Our Journey

1974 FEBRUARY

After serving faithfully for eight years as an Elder under the late Henry Hill (True Apostolic Assembly-Minneapolis, MN), Elder AZ Jones Sr. (Wife Susanna) formed a fellowship in the family room of their home located at 112 Cumberland St. in St. Paul, Minnesota with two adults and five children. The fellowship evolved into Apostolic Faith Temple Church.

1974 SEPTEMBER

The fellowship moved from the family room of Pastor Jones' home to renting a church building located at 305 Goodrich AVE. in St. Paul, Minnesota and officially becomes a church affiliated with the Minnesota, Wisconsin, Dakotas District Council (M.W.D.D.C) of the Pentacostal Assemblies of the World (P.A.W.)

1980

AZ Jones Jr. becomes a minister and youth president.

1984 September

The fellowship purchased the Goodrich Avenue facility and Elder AZ Jones Sr. becomes District Elder in the M.W.D.D.C (P.A.W.)

1988

District Elder AZ Jones Sr. becomes Suffragan Bishop M.W.D.D.C (P.A.W.)

1994

Minister AZ Jones Jr. is ordained as an Elder in the M.W.D.D.C (P.A.W.) and elevated to Assistant Pastor of Apostolic Faith Temple.

2003 – 2004

Elder AZ Jones Jr. is elevated to District Elder in the M.W.D.D.C (P.A.W.) and given the assignment of locating a larger existing structure in the city of St. Paul that could serve as a new worship facility for the church.

After much searching, leadership was not able to find a facility that could be converted into a worship facility in the city of St. Paul. So the fellowship began searching for land.

2004 NOVEMBER

The church secured a 2.4 acre parcel of land located at 733 Pierce Butler Route in St. Paul. In November of 2004 the owner agreed to sell the property to Apostolic Faith Temple on a “Contract for Deed” (Miracle).

In December 2004 AFT started working with Station 19 and Langer Construction to develop preliminary site plans – completed in 2005.

2005

Elder AZ Jones Jr. becomes Co-Pastor of the fellowship and is elevated to District Elder (PAW).

 The church closed on a “contract for deed” on the 733 Pierce Butler property on February 12th. The contract for deed was a win–win situation and the best option for the small fellowship acquiring the property to build a new worship facility in St. Paul.

The membership dug deep in their giving and along with small fundraisers, personal equity loans on their homes and second mortgages on their properties and the church was able to meet the large down payment for the February closing.

2006 -2007

Years of excitement and financial struggle.

2008

Economic crisis hits but by the help of the Lord the church was able to continue making payments on the contract for deed and equity loan on the building.

District Elder AZ Jones Jr. is elevated to Suffragan Bishop M.W.D.D.C (P.A.W.)

2010 September

Bishop Emeritus AZ Jones Sr. (Big Bishop) retires as the Senior Pastor of AFT and Bishop AZ Jones, Jr. (Little Bishop) is installed as the new Senior pastor. Bishop Sr. remained a member of the congregation and served as ministry advisor. Shortly after the transition of leadership the church secured a traditional loan through Sunrise Bank to pay off the contract for deed.

 2011

Apostolic Faith Temple officially changes its name to “Piercing Faith Church” (PFC). PFC develops relationship with Build Wealth Minnesota to enhance and promote financial literacy within the congregation.

2013

PFC acquired the vacated road behind 733 Pierce Butler property, bringing the parcel size to 3.25 acres and revisits preliminary site plan with Station 19 Architects.

2015

The founding Mother of the Congregation, Susanna Jones passed away on January 1, 2015. She carried with her a unique sound of worship and praise that cannot be duplicated. Neighbors would often stop on the sidewalk to listen to Mother Susanna Jones’ powerful singing voice which could be heard flowing from the sanctuary on any given Sunday morning.

2015 -2019

The congregation focused on paying off the loan on the land and the equity loan on the 305 Goodrich property. The equity loan on the 305 Goodrich building was paid off in 2017.

Began replacing windows in the church and started major interior remodeling of the dated 305 Goodrich (built in 1885) facility. Bible studies and prayer gatherings were also held at the 733 Pierce Butler site.

2019

Bishop AZ Jones Jr. appoints two assistant pastors (Elder David McGee and Eldress Kim Jones) and a youth pastor (Elder Quinton Rogers) to better serve the congregation

2020-2024

COVID19 Pandemic hit and people were fearful of attending church and building plans and fundraising activities were put on hold. However, PFC never closed its doors during the pandemic and the congregation was blessed not to experience any loss of life due to COVID19.  

After 15 years of generous giving, hard work, fundraisers, and sacrifices from members and friends of PFC; in September of 2020 during the height of the COVID19 pandemic, the church was blessed to retire the loan on the 733 Pierce Butler property.

The congregation was rocked by the sudden passing of the founder and architect of Apostolic Faith Temple (now known as Piercing Faith Church), the honorable Suffragan Bishop AZ Jones Sr. (passing non-COVID related) on April 22, 2022. His passing impacted the congregation on multiple levels inclusive of leadership. It will take some time for the congregation to recover from such a deep loss and the manifestation of divine healing that flowed through him. His spiritual impact and generosity will long be remembered by many. PFC is grateful for his sacrificial life and example of what a faith life looks like.

Since the 2020 COVID19 pandemic, Big Bishop’s passing and other influential individuals in 2022, the congregation has been regrouping, refocusing, restructuring and seeking guidance from the Lord for next moves. We are truly grateful for what the Lord has done. There has never failed to be a faithful core of hard workers and worshipers at PFC and the Spirit of the Lord has always moved marvelously in the Temple.

We are grateful to God for the congregants and friends of PFC who have been committed to the vision and were not undeterred by the challenges and hardships associated with economic downturns and other mitigating circumstances that the church experienced over the years. Struggling with the delicate balance of being a small congregation navigating the necessities of maintaining a dated facility and keeping vacant land in the city from growing wildly out of control. We are grateful for the generous giving, hard work, fundraising, and sacrifices from members and friends of PFC. Because of the Lord's help and their commitment to the vision, PFC continues to move forward.

The vision that started under the late Bishop AZ Jones Sr. has continued to expand under the leadership of Bishop AZ Jones Jr. Bishop AZ Jr. has aggressively promoted “vertical connection for horizontal living”. Many of the congregants are living out that scripture-based reality, impacting their families and communities as productive contributors to society owning their own businesses, earning educational certificates, undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, post graduate degrees and taking care of their families.

Lives are forever being changed by the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Messiah) preached and taught through the ministry of PFC. Minds and bodies have been healed through the informational and spiritual deliverance ministry of PFC.

We are energized by the campus vision that God has given to Suffragan Bishop AZ Jones, Jr. and we have great expectations of occupying the land located at 733 Pierce Butler Route in St. Paul. We are looking forward with the expectation of greater things and the Lord’s provision for the vision as we endeavor to impact individuals, families, and communities with the saving message of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ). We’re striving to be a fellowship that God delights in, and we’re excited about being a community “Where Real Life Meets Faith”. Won’t you join us on the journey!