GULFPORT, Mississippi — Apostle Christopher J. Upchurch said something funny recently.
Well, sort of.
“We made it to church as much as possible, but we weren’t a churchy family even though believed in God,” Upchurch told Making Headline News during an exclusive interview when describing his upbringing in his native hometown of Flint, Michigan.
Churchy. How clever.
And for the record, it wasn’t merely a play on words of Upchurch’s last name, mind you.
Regardless, for someone who was raised in what he referred to as the “number one murder capital in the U. S.,” amongst the vital trends about which Upchurch’s mother steadfastly embraced was keeping her son in a mostly Christian-oriented environment and out of harm’s way.
While his upbringing was also what he deemed “very scattered,” considering he and his family had become a part of a variety of denominations, the primary focus in the Upchurch’s household undoubtedly remained the same.
That is, they kept Jesus Christ as the Focal Point of their lives, something that greatly prevented the young Christopher from becoming a product of the crime-infested community in which he grew up.
Today, unlike never before, Upchurch and his beloved companion, Amanda, have collectively joined forces to advance the kingdom through their progressive, thriving ministry called, The Upchurch’s Ministry.
Powered by their Gulfport, Mississippi-based Kingdom Healing And Deliverance Ministries International and KOR Ministries, the Upchurch’s have been birthed to bring together the lost souls, wounded, rejected, angry and misunderstood individuals back into reconciliation to the Kingdom Of YAHUAH, according to a spokesperson for their ministry at www. http://theupchurchs.com.
Interesting enough, the Upchurchs’ slew of ministries are life-changing and self-sustaining and selflessness.
Not only that, their ministry is comprised largely of a vast variety of purposes in the Body of Christ, most notably through media, marketing, and a fivefold ministry, or what the Upchurches refer to as “evident miracles,” signs, and wonders.
Having sold out wholeheartedly unto God 17 years ago, Christopher Upchurch has been actively involved in ministry for more than 12 years. Amanda’s notable experience in ministry spans a little more than 17 years.
Together, the couple — given the immense strides they’ve made with their ministry in recent years — has put satan right where he belongs.
On the run.
“I’d say in 2005 as well, I was baptized with the infilling of the Holy Ghost,” Christopher Upchurch recalled.
For what it’s worth, his testimony had become even more intriguing particularly in his ministry’s infancy stages.
“One day after work, I asked God to lead me to someone,” Christopher Upchurch explained. “I didn’t have any prophetic training from a leadership or leader.”
Because God was heavily involved, it’s not as if he actually needed such prophecy experience. Rather, he was commanded by God to — you know — go with the flow for the most part.
MORE ABOUT THE CHRIS AND AMANDA’S MINISTRY: http://theupchurchs.com/
“By faith, I prophesied and gave words of knowledge to a lady sitting in a break area outside of Kroger…who was at work, but she was homeless, sleeping in her car with her daughter,” Christopher Upchurch recalled. “A night or so before, I came to tell her God saw that night. She burst into tears!”
And just like that, his God-orchestrated gift of prophecy had effectively come to pass and, to his and Amanda’s credit, their ministry hasn’t endured any signs of a drop-off since.
Not on God’s time watch.
Like her husband, Apostle Amanda Upchurch has endured and overcome her share of challenges during her quest to walk in her divine purpose in ministry alongside her mate.
Amanda, in fact, recalled like yesterday those downtrodden, dark encounters whereby she had to fight vigorously to overcome rejection, being victimized by rape, even the spirit of hopelessness. Her notable spiritual gifts include having raised the dead from aids, having been apart of local jail ministry for 10 years as well being a fixture for a prayer team from the comfortable confines of various residences.
Widely known for having erected a 24-hour prayer ministry at Grace Temple in her native establishment in 2012, Apostle Amanda also conducted a local Vacation Bible School where 70 youth and parents received salvation, and her books, “Broken Chains” and “Challenged Leadership” are presently in the works.
“But you can (still) have deliverance and healing from the Lord Christ Jesus,” Amanda said. “It brought me to my true identity. It made me see God in a different way.”
All things considered, Christopher’s journey — though much differently than that of his wife’s — had ultimately persuaded him to fully grasp the notion of the realism of God.
And that, in any shape or form, isn’t being churchy, mind you.
As for his beloved wife’s assessment of their rise in ministry: “I was truly amazed at how real God is to me…not just others, but me,” Amanda, a McComb, Mississippi native who is the founder of Amanda’s Upchurch Ministries And KOR Ministries/Oracle Management Group Inc., said. “It had me realize God is alive and that the words we speak or preach carry life or death. I had to take God more seriously about my purpose and being chosen unless something worse could come back upon me.”
Both of whom will be the recipients of honorary doctorate degrees from St. Thomas Christian University later this year, the Upchurches don’t shy away from the notion that the formation of their ministry undoubtedly had come to fruition out of total obedience unto God.
“We thank the God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost for allowing us to share our lives,” Christopher Upchurch said. “God does desire for his Kingdom, Power, and Glory to reign in the earth like we’ve never seen or been reported.”
Said Amanda: “We’re excited for the businesses and the creativity of the Kingdom to bless us all with the many gifts He has given us to be a blessing to others.”
For the record, there’s nothing churchy about that, mind you.
SEE FOOTAGE OF THE UPCHURCHES:
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is Founder and Publisher of Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and former reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson is the former chief adjutant to Elder Andrew Jackson, Sr. of Faith Temple Ministries Church of God In Christ. Based in Dallas, Texas, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division. To reach Johnson, call him at 901-690-6587 or send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.