley Mobile, Alabama. Biblical Training – Training for Service, a Survey of the Bible, Biblical Introduction Course at the Mt. Moriah Pentecostal Holiness Church, Phila. Pa.; Bible Introduction at Mt. Horeb Ministries, Phila. Pa. and received Certificate of Completion; Main Bible Institute (4 years of evening classes) and received a Certificate of Completion in Biblical Studies. Attended Florida Apostolic Bible Institute, Cantonment, Fla., graduated (June 2013) with honors, received Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies
•Personal – Married (1969) to Ethel (Rease) DeLarge; 3 children Craig (Cheryl), Keya (Mark) and Johari (Sean); 6 grandchildren Avery, Alicia, Mark, Keya, Michaela, and Lyric: 1 great grandson Caleb..

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Church History

Saving Faith Christian Assembly Church History In 1988 Elder David DeLarge was serving as Assistant Pastor of Christ Like Assembly Church in Philadelphia, Pa. under the pastorate of Elder Thomas Taylor. While on a return trip to Philadelphia from Pensacola the Lord began to impress upon Elder DeLarge that he and his family should relocate to Pensacola to begin a ministry. After much prayer, counsel, seeking advice from friends, family and my Pastor we finally decided to make the move to Pensacola in 1990. Saving Faith Christian Assembly began as a home Bible Study group meeting on a regular basis for several months. In January 1991 the group, which was made up of the Pastor’s family, his wife Ethel and two daughters Keya, Johari, Mother Janie Rease, Mother Magnolia Brown, her daughter Brenda and her daughter Jammie began to meet for regular worship and fellowship. Arrangements were made at the Independent All Nations United Holy Church located at “L” and Gonzales Streets for evening worship. In March 1991 we were incorporated as Saving Faith Ministries, and a morning Sunday School began in the home of Mother Rease, located at 1101 N. “I” Street. In July of 1991 we began to meet for morning worship and Sunday School in the home of Mother Rease. During this time we looked for a permanent place of worship. We began to pray and the Lord provided the funds for our first permanent church home through friends, other churches, and family members within six months. God gave us our first location at 1667 N. “W” Street in April 1992. We began to meet for regular worship in our new home in May 1992. Along with our regular worship services Pastor DeLarge has conducted Training for Service Bible classes; this is a certified training program that surveys the entire Bible. In June of 1996 Saving Faith Christian Assembly became a member church of the Apostolic Assemblies Fellowship (AAF) under the covering of Bishop James E. Finley. We officially withdrew from the Fellowship for a time in 2002; but remained in fellowship with the churches within the AAF. The Lord gave the Pastor a vision for ministry and part of that included a new sanctuary, the people rallied behind the vision – “It was in our heart to build”, 1st Kings 8:18. The Lord gave us the land and we set out to build a sanctuary on the property behind our first building. Truly God is good and worthy to be praised! After several setbacks, disappointments, failed attempts at bank loans and some members leaving the ministry God provided our new location at 2905 W. Mallory Street. We dedicated this building to the Lord in October of 2010. At our Church Dedication in 2010 we officially reunited with Bishop James E. Finley and the Apostolic Assemblies Fellowship. We thank the Lord Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior for all He has done. Many thanks to all who have prayed for and supported us; especially Bishop James E. Finley and Christ Temple Apostolic Church.

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