Abundant Life Church
The first service of Abundant Life Church took place on Thursday night, July 1, 1976. Houston Miles, an apostle and pastor of Evangel Cathedral, Spartanburg, S.C., set the church in order. There were 67 people in that first service. God’s presence was very real as Rev. Miles ministered to the group that had gathered on that historic night. No one present, including Pastor L.M. Thorne, had any idea what God had in mind for this little group of people that had gathered. From that small beginning, Abundant Life Church has grown to be one of the largest churches in Okaloosa County.
The first service was held at the Brooks Beal Center; Abundant Life Church met there for six months. During that time the church purchased the office building at 13 Kelly Avenue. It became the new location of Abundant Life Church on Easter Sunday, 1977. Very soon after we moved in, we had to tear out a wall to accommodate the growth. After filling this place twice each Sunday morning, we began to look for a larger building. We found the warehouse at the corner of Hughes Street and Carson Drive. We attempted to purchase this facility, but the wisdom of God intervened and they wouldn’t sell. Thank God! After having to go to two morning services to take care of the growth, we began looking for property to build, but to no avail. Then God began sending prophets to us who prophesied the location of the land we were to purchase. Although it sounded a little strange to the natural mind, that property is the place this beautiful building is sitting on today.
Over the past several years, God has enabled us to start a radio station, plant and support churches in Russia and the Ukraine; send out and plant two churches in the local area, Destin and Niceville; send out missionaries to Mexico and India which have established ministries around the world; birth the Life Enrichment Center which housed a year-round food pantry and a foster home for troubled girls; established an Hispanic Ministry in the local community. We have seen the hand of God work great exploits, but know that Abundant Life Church’s greatest years are ahead.