Our History
The late Administrative Assistant, Jewell Donnell “J.D.” Perry was the founding Pastor of the
Power House Institutional Church of God In Christ. With the support of his wife, Missy Harlene
Perry, they organized the first Power House in Fresno, Ca. From a building on the corner of
Church & Fig to the edifice on “N” & Calaveras, Power House has grown from its small family size but has not strayed from its family values. Our leadership, membership and time of worship have changed, but the vision and the mission remains the same.
Upon serving 26 years in the U.S. Army, Elder J.D. Perry retired from the army and decided
to return to his calling to pastor again. He had previously pastured churches near and as far as
Germany, but he had a yearning in his heart to carry on the dream of his late father, Elder Clyde
“Baby” Perry, who had an unfinished church home that he lovingly named Power House Church of God In Christ. When Elder J.D. Perry began Power House Institutional Church of God In Christ here in Fresno he began with a handful of members, mainly family and friends, at a building on Church at Fig. Seeing the need, Elder Perry established many lasting auxiliaries in the church beginning with a church choir which was headed by his wife, Missy Harlene Perry. Elder Perry also believed in having revivals and so he invited his good friends throughout the years to come including Elder H. Guy, Elder B. Huggins and Missionary Robbye Winn.
Due to rapid church member Pastor Perry sought after a bigger edifice and thus Power
House moved from several buildings until he found our home at 1615 “N” Street on December 22, 1990. On December 29 th Power House Institutional Church of God In Christ held its first service inour new home in the downstairs area while Brother C. King and his father remodeled our upstairs area. Before long, Power House established itself in the downtown area where we continue to be active in the community today.
Over the next 12 years Elder Perry expanded the ministries and the act ivies of the church to
include things such as our an annual Church picnic, Easter plays, Church pageants, Christmas
revivals and annual Women’s Conference.
On March 26, 2002 Elder Perry was called home to be with the Lord. Upon an invitation from
the Church, Elder Duane McAlister came to Power House to act as interim pastor during its
transitional phase. A year later, the Church asked Elder McAlister to become its official pastor and he accepted. By God’s grace Power House Institutional Church of God In Christ has withstood the test of time and continues to flourish. We can’t begin to imagine the things that God has in store for the future but we early anticipate bigger and better blessings.
