history
Bishop Rufus G. W. Sanders, Dr. Jo-Ann Lipford Sanders, and a cadre of amazingly dedicated and faithful saints of the Most High God founded the Emmanuel Temple Pentecostal Church of the Apostolic Faith in July 1978 in Sandusky, Ohio. July 1978, a group of local churchgoers, Brother and Sister L.V. Jordan, Mary Graves, and Eula Lane, asked Bishop Sanders to lead a series of bible classes in the community. From that group, the seeds of Emmanuel Temple were envisioned. As a result of the integration of these early adopters of the faith and a group of existing seasoned saints looking to move by the spirit; hence, the full birth of Emmanuel Temple Pentecostal Church of the Apostolic Faith. Click on "Learn More" and open in a new window for the full history,
Emmanuel Temple was led by Bishop Rufus G. W. Sanders and his wife, Dr. Jo-Ann Sanders who both led with both spiritual, professionalism, and dignity. Both earned doctoral degrees and served the community in the education and social services sectors, respectively. In 2014, Bishop Sanders elevated to the Bishopric to serve the 42nd Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World; the Republic of Togo in West Africa. Dr. Jo-Ann Sanders is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She holds a Ph.D. from Kent State University, where she majored in Counselor Education and Supervision. As the first African American Academic Dean of the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. She is a scholar and recognized expert as a distinguished counselor and advisor. Because of their leadership, Emmanuel Temple has produced an extraordinary number of saints who have received earned undergraduate and graduate degrees.
On July 10, 2022, Dr. Eugene T. W. Sanders was selected as the second Pastor of the Emmanuel Temple Pentecostal Church of the Apostolic Faith. In 1978, Dr. Sanders became one of the founding members of Emmanuel Temple and has supported the church in every way. On July 29, 2023, Suffragan Bishop Dr. Eugene T. W. Sanders and wife, Lady Paulette Hardin-Sanders were installed as the overseers of ETC and charged to advance the name of Jesus to lost souls and uphold the standards of holiness in their leadership roles. Dr. Sanders has led a distinguished career as a successful Chief Executive Officer and Superintendent of three large urban school districts in Ohio and is a highly sought after consultant and speaker on leadership and transformational change. Lady Sanders earned a master’s in social work (MSW) from The University of Southern California. She specializes in human and social services with a concentration in mental health therapist. “We know God can do it because if He did it before, He can do it again. To God be the glory for the things He has done.”