Some time prior to 1954, Elder Thomas Brooks and Sister Julia Brooks left the assembly of Bishop Samuel N. Hancock of Detroit, Michigan and settled in Seattle, Washington. Sister Brooks carrying on the work of her husband made numerous appeals to the PAW Headquarters seeking assistance with the continued effort which had diminished numerically to herself and one or two others.
Bishop A. William Lewis began praying, seeking the mind of God as to what direction he should go in, and asking God to place the right person on his heart that he was to contact. In the early 1950's Elder Benjamin Thomas Moore traveled across the country with his wife, Sister Willa Moore, as a National Evangelist. Elder Moore later accepted positions at Aenon Bible School as Professor and Dean. It was in March 1954 that Bishop Lewis contacted Elder Moore about accepting the challenge to go to the Pacific Northwest (Seattle, specifically), and go get in touch with Sister Brooks and begin a work there. Elder & Sister Moore obeyed the will of God and arrived in Seattle in July 1954.
It was on Monday afternoon, July 5, 1954, as Mother Pauline Brown and sister Julia Brooks were visiting, that a knock was heard. When Sister Brooks answered the door and recognized the caller, she exclaimed with a shout, "Thank you Jesus! Mother Brown, here is our pastor!"
On July 7, 1954 two days later, the first service was held on Wednesday evening in the house of Sister Brooks on 21st Avenue in Seattle, WA. Those attending were Sister Willa Moore, Elder Moore's wife, Sister Julia Brooks, Sister Pauline Brown, and Sister Lena Harris.
The Lord set approval on the endeavors of this small group, and at the first Sunday evening service, one soul went down in Jesus Name. On the following Sunday another baptism occurred. The pool was a metal tank in the backyard of Sister Brooks' home. The neighbors witnessed these baptisms by peeking through windows and over fences.
As word spread that a Holy Ghost preacher, baptizing in Jesus Name had arrived in town, others began coming out to services and soon the late Sister Mae Collins, the late Mother Carrie Akridge, and the late Sister Lizzie Washington, all born again believers, joined the small group.
At the end of July, Bishop Lewis asked Elder Moore to contact some saints who were former members of the church in Bedford, Indiana. The contact brought in Sister Verna Quackenbush, Elder and Sister Carl Dickerson, and Elder and Sister Curtis Montgomery, who was in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. At this time services were held twice weekly and on Sundays.
In August 1954, Elder Moore returned to the East Coast to get what remained of his family’s possessions. He left the little flock in the care of Elder Montgomery, who later became the associate minister of the church.
In November 1954 the first church services were held in a storefront at 1517-14th Avenue, Seattle Washington. The name chosen was Bethel Christian Church.
On July 5, 1955, the Pacific Northwest District Council held the first organizational session at Bethel Christian Church, 1517-14th Avenue, Seattle, Washington. There were 20 who registered as charter members.
The names of the first twenty members of the PNDC were: Bishop & Sister A. William Lewis, Elder and Sister Benjamin T. Moore, Sister Julia Brooks, Elder and Sister Curtis E. Montgomery, Elder & Sister Gentry Richardson, Elder & Sister H.R. Vermillyer, Sister Mae Collins, Brother Herman Freeman, Elder & Sister Carl Dickerson, Sister Lizzie Washington, Mother Carrie Akridge, Sister Verna Quackenbush, Sister Pauline Brown, and Sister Lena Harris.
The names of the first five pastors of the PNDC, their order and location are:
1. Elder B.T. Moore, Bethel Christian Church, 1517-14th Ave Seattle, WA 1954-1979
2. Elder H.R. Vermillyer, Christ Temple (later called Mt. Zion, & Church of All Nations), 23rd South & Sheridan, Tacoma, WA 1955-1957
3. Elder Carl Dickerson, Jesus Name Tabernacle, Olympia, WA 1955-1987
4. Elder Willis Kennedy, Apostolic House of Prayer, 4716 N.E. Williams, Portland, OR 1956-1960 (also a work for a brief period in Salem, OR, Chenawa Rd. – Apostolic House of Prayer)
5. Elder Curtis E. Montgomery, Christ Temple, 1926 South “G” Street, Tacoma, WA 1959-2009
July 1956, The Women’s Auxiliary and the Sunday School were organized under the leadership of Evangelist Grace Kennedy and Elder Nathaniel Davis, respectively.