Our History
J.O.Y. is the seedling of a once great congregation of believers known as Harvest Temple and East Orange church of God. Located in West Orange, New Jersey since the late 1950s these two great congregations were an integral part of their community by meeting needs with a food pantry and clothes closet, activities for the whole family, and a successful partnership with the community.
In 1997 Bishop Douglas H. Adams and his family accepted God’s call to rebuild this once great church and his first Sunday was indicative of the work that was in front of them. Having arrived on a Wednesday, unloading the truck in sweatshirts Pastor Adams his wife and their two children Doug II and Kandace were busy preparing for their first Sunday. Pastor Adams was up bright and early, as he was grabbing his robe and bible to enter the church for his first Sunday. Then there was a knock on the door and a faithful member informed Pastor that it was freezing at the church it may be better to have service at the house.
Pastor Adams was undaunted and went to the church to rescue his first sermon. As he entered he saw radiators and was told “The Boiler” was on but there was no steam, he was quickly reminded he had never seen a boiler. But to his surprise he noticed a man in the corner working on a radiator; he was encouraged on two levels first he must know what he is doing (at least more then Pastor Adams), second there was at least one full grown man, working man in the church. Of course the first was true but he could not fix “The Boiler,” unfortunately the second proved to be false he was not a member and never became one. Pastor Adams’ first sermon was preached to a group of twenty in the living room of the parsonage.
After almost five years of battling the “The Boiler” and repairing the building Pastor Adams and the members decided to sell the building to a stronger non-english speaking congregation who could properly steward over the building and be a blessing to the changing demographics of the community. God blessed, the church sold and Jesus, Others, Yourself (J.O.Y.) Church of God was born.
What started as a fatally wound body of believers with no men and no intake families, struggling to minister to a building has become an unshackled family of families excited to worship, fellowship and serve. After several years of healing and building a core of disciples committed to the cause and work of Christ J.O.Y. is pursuing it’s vision, living its mission and celebrating along the way.
J.O.Y. currently meets at the pastor’s home in West Orange, New Jersey, and because of God’s grace and the faith response of the membership they are actively looking to purchase a building to support their continuing growth.