AMAZING GRACE CENTER – A Brief History

My mission in New York of supervising, co-coordinating and dedicating 3-Sister churches has just been completed when in July 2000, one of the finest afternoons, while in my living room in the Bronx, NY, I was in a trance that defined Atlanta mission. It was a clear and concise vision. Despite the clarity of this open vision I was hesitant and slow to act on it. A month later I was again in spirit and I saw many people made up of the homeless adults and children, some angry, depressed, mistreated, rejected and dejected, abandoned and ostracized, the barren and ridiculed, the hungry, naked and the fearful. It was an awful sight to behold. I heard a voice that said clearly I’ve sent you to Atlanta to minister to these folks.

Humanly speaking I tried to downplay this and was very reluctant to pursue this mission. But it took the persistence of my wife Felicia to remind me of the revelation all the time, which sometimes got on my nerves. Honestly I didn’t want live my comfort zone.

Finally I made up my mind after further pressure from two other people I did mention this revelation to, I proceeded to Atlanta first on a fact-finding mission and later the transition.

The church of the Lord began as the Amazing Grace Prayer Fellowship with 7-men and 3-women in a house in Riverdale, Georgia. The beginning of this ministry opened doors to amazing miracles and incredible breakthroughs in peoples’ lives. The barren became fruitful, divine healings, and financial breakthroughs Infact most people that came in contact with anointing became homeowners. It was God’s inspired Home-ownership spree. There was also a tremendous outpour of Muslim converts who experienced the power of the Anointed one.

A House to House Wednesday fellowship was introduced which led us to nukes and corners of Atlanta Metropolis. By the grace of God the miracle of peace, reconciliation and restoration visited many marriages and families.

By March 10th, 2002 as we increased in number and the house could not contain us any longer, the prayer fellowship moved into rented meeting room, beautiful and cozy hotel atmosphere in Jonesboro, GA, where we continued to hold services on Sundays and later on Wednesdays. During this period the Lord brought in great and wonderful men and women of God to lift up His banner in our midst.

August 30th, 2002, the prayer Fellowship officially incorporated as The Church of The Lord (Amazing Grace Center) with our non-profit obtained in the next 6-months.

Victory Night was introduced- first Friday of every month we went from house to house in prayer, fellowship and breaking bread. It was later centralized in our new facility.

After 3-years anniversary of Amazing Grace Center, the Lord revealed to me it’s time for our own place of worship just as He revealed to in New York. Because of the long and arduous process I went through to dedicate 2-previous churches in Lagos, Nigeria and especially Bronx, New York, I was again hesitant but I had to act on God’s word. I concluded by saying, may God’s will be done.

Few weeks later, I saw in a vision a great number of kings, Queens, Princes, Princesses, Traditional and Ethnic leaders from various countries gathered together in an open field for a special occasion. The venue looked exactly where we are now but before then I had no idea where this address was. Thank God I wrote it down and went before the congregation and told them all the Lord showed me. The great people were all in their special royal robes and ceremonial regalia. It was a spectacular sight, awesome and indescribable moment. Here I stand as the Master of Ceremony before such a great and reputable men and women of excellence and nobility from different nations, races and culture. This is how I was introduced in spirit during the occasion, “The Prophet of the Most High God who is believing God for a Church building.” The first time I was called by this same title was 10-years ago by a 10-year old girl in Atlanta when I first visited from New York for a Revival Service somewhere in Decatur.

After the special ceremony these great men and women summoned me and asked me what I really needed. I quickly answered a Church Building for worship and they began to write checks I unbelievable amounts. This was the first time I saw a million dollar check presented to me for the church building. The difference is it was in the spirit.

From that moment I was inspired to find a place of worship ‘THE TABERNACLE OF GRACE’ if you will.  Humanly speaking it was insane to even think of something at this time considering what we had in our purse at that moment which was nothing to write about especially when considering such an enormous project. Today I say Ebenever, hitherto, the Lord has thus led us. This is what the Lord has done and it’s marvelous in our eyes.

Amazing Grace Center reminds us of the small church group in Noah’s Ark in Genesis 6 where God gathered His people and instructed the Ark to be built when it didn’t make sense to any human reasoning considering the factors at that time. But Noah believed completely. He obeyed God absolutely. He trusted Him wholeheartedly. One day at a time he leaned on God’s word and His mercies every morning. The Bible says in Gen. 6:8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” I believe critics mocked and ridiculed him and thought he was out of his mind. But if God has spoken, His word will not return to Him void. There must a performance of what the word intends.

Amazing Grace Center at Noah’s Ark reminds us most importantly that we are the Tabernacle of God. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14)

The word dwelt means “tabernacle”. Jesus tabernacled among us. This is where God met with man and man met with God.

1Corinthians 6:19 says, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

When the Holy Spirit came to indwell you, a consuming fire purified the crucible of your heart, making it an ark. The blood of Christ cleansed you of every sin, washing over your life and preparing a mercy seat for the ark of your heart. At the depths of your being is a tent, a tabernacle, a holy of holies for your worship and meeting with God. Jesus made it possible.

Every moment of everyday can be a time of worship. As you fulfill God’s calling and purpose in your life, you are worshipping Him. When fulfilling the purpose of God, then all of life becomes a sanctuary, dedicated to the worship of God. Through God’s grace we were able to acquire 3500sq. ft. building on 5.5 acres of land in an exclusive neighborhood in Jonesboro, GA. The building was dedicated on July 30th, 2008 in a beautiful ceremony over 500 people in attendance. The dedication of “Amazing Grace @ Noah’s Ark” reminded us that, because of Christ, the holy of holies now resides in our heart. In this place we will enter, worship and meet with God.

As all in Noah’s Ark were blessed with the special grace of God in the midst of a great flood so there is today Amazing Grace at 2270 Noah’s Ark Road, Praise Ye The Lord!

May the God of grace be with everyone who shares our joy and victory. Amen!

On behalf of the entire membership of Amazing Grace Center Felicia and I would like  welcome you and thank specially for sharing our joy. As the LORD remembered Noah, He will remember you in all your endeavors in Jesus name.

Rev. John and Felicia Lachana.

The Church of the Lord
(Amazing Grace Center)
2270 Noah’s Ark Road
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Tel: 770-210-1504

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