OUR CHURCH'S HISTORY

Velma A. Hamilton was born to two pastors, Garland and Alma Chandler, on May 25, 1950, in a small town in North Carolina called High Point. She was the oldest of four children and grew up in the 1950’s amidst the grinding segregation of the rural South.

Because jobs were hard to find in High Point, her parents would leave their children with their grandmother in Norwood, North Carolina while they traveled to New York for work. In 1960, Velma’s family moved to San Dimas CA where she finished her education and her family experienced more prosperous times.

On September 18, 1971, Velma married R.C. Hamilton and they traveled together to Phoenix AZ. Both Velma and R.C. were already in ministry, but God began to call them to a higher purpose: to open their first church, California Prayertime Holiness Church located at 3790 2nd Avenue, Los Angeles CA.

At this church, they welcomed their first and founding member, Sister Cora Evans who stood faithfully with them while their faith was challenged—it was three years later before another member was added to the church. The church grew further as God gave them a radio broadcast with a message that touched souls.

In 1988, God presented them with another great test of faith: a vision to leave the church in California and establish what God called “Altars of Prayer,” with the first one to be planted in Phoenix AZ. R.C. and Velma obeyed the Spirit’s prompting to relocate to Phoenix, and they were led to purchase an existing church that needed much renovation. The saints that had traveled with them from California began the work of tearing down and rebuilding old, existing structures from the floor to the ceiling. King’s Chapel Altar of Prayer Temple was completed and dedicated in May of 1990.

R.C. and Velma would then “plant” two more Altars of Prayer—one in McComb MS and another in Oklahoma City, OK. They watched God do many mighty works in healing, delivering and saving souls. After completing their task in Oklahoma, they returned to the first established Altar in Phoenix AZ with a zeal and passion to continue the work of the LORD. The ministry they started together now reaches more souls through their two radio broadcasts, website and YouTube.

Note: On March 9, 2021, our beloved Mother-in-the-Gospel, Velma A. Hamilton, left us to be present with the LORD. Her husband, R.C., along with faithful ministers and members, now carry on the work that the LORD began through her teaching and preaching ministry.