The summer of 2011 was one of tremendous spiritual change for Elder Timothy R. Sharp as the Lord had placed a great burden on him that had him wrestling all summer long, analogous to Jacob wrestling with the angel all night long.  From this spiritual “battle,” the Lord lead him to establish a church in his hometown for the saints of God who were in need of a church home.

Therefore, on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 2:00 p.m., in the home of the Foster Family located at 208 Gardner Street, Waxahachie, TX the confirmation and acceptance of the burden that the Lord had placed on Elder Timothy Sharp was formally accepted in the presence of the following members:

1) Missionary/Mother Ethel M. Pharms

2) Mother Dorothy Moore

3) Missionary Ethel B. Cofer

4) Missionary Eva Calhoun

5) Missionary Georgia Manuel

6) Sister Rita Carter

It was during this meeting that Elder Sharp was presented a Good  Shepherd ring previously worn by the late District Superintendent and Pastor George A. Pharms of the Waxahachie District-Grove Temple Church of God in Christ by his widow and soon to be appointed Church Mother, Ethel M. Pharms of the Rivers of Life Pentecostal Church.

This signified the passing of the baton as birth was given to the Rivers of Life Pentecostal Church with Elder Timothy R. Sharp established as its Founder.  Mother Pharms closed the meeting with a group prayer  and God showered down, seemingly setting his approval on the work ahead.  Elder Sharp then gave the directive to find and purchase land to establish a new church home, earlier that day he had “spied out the land” as did Joshua and Caleb, so he already knew where he wanted the future church home to be established and was ready to “take the land.”

In order to accomplish this fete, he knew that the saints would need an interim place of worship. Therefore on Sunday, October 2, 2011, the inaugural service for the Rivers of Life Pentecostal Church began with the saints meeting one Sunday per week, praising and worshipping the Lord at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel.  The Lord blessed and earnest money for the land was paid for within a month of the church’s formation.  On Sunday evening, November 20, 2011 at approximately 3 p.m., Elder Sharp dedicated the land, ground was “officially” broken as the future church home sign was erected, Elder Sharp read from Genesis 26: 17-22 to the members of the congregation in attendance.

This effort took great sacrifice and vision from Elder Sharp and the support of the members.   As with any endeavor, there were obstacles and challenges along the way, but Elder Sharp remained “steadfast and unmovable.”  Elder Sharp’s mantra was, “We will have a church home, if I have to build it myself.”  This was a promise that came into fruition.  After going before the city of Waxahachie to have the land successfully replatted on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, the church continued to meet, membership grew and funds were continuing to be raised; the land was paid for in full in four months, two months earlier than the original term and the title was issued on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.  An architect was retained on Tuesday, March 20, 2012; the church continued to meet one Sunday per week as funds were raised throughout 2012 and 2013 with all being on one accord.

With Elder Sharp at the helm, he lead the charge along with several brothers and one sister from the church congregation to physically “build the church” that he had promised.  Thus, the foundation was laid in the summer of 2014 and Elder Sharp, the brotherhood and the one sister began the frame-up process of the church working one Saturday per week in the hot summer heat of Texas.  Meals were prepared for the “contracting team” by the mothers of the church and the work continued for as Nehemiah 4:6 reads, “so built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.”  Because the people had a mind to work, there was only one public fundraiser, a Salad Extravaganza on July 20, 2014 but the bulk of the finances came from the personal and financial sacrifices of the Pastor, members’ tithing, free-will offerings and personal sacrifices.

The seasons changed and winter was approaching, Elder Sharp lead the team on to the roofing phase of the project, but as the threat of inclement weather abounded, the elements posed a great threat to the framing work that had been completed during the summer.  It became imperative that the church must build a roof to protect the wood.  Elder Sharp labored along with the church brotherhood, one sister and an Assistant Pastor, Ernest Gasaway, from Lord’s Way Church of God in Christ, Sulphur Springs, Texas to build the roof and have it covered before the first snow fall of 2015, the Lord continued to bless and this was accomplished before snow fell in January 2015.  The project then halted due to the winter season but upon spring’s return, Elder Sharp was immediately back to the task at hand of building a church for the saints.

From 2015 to 2016, under Elder Sharp’s continued leadership and faith, slowly but surely, phase after phase of the work was being completed, work would be intermittent as the seasons and funding permitted.  Elder Sharp remained undaunted in his pursuit of the completion of the church.  Then in the spring of 2017, the parking lot was poured, this was a huge undertaking for the fledgling church, but the Lord continued to bless the endeavor and the effort.

Momentum increased and things were truly shaping up as church furniture and appliances were purchased.  The city approved the church for opening on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 and on Sunday, September 3, 2017 the Rivers of Life Pentecostal Church made its transition from the Holiday Inn Express Hotel to its beautiful new edifice at 1403 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Waxahachie, TX  75165.  Telephone 214.980.1060.

Come, step into the water…John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst again.