In 1940, following the annual convocation, Bishop S.L. Henry was sent to Dayton. When he arrived here, there were two members and no church building. After some searching he found a place at 600 So. Western Ave. It wasn’t long before his family joined him. His wife said if he could sleep on the church floor, she and the children could also. Bishop Henry began having church services with his wife & young daughters, Ruby Doris & Cherry Lee. Because of his many talents, spiritual gifts, and the way he could preach and dance, people began to come. The first to join was Sis Alma Bryant; next her mother, Love Brown and, then all the Brown family, along with several other families.

1961: The church moved to Bolander Ave (the highway construction bought the church).

1962: They had tent services for a while, and then went to the Light House Community Church on Home Ave.

1963: The church moved to the Classic Theater on West 5th St.

1966: The church moved to 1817 W.3rd St.

1969: The church moved to 1436-38 W. 3rd. St.

1978: A new addition, the Sanctuary is added at 1436-38 W. 3rd St.

1980: Elder Harry Calloway started a mission in Dayton, Ohio, which would eventually become House of God Temple #3. They eventually would worship in buildings on Westwood Ave. and Chain Ave.

1987: House of God Temple #3 brought their first building and had it dedicated in December 1987.

1991: Bishop S.L. Henry was called to rest.

1992: Elect Lady Alcerean Watson was installed as Pastor of True Holy in January.

1992: Elect Lady Lillian Henry was called to rest.

1995: True Holy renovated and re-dedicated the church bldg. & fellowship hall at 1436-38 W. 3rd St.

Why do we have (2) co-pastors?

In the mid-1990s, there were three churches in Dayton. Bishop Harry Calloway received the vision of a unified church in the area. Bishop Calloway met with the church leaders of the area and proposed the idea that all churches join to create one church. This would allow the churches to come together, pulling our resources, so that we could achieve greater things. Elect Lady Alcerean Watson was the only leader who accepted the call of the vision. After several fellowships, (having bible studies together, having joint services on the Sabbath day, etc.), The United House of God was formed in the Dayton, Ohio area when The True Holy House of God Temple 1 and the House of God Temple 3 merged on September 29, 1996. This is why we have two co-pastors: Bishop Harry Calloway, Jr. and Elect Lady Alcerean Watson. Both churches owned the buildings wherein we dwelt, but we chose to use 1430 W. Third Street as our primary location because it was a bigger facility with more parking space.

A New Temple

While worshipping at 1436 W. Third Street, we begin to receive prophecy that we would acquire empty lots that were adjacent to our church. Believing the Word from the Lord, Diane Black spearheads communications efforts with the City of Dayton, to buy the land from the city. After much communication between the church and the city, we send our first official letter to city requesting vacant land adjacent to our church in May 1997. By January 2000, we are still communicating back and forth. The City makes an offer to sell the land to us at one price, and we submit a final counterproposal offer to them. By November 2000, talks with the city are stagnant. In the meanwhile, the condition of our Third Street church continues to deteriorate. We have determined that the cost to renovate would exceed the cost to rebuild. We make the decision to move to our other building. In November 2000, we make the move from 1436 W. Third St. to 1327 Wisconsin Blvd. We decide to build on the land that we currently own on Third Street, rather than waiting any longer for the City.

In the Spring of 2002, God allowed for William Houston to secure key friendships that will eventually lead to a meeting with the current mayor of Dayton, Mayor Mike Turner. Mayor Turner met with William Houston and created a deal to sell the land to the church for the price we requested in January 2000. We also meet Armando Valdes, the architect who would design our church. Within a few weeks, Mr. Valdes creates our first set of blueprints. On September 18, 2002, the Dayton City Commission approved the deal to sell the vacant land to the church. Commissioner Dean Lovelace was the commissioner that made the motion to agree to sell our church the land. The blueprints for our church are also in submission to the city for permit review during this time. On December 2, 2002, the old church located at 1436 W. Third Street is demolished. Our blueprints would be under review with the City until June 17, 2004 when our permit is finally approved to build.

Though we had a substantial amount of earnest money in the bank to help with construction, this amount of money combined with what the bank would loan to us could not build our building as quoted by general contractors. The church then becomes the general contractor of our project and partners with Bishop Jerry Carter of Ft. Wayne, IN, who will consult on the project to insure that all things are done and built properly. This partnership will save the church several hundred thousands of dollars. William Houston steps into the role of project manager, acquiring bids, meeting with contractors, scheduling dates, and conducting other business needed in the building of the church.

In July 2004, our steel building arrives, and it sits until the first snow of the Winter on December 21, 2004. From August until December, our building pad and footers are created. By July 5, 2005, all major interior work is completed and the interior drywall is installed. Construction will continue on the building until June 2006, when the parking lot was poured, and the parking stripes were painted. The end result is a church that has a projected use worth of $1,0000,000 in 12 months, It is a marvel of modern technology with wireless internet, CAT5 Ethernet enabled rooms, high definition component cables for key areas, centralized video output, a high quality sound system, and much more. Our first service was held on July 13, 2006 in the new building. Bishop Larry Hamner from Oakland, CA was our guest revivalist. The building was dedicated on September 30, 2006. This weekend also marked our 10 year anniversary of the churches coming together.