OUR HISTORY
On August 10, 2013, Deliverance Ministry and Healing Center was pushed out by Pastor Arlethia Dupree-Jones, at the Holiday Inn, Foxcroft Avenue, Martinsburg, West Virginia. Her first official sermon was “You Can Run But You Can’t Hide!”
DMHC remained in the hotel for one year; having services twice a week. The ministry established itself as a community partner by working with other churches and nonprofits to meet the needs of the community. The evangelism arm of the ministry ensured the ministry became known as the “Agents of Change” with outreach at the Martinsburg Rescue Mission, Bethany House, Food Pantry, and other organizations.
In December 2014, DMHC moved from the Holiday Inn to their first building, a storefront at 318 Wilson Street, Martinsburg, West Virginia. In one week, the members did the demolition and remodeling to make the facility home. They continued to solidify their footprint in the community and surrounding region with a food pantry, parenting classes/life skills training and many other services. In March 2015, they acquired another building at 310 Wilson Street to open the ‘Fire House”; a youth center for the community. The youth did the demolition and remodeled themselves to begin having Friday Night Fire; a youth night where they were trained and encouraged to cultivate their gifts. The Fire House provided an afterschool program and hosted several other youths and family-oriented events.
By the end of the year, the ministry was growing in membership, spiritual maturity, and partnerships. In 2015, they relocated the church to 306 Wilson Street; a building with an industrial kitchen, seating for 125, a nursery and office spaces. They went in to transform this former night club into “The Safe Place” for people to come get delivered, healed and set free. After two weeks of intense reconstruction and partnerships with the landlord and other businesses, the doors opened and the ministry continued to grow spiritually and naturally.
Five months later the adjacent building, 308 Wilson Street, became available and the DMCH Executive Board acquired it and joined the two buildings. The additional space was used as a conference room, training center, secondhand store and office space for the administrative team to serve those in need. DMHC continued to serve its community by providing services no other ministry was providing consistently.
DMHC created partnerships with government agencies and businesses throughout Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia to facilitate conferences, trainings, seminars and provide a host of services to the region. From Spiritual Bootcamps, Park Services, Walk-a-thons, Family Thanksgiving Feast, Clean Sweeps, Open Mic Nights and more, DMHC was known throughout the region as the church that loved and genuinely cared for people. DMHC set a standard of excellence with the love of God in all its programs and services.
In 2018, Pastor Jones’ fifth year of ministry, DMHC went from renting a space for $3000 a month to purchasing their first home at 124 Pennsylvania Avenue, Martinsburg, West Virginia for $8000. The money to purchase the building was raised in less than 24 hours. The sanctuary became the home of DMHC and SDC. The members partnered with Lowes, Valley College, and Boskey Construction to do the renovations. The church had been abandoned with no plumbing, electric and floors caving in, but God anointed the hands of the members to do the demolition and help with the renovation. This historic building was built inside of a rock. Once renovated the community came to see how it was resurrected. DMHC brought life into the community as they continued to serve the community and expanded many services and programs with the new building.
In 2020, the pandemic hit and DMHC expanded it's social media platforms and began ministering around the world. Many souls have been changed as the ministry grew and created a stronger presence globally.
God shifted the ministry in 2021 when He instructed Pastor Jones to plant a ministry in Fort Worth, Texas. On June 30, 2021, twenty-one of the foundational members of DMHC transitioned to Texas, while a few remained in West Virginia. DMCH is enlarging its territory and sparking a revival across the World as it allows God to lead them every step of the way. Pastor Jones is hearing from God knowing that DMHC is not a church as usual and is on assignment to advance the Kingdom of God.
