Greater St Paul Church of God in Christ

A Rich Pentecostal History

St. Paul’s Church of God in Christ was established in 1933 by the late Bishop John Campbell Wiggins, Sr., his wife, Mother Roberta Wiggins, along with seven other charter members. Bishop Wiggins was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on June 25, 1898, to Moses and Lucrea Wiggins. He was the youngest of five children. Bishop and Mother Wiggins had one son, John Campbell Wiggins, Jr. The current location at 4001 4th Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55409 was the first African American Religious structure to be erected in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The early days of the church were sustained by strong saints such as the late Supervisor Etta Smith, who served many years as the First Church Mother.

Bishop Wiggins was actively involved in the community and was known for his influential leadership, strong business acumen, and uncompromising belief in holiness. He was appointed as the Jurisdictional Bishop of the North Dakota Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ in 1962 and served for a very brief time, prior to his passing. After nearly 30 years of pastoring and serving God’s church, Bishop Wiggins unexpectantly transitioned from earth to heaven on Sunday, December 16, 1962. After the passing of Bishop Wiggins, Mother Roberta Wiggins continued to serve and support the St. Paul’s Church of God in Christ until she was called from labor to reward on March 8, 1988, at the age of 86.

After a prolonged period without a pastor, Elder Vernell Thomas, his wife, Evangelist Loretta Thomas, and their family relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to lead the St. Paul’s Church of God in Christ in 1966. Elder Thomas was later led to revise the name St. Paul’s COGIC to Greater St. Paul COGIC. The church experienced tremendous growth under the leadership of Elder Thomas. He implemented several ministries to embrace the community, spread the Gospel, led several renovation projects on the current facilities, and impacted the lives of many all to the glory of God. Many ministries and churches were birthed out of the ministry of Elder Thomas and the Greater St. Paul COGIC. Elder Thomas served in numerous capacities within the Minnesota Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ, including but not limited to, District Superintendent of the Upper Midwest District under the Jurisdictional leadership of Bishop Fred W. Washington.

Superintendent Vernell Thomas pastored Greater St. Paul COGIC for 53 years until the Lord called him to heaven on Sunday, November 10, 2019. After the transition of Supt. Thomas, Bishop Fred W. Washington, Jurisdictional Prelate of the Minnesota Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction COGIC assumed the role of Interim Pastor until he was led by the Holy Spirit to appoint Elder Columbus T. Smith, Jr. as the Pastor on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.