Craig Chapel began as a storefront in 1962. Craig Chapel was started by Eld. Thaddeus Craig.  Eld. Craig pastored the church until he retired in 1990.  Eld. Thaddeus Craig appointed his son Min. James Craig as the assistant pastor in 1986.  Min. Craig was ordained as an elder in 1987.

Craig Chapel flourished under the leadership of Eld. T. Craig. During his tenure, the church moved to a larger storefront and then to a converted house that they used as a workshop center.

When Eld. T. Craig retired in 1990, Eld. James Craig took over the church.  Eld. J. Craig had a number of goals that he desired to get accomplished.  He wanted to move to a permanent church building instead of the converted house that they were in.

Eld. J. Craig met with the Board of Trustees in the church and presented his goals. The Board thought that most of Eld. Craig's endeavors were too overwhelming for the church to accomplish.  Eld. Craig asked the board to go on a 3-day fast with him and to seek God's face concerning the matter. Also, on the last day of the fast the pastor and the board were to meet together and pray.  They fasted and meet for prayer.  Eld. Craig did not have another meeting until a month later.

In the meantime, Eld. Craig asked his wife, who was a real estate broker, to search for a good church building and location. Sis. Craig found a wonderful location and building. There was one problem. It was owned by one of the richest and meanest men in the city.  The location and building was owned by Mr. Jacob Crottie. Mr. Crottie would not even agree to meet with Eld. Craig and his wife.  It was going to take a miracle for Craig Chapel to get the building.  Sis. Craig tried to find another church building three times before she told Eld. Craig about the building. Each time, she was lead back to the building owned by Mr. Crottie.  Sis. Craig finally told her husband about the building. He was excited, even after hearing the news about who owned the building.

It was a month after the pastor and the board had fasted and prayed.  Eld. Craig called another meeting for the Board of Trustees.  He presented his goals again, this time with the information about the church building. Only one trustee had a negative response. The board voted to go ahead with all of the projects that the pastor had in mind.

The first project that the church undertook was to build up the church building fund.  Eld. Craig called for a church-wide seven day fast.  Each adult was to fast until 5:00 PM. Each child 8-18 was to fast until 12:00 PM. Every member of the church agreed with the pastor.  Each family in the church pledged $700.00 to the building fund.  The building fund drive was miraculous. The building fund drive was supposed to last for a year, but it only took 6 months to complete the fund drive.

Eld. Craig instituted a number of the other goals that he had envisioned.  He instituted an elderly care program and fund to help the older pioneers of the church with financial and emotional support. A permanent musician was hired and the choir was reorganized. The membership of the church doubled after the reorganization of the choir.

A witnessing program was started by Sis. Craig.  The church members began to go out and witness to the people in the city. The church held picnics each weekend at parks in the city. The public was welcomed to come and join in the picnic. A service was held during these picnics.  As a result, many souls were added to the kingdom. People from all walks of life joined the church.

The time came for Eld. Craig to present his vision to the church.  He went before the church with his plan.  He said, "It may look like we can not accomplish our goal, but with God, we can do it."  Yet again, Eld. Craig asked the church to go on a 7-day fast as they had done before, but this time, on the 7th day, Eld. Craig called for a church-wide prayer shut-in.  After the shut-in, one of the new members said that she was related to the person who was handling the sale of the property for Mr. Crottie.  The pastor set-up a meeting and went to met with Mr. Crottie and his real estate broker. Mr. Crottie refused to come down on his price. Mr. Crottie was also very rude to Eld. Craig. Eld. Craig was cordial and considerate and thanked Mr. Crottie for his time.

A number of members became discouraged, but Eld. Craig did not waver. He continued to preach faith and encourage his members.  All the while, the membership was outgrowing their current building.  One of the members worked at a recreational center. The church was allowed to use the recreation center to hold their services for no charge.

Sometime later, Mr. Crottie became very ill. He was in the hospital in a coma for 21 days. Everyday, a member of Craig Chapel was at his bedside, reading scriptures to him.  On the 21st day, Eld. Craig and his wife were at the bedside of Mr. Crottie along with his daughter, when Mr. Crottie came out of his coma. Mr. Crottie was very rude and demanded that Eld. Craig and his wife leave. Mr. Crottie's daughter told her father that the members of Craig Chapel had been by his bedside all during the time he was in a coma.  Mr. Crottie became even meaner.  Eld. Craig and Sis. Craig left the hospital.  Both Eld. Craig and Sis. Craig were discouraged.  They rode home in silence.  When they got home, their youngest son, Sheridan (then 4-years old) met them at the door with a smile. He said, "Daddy, don't worry about that mean old man. I am going to be the first person to dance in our new church in a little while." Then he danced out of the room.  Eld. Craig and Sis. Craig looked at each other and began to rejoice. Seven days later, Craig Chapel received word that Mr. Jacob Crottie had died. Mr. Crottie's daughter asked Eld. Craig to officiate the funeral service since Mr. Crottie had no pastor.

A month after Mr. Crottie's death, his daughter called Eld. Craig and told him that the church could have the land and the building for $30,000. Eld. Craig purchased the land and the building.  A week before Craig Chapel moved into its new building, Eld. Craig and Sheridan drove by the building.  Sheridan asked his father could they stop and go in the building.  Both Eld. Craig and Sheridan have this report...

"When we walked into the building, the most beautiful music that I have ever heard was playing. Only Sheridan and I were in the building."

True to his word, Sheridan was the first person to dance in the new building.

Craig Chapel joined the Maddocha Fellowship of Pentecostal Churches in 1990.

The church continues to grow.  There is one thing that Craig Chapel knows how to do, it is to fast, pray, and have faith in God. These are the principles that Eld. Craig preaches and lives by.

The church continues its picnics in the park, adding souls to the kingdom as God sees fit.

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