Our Church History

Prior to A Place of Refuge becoming a church from a legal standpoint, three divine things took place that led to the inception of the ministry. The things were divine because in hindsight the Holy Spirit ordained them. First, Pastor Tommy Allen, shepherd of Just End Time Revival Center in Bowdon, Georgia (at the time) after praying and being led by God, released Minister Barry Walker (Bishop Barry Walker) to go to Carrollton, Georgia and start a bible study. Minister Walker started the Bible Study in 1986, at Walker Funeral Home, and had the bible study every Saturday night. The bible study started with his wife Kathy; however, a number of people started attending it on a regular basis.

Second, there were twelve of the bible study members that desired to start the church. The leader and spokesperson of the twelve was Sister Betty Springer. Minister Walker told them to pray, and he spoke to his Pastor, also asking him to pray.  Finally, Sister Shelia Brown (Evangelist Shelia Smith) was praying for a church home, and heard about Minister Walker’s Bible study. Sister Brown contacted Minister Walker and they decided to meet at Sister Brown’s home. Subsequently, they met at her home with the following: Sister Kathy Walker (First Lady Kathy Walker), Brother George Brown, Sister Betty Springer, and Sister Julia Brown.

The meeting started with prayer by Minister Walker, and then the group had an open discussion about ministry and shared what the Lord had put on their heart. In the midst of the meeting, the Holy Spirit gave Sister Brown a word of prophecy. She prophesied, “The Lord is going to have a place of refuge for hurting, wounded, and lost souls.” She prophesied the same thing repeatedly.

After the prophecy, the group started worshipping and praising the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, the Lord led Minister Walker to a scripture that confirmed the prophecy. “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge” (Proverbs 14:26, NKJV).

Subsequently, A Place of Refuge Church was birthed and started having services at Walker Funeral Home on Sunday mornings at 11:15am. The ministry eventually moved to 154 Newnan Road in the city of Carrollton, Georgia. In February of 1988, the church was officially recognized by the state of Georgia as A Place of Refuge, Inc. Thereafter, the church grew numerically, spiritually, and financially.

The Lord spoke to Bishop Walker about building a church, and told him that someone would give him the land to build it on. Marvin Walker, Bishop Walker’s father, gave the ministry one acre of land to build on, at 106 Jersey Street in Carrollton, Georgia. On July 19, 1992, the members of A Place of Refuge and many others marched from Walker Funeral Home (the place where the ministry had its first service), to the new sanctuary of A Place of Refuge, located on 106 Jersey Street.

The new sanctuary was paid off in less than seven years. Subsequently, a facility for the youth was built debt free. The youth center was named the MSW Center, for Marvin and Sarah Walker who had donated the church its first acre of land to build on.

A Place of Refuge has expanded its boundaries since the inception; there are now A Place of Refuge Churches in Thomaston, Newnan, and Rome, Georgia. There are also several connection churches affiliated with A Place of Refuge. Moreover, the ministry is still helping hurting, wounded, and lost souls.