About Our Church

Beliefs of Christ Gospel

Christ Gospel Church of Tyler, Texas is an affiliate church of Christ Gospel Churches International, Inc. based in Jeffersonville, Indiana.  Christ Gospel Church of Tyler is independently organized and governed but is theologically affiliated with Christ Gospel Churches International, Inc.  Christ Gospel is a fundamentalist, Pentecostal Christian group. Like most Christian denominations, it espouses a set of doctrines known as the Apostles' Creed. Like most Pentecostal groups, the church believes in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, and Christ Gospel services are exuberant celebrations. People sing, shout, dance, clap, run, praise, and worship God with all their beings.

Yet at times the services are quiet enough to hear a pin drop as members study the Bible attentively. Christ Gospel churches believe that worshipping God embraces the use of all kinds of music and instruments.

At Christ Gospel Church, one will hear traditional church instruments -- drums, guitars, saxophones, violins, trumpets as well as traditional church instruments accompanying traditional church hymns, country gospel music, black gospel music, even classical oratories.

Aerial View of the Int'l Headquarters' Office located in Jeffersonville, Indiana

The church emphasizes the importance of people being united in the love of Christ, regardless of nationality, race, sex, or creed. In fact, Christ Gospel churches were racially integrated long before the rest of society - not because the church was politically active, but merely because it strongly believed this was the right way for Christians to be. Neither its leaders nor Christ Gospel Affiliated Churches believe that they are the only Christians going to heaven. In fact they maintain that Christians everywhere should rejoice whenever the name of Christ is upheld.

Christ Gospel churches believe that their ministry is to help Christians discover a closer walk with God. Like other major religions in the world, Christ Gospel Churches believe that the ultimate experience of human beings is to achieve total oneness with the Divine; consequently, the church's teachings involve helping Christians grow spiritually until Christ totally fills their lives.

Because they strive for perfect union with Christ, most church members renounce some activities that distract one's mind from God.  These renunciations follow the standards of old-fashioned holiness. The women do not wear makeup nor cut their hair. All dress modestly. Their goal is to live full, complete lives while keeping Christ at the center of their thoughts and activities. The church, however, teaches that there are different levels of commitment to God, which are a matter of individual conscience. Although the church has a strong sense of religious commitment, there are no rigid requirements of conformity for membership. People are encouraged to devote their lives to God, and to walk in the light of truth that God has given them personally. Most Christ Gospel members attend church, Bible study, or prayer groups several times a week. In all other respects they participate fully in all aspects of society. They believe in living full, wholesome lives, enjoying good, clean fun, marrying, rearing families, buying homes, going to school, college, developing careers, striving for excellence, and being responsible, moral citizens in all their actions.

Rev. Bernice R. Hicks

Christ Gospel was founded nearly 50 years ago by Rev. Bernice R. Hicks, who had no ambitions or plans for ministry, but had a gift for studying, understanding, and explaining the Bible.

Rev. Hicks' teachings are unique in the way that spiritual themes and Biblical principles are tied together. Hebrew is used to bring out the hidden meanings of words in the Scripture.

The core of Rev. Hicks' teachings is founded on the principle that the Old Testament tabernacle was laid out in the form of a cross and serves as a picture (a metaphor) of the Christian spiritual experience in growing to maturity in Christ. Christ is the head over all things, all things work together for good for those that love the Lord; and if one seeks the kingdom of God first, all other things will be added.

Rev. Hicks has written and published over 110 books, which include studies on the Old Testament tabernacle, the threefold nature of man, evolution and creation, overcoming depression, and many spiritual exegeses of various books of the Bible. The church holds copyright to these materials; Rev. Hicks receives no royalties from them.

Although now eighty-nine years old, Rev Hicks still preaches an average of two services each week at the Jeffersonville church, continues writing books and Christian training materials, and answers hundreds of letters each week. Annually, Rev. Hicks preaches four to six major conventions, four in Jeffersonville to a packed church, and two in Mexico, one in Tampico to a filled 15,000 seat stadium, and a minister's training convention in Mexico City. Rev. Hicks also travels extensively for her age and holds meetings in various churches.