In 1924, a small group of prayer warriors began a Bible study in the City of Benton Harbor. For nearly 16 years, the group of believers worshipped together as a mission church. The mission church worshipped on Eighth Street in the area known at the time as “The Flats” near the Benton Harbor water tower.

In 1940, the late Bishop Nathaniel Wells Sr. (affectional known as “Papa Wells”) and his wife Mildred transferred his pastorate from Grand Rapids, Michigan to the City of Benton Harbor to the mission church of 15 members.

A few of the members at the time were: Mother Alma Williams, Minister E.G. Williams, Mother G. Washington, Sister Pauline Walters, Mother Carrie Burns, Sister Daisy McCoy, Sister Emmerson, Father Bass, Brother and Sister Ollie Witherspoon, Deacon D. Washington, Mother Easely, Minister Howard, Deacon Moore, Mother King, Elder and Mother James Fair Sr., The Pruitts, Mother Rosie Jones, Minister Willie Cole, Missionary Eva Cole, and Sister Lewis.

Under Bishop Nathaniel Wells Sr. leadership, the membership grew from a mission to a church, The Church of God In Christ.  Mother Alma Williams served as the first Church Mother, Father Cornelius Bass and Deacon Moore were the first Deacons, Minister Howard and E. G. Williams, the first Ministers of the incorporated church.  Bishop Nathaniel Wells Sr. with the help of a few great men: Deacon John Hawkins, Deacon Eli Burton, and Deacon Witherspoon purchased a small factory on Eighth Street.  The factory was renovated into a one-story building “Our First Church Building” with a pastor’s study, modern rest rooms, dining area, and a very fine edifice.

This edifice in the winter of 1945 was destroyed by fire and it was the late Sister Ethel Johnson who notified Bishop Nathaniel Wells Sr. A Rescue Mission under Williams Jewelry Store on the corner of Pipestone and Michigan Street and Second Baptist Church on Eighth Street opened their doors on Sundays during the day.   For a small sum, the late Pastor W. E. Ellis permitted The Church of God In Christ to have evening services in the old building of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church.

Through the faithful service of many prayer warriors such as Mother Alberta Fair, Mother Carrie Burns, Mother Joe Patten, Mother Drue Cilla Willis, Mother Dessie Robinson, Mother Alma Williams, Mother Rosie Jones, Mother Miller, Mother King, Mother Easley, and Sister Laura Yarbrough all helped Bishop Nathaniel Wells Sr. keep the sheep together.   On auxiliary nights warm fellowship of the Prayer and Bible band were held in the home of the late Deacon Eli Burton and his wife the late Missionary Addie Burton.  Inside the Burton’s home, in 1947 the church established an official name Community Church of God In Christ.

The saints broke bread from house to house in the homes of the Burton’s, Witherspoon’s, and the Yarbrough’s.  A new church construction began in 1947 by Brother John Hawkins, Columbus Franklin, Lee Robinson Jr., Elder John Harrington and many other brothers who were gifted in carpentry.  Before winter, the Lord blessed Community Church of God In Christ with a two-story cement block and steel building located at 870 East Washington Street.  The new church included a fellowship hall, kitchen, furnace room and vents, circulating heat, pastor’s study, rest rooms, concession stand, auditorium furnished with pews, choir loft and chancellor.

We honor the late Deacon Sam Willis for his faithful labor to Bishop Nathaniel Wells Sr. and the Community Church of God In Christ.  In 1974 the present structure of the church (now 870 Nate Wells Sr. Dr.) began, and the congregation held its first service in 1975.

In 1976, Bishop Nathaniel Wells Sr. placed his son the late Bishop Nathaniel Wyoming Wells Jr. over the second church in which he pastorate, Holy Trinity Church of God In Christ in City of Muskegon, MI.

In 1983, at the demise of Bishop Nathaniel Wells Sr., his son Bishop Nathaniel Wyoming Wells Jr. became pastor of Community Church of God In Christ. For a season of time, Elder Joique Bell Sr. served as the Assistant Pastor. In October of 2002, after 17 years Bishop Nathaniel Wyoming Wells Jr. appointed his son, the late Elder Nathaniel Wells III as full-time pastor. Under the pastoral leadership of Elder Nathaniel Wells III the church official name was changed to, Greater Community Christian Fellowship Church of God In Christ in 2006. In 2023, at the demise of Elder Nathaniel Wells III, Bishop Melvin Burton prelate of the Western Michigan Jurisdiction Inc. appointed Elder Elijah Thompson III as pastor of the church.