About Us | wordofpower

Word of POWER Ministry
(Formerly St. Paul Apostolic Temple)

In the year of our Lord 1962, God sent a message and a vision to one of His ministers. He planted this vision deep in the mind of Elder H. J. Hoke, a dedicated man of God, humble and obedient to the will of God. The plan of God became even clearer as He told his minister to start an assembly in Highland Park, Michigan. Elder Hoke not sure of the will of God, began to seek the Lord's help. He prayed to God with all supplication and said, “Lord, if you want me to start a church, send me two men." God sent two men, they were God-fearing-Holy Ghost- filled deacons. Deacon William Thornton and Deacon V. Rush thus became the first deacons of the new St. Paul Apostolic Faith Church.

On October 1, 1962, the Lord guided Elder Hoke and the two deacons to a building located at 279 Tyler, Highland Park, Michigan, which they inquired about and subsequently rented for $100.00 a month. With six saints, they began the massive effort in cleaning up the building for worship service. One Sunday morning, at the church Elder Hoke stood waiting and looking for the people who had promised they would come and help him. The Lord spoke to him and said; If you build this church, it must be built under the blood in my Name.” We worshipped at 279 Tyler until the urban renewal project bought the property and the church had to relocate. The property at 16548 Hamilton was purchased through much prayer effort and obstacles, but the Lord brought us through. Truly, the Lord marvelously blessed the St. Paul Family. In April, 1981 a new edifice was completed, and we held our official Opening Day Service on Sunday May 3, 1981.

1989, The Lord blessed us again, and we moved to 17400 Manderson St. Detroit, Michigan 48203.

1994- 2003, Suffragan Bishop Kenneth J. Hoke, the eldest son of Dist. Elder H. J. Hoke, and his wife Sis. Anna Hoke left Bethlehem Temple of Mt. Clemens and began ministering the St. Paul Church Family. In 1995 Dist. Elder H. J. Hoke, health failed, and he went on to be with the Lord.

In October of 2003, Suffragan Bishop Kenneth J. Hoke and his brother Bishop Benjamin S. Hoke merged the two churches Word of Power Apostolic Church and St. Paul Life & Praise. One month later, Bishop's beloved brother, Suff. Bishop Kenneth J. Hoke passed away and Bishop Benjamin S. Hoke became the Pastor of St. Paul Life and Praise, now Word of Power Ministry.

Bishop is an anointed, preaching and hard-working man of a Great God. He cares deeply for the Saints of God; always praying, ministering, counseling and loving the saints as God has desired of him, some of the saints call him: Bishop, Pastor and some affectionately call him Dad. God could not have placed a better man before his people at Word of Power.

Bishop Benjamin and First Lady Gwenetta Hoke and the Word of Power Ministry Family is blessed and highly favored of the Lord as you can see.

We are blessed people over here and the reason is that; we are full of the Word and Power of God.

Our motto is: “The Power is in The Word and The Word is in You.”