Having a vision, Elder Harvey Brooks journeyed to Joliet from Chicago to establish the first Church Of God In Christ
in Joliet, Illinois. Elder Clinton Harris served as the first Assistant Pastor.

They began worshipping in a building on Collins Street. Some of the original members were Mother Bertha Meyers,
Sister Irene Williams, Brother, and Sister Kearney Poole, Elder and Sister Clinton Harris, Sister Calantha Bates, Elder
Claude Burton, Sister Johnson, first Church Mother, Mother Rogers.

God blessed, and the membership increased, and they moved from Collins Street to Scott and Jackson Streets, later
worshipping at various locations in the City. Seeing the need for a permanent church home, they purchased a building
at 19 N. Joliet Street. Signing the deed for the purchase was Elder Harvey Brooks, Evangelist Ella Reed and Elder
Clinton Harris. The mission was incorporated and became a church on June 26, 1945, the legal anniversary date. The
Church continued to grow; many souls were saved, baptized, and filled with the Holy Ghost.

The building at 19 N. Joliet Street was sold to the City of Joliet for $10,000. A more suitable church home was needed.
The present location at 501-503 S. Water Street was founded by Elder Clinton Harris and purchased from John
Worthams, on September 9, 1952. The property consisted of a 3-apartment house and a vacant lot. They worshipped
in one of the apartments until a basement could be erected on the lot.

In 1952, Elder Brooks appointed Brother Joseph Bates chairman of the building committee. Working with him was
Deacon Clarence Allen, Sister Blanche Mitchell, and Deacon Ollie Thompson. The Lord continued to pour out his
blessings, spiritually and naturally. The basement edifice was completed and dedicated in 1954. During a flood, the
basement became flooded and the need for an auditorium became more evident.

“So build the wall, and all the wall was joined together, unto the half thereof; for the people had a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 4:6)
 

The auditorium was completed and dedicated in January 1963. The Lord took Pastor Brooks home to be with Him in
January 1971.

Elder Ralph Kimbrough was appointed Pastor of All Nations in January 1971 by the late Honorable Bishop Louis
Henry Ford. Many improvements were made during this pastorate. Elder Kimbrough served faithfully at All Nations
until 1986. He went home to be with the Lord in December 1997.

On December 16, 1986, Bishop Robert R. Sanders was officially appointed Pastor of All Nations Church Of God In
Christ by the late Honorable Bishop Louis Henry Ford. The Church has continued to grow both naturally and
spiritually under Bishop Sanders’ leadership, with additional acquisitions of surrounding land and properties.
Bishop Sanders, a visionary, has successfully led All Nations Church in a building campaign to enlarge our territory
that encompasses the construction of a new edifice and Community Family Life Center. This new edifice was
completed and dedicated in July 2002. His outreach vision is unfolding through the many scholastic motivation and
life skill programs offered to citizens of Joliet and the surrounding areas of Will County.

Under Bishop Sanders’ leadership, a non-for-profit organization, the Harvey Brooks Motivation and Development
Foundation was incorporated in 1998. The organization provides motivation, enrichment, and rehabilitative programs
to help youth and adults to unlock their potential, build self-esteem and become more productive individuals.
Elder Cornelius “Nick”’ Harris (appointed the Assistant Pastor by Elder Kimbrough in 1977) served alongside
Bishop Sanders and was elevated to Pastor in 2010. Pastor Harris worked faithfully until his transition to Glory in
2013.

In August of 2017 Bishop Sanders saw the need to help rebuild the ministry by appointing a youth pastor over our
young people in the person of Elder Dwayne Barefield. Due to health challenges and the leading of God, Bishop
Sanders elevated Elder Dwayne M. Barefield as Pastor of All Nations Church on November 5, 2017. Elder Barefield was
officially installed as Pastor on March 10, 2018.

We thank God for His continued blessings as we celebrate the growth of a Church located in the “heart of the
community, with the community in its heart.”