Our History

The History of Perfecting Church

Perfecting Church was born out of a word from the Lord, given to a young preacher and singer named Marvin L. Winans. As then Minister Winans lay in surrender at
Shalom Temple, the Holy Ghost spoke those prophetic words into his spirit. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, Mother Estella Boyd laid hands on this young
preacher, and the power of God was so compelling that he lay slain under its influence! While lying there, he saw a vision of people trickling toward him. It was
then the Holy Ghost spoke into his spirit the phrase that should change the course of his life, “they are coming to you.”

Knowing that the prompting of this epiphany was a call into the pastorate, he began to rebel. The more he said no, the more the sweet presence of the Lord would leave.
Not willing to sacrifice the presence of God for the pleasures of this world, he surrendered to the will of the Father! As he began to say yes, the more the spirit of
God inundated his soul. He looked again and saw a sea of people coming toward him. People of all races and creeds, and the Holy Spirit said once again, “they are
coming.”

And so, they did…

Perfecting Church held its first service on May 27, 1989, and has since grown into a multi-location church and internationally known ministry. Perfecting Church
started very humbly with just eight members in the basement of Pastor Winans’ home. Later, moving to the Michigan Inn for the first official service. After five
months, services moved to the Urban Ministries Center for one month. Desperately in need of a house of worship, Pastor Roosevelt Williams and the assembly of the
Greenfield Avenue Church of God opened their hearts and doors to Perfecting’s developing ministry. Within seven months, Perfecting had outgrown its present
location, and a move became mandatory. Reverend Moore and the congregation of the People’s United Methodist Church welcomed us with open arms. Young and found favor yet growing, we with God and man. Just four short months later, the Lord blessed Perfecting Church to move into its own building.

The new Perfecting Church location was 13220 Greenfield in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Once moved, Pastor Winans noted that this locale would meet our needs
for at least four years. Merely seven months in, we had outgrown the space! Confronted with the dilemma of renovating or relocation, the Lord instructed Pastor
to add another service. This addition was the beginning of the 10:45 a.m. worship service. In less time than it took to fill the 3:00 p.m. service, the 10:45 a.m. service
was standing room only; the people continued to come! After two years, Pastor Winans finally began the 8:00 a.m. service. After noticing that each service had
individual attendees, this created a new dilemma. Some members didn’t know one other! How could Perfecting become one body if some would never worship
together?

The Lord instructed Pastor Winans to start a First Sunday Service at Cody High School. This facility was large enough to host the entire Perfecting Church family at
once. February 1994 began this new venture, and this move proved to be two-fold. 1) It satisfied the need for the church to worship as one. 2) It prepared the church
for a larger edifice. The First Sunday Service continued until Perfecting Church moved into its present location at 7616 East Nevada on the first Sunday of March
1996. Starting with just one service at 3:00 p.m., the church experienced exponential growth, and before long, the 10:45 a.m. service was added.

In the very beginning, Pastor Winans taught that “Ministry Means People” and Perfecting Church has been an example of that teaching. With ministries that touch
the full spectrum of the human experience, from the ravages of drug abuse to the hopelessness of poverty, wherever people are hurting, Perfecting Church will be
seeking a way to heal it! As a result, Perfecting Church began the Perfecting Community Development Corporation. This corporation helps advance community
efforts such as the Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts, the Amelia Agnes Transitional Home for Women, the Jenesta McCraw Youth Activity Center, and the
Perfecting Community Care Center.

Perfecting, as termed affectionately, is experiencing the favor of God as He proves Himself by adding to the ministry. Perfecting Church will soon relocate to 7 Mile &
Woodward. The new campus, which has over 20 acres, will include a 4,300-seat sanctuary, parking structure, office building, and market-rate condominiums. As a
ministry, Perfecting Church strives to attain the purpose for which God has called. Not for vainglory but that we stand ready to meet the needs of the people; ever
mindful of the phrase spoken in that vision to Pastor Winans, “they are coming to you.”

Perfecting Church… “Still So Much More!”