On April 17th, 1977 Suffragan Bishop Henry C Thomas being called of the Lord began his pastoral work with three members and his family in a small store front building located at 9th and Warren Street in Davenport, IA. This was the first home of Messias Temple Apostolic Faith Church (MTAFC). As the weeks passed by more souls were aded and the congregation outgrew the small building. Seeing the need, Suff. Bishop Thomas began the search for a larger building.

On October 18, 1977 the building on 308 East 14th Street was purchased by Suff. Bishop Thomas and his wife, First Lady Pearl Thomas. This was to be the new home of MTAFC. At that time the building was in need of much repair so the saints got busy doing the work of turning this house into a place for God's people to come and worship. God continued to bless us and the congregation grew.

In 1982 Suff. Bishop Thomas was led by the Lord to build a new sanctuary onto the existing building. Through donations and the fundraising efforts of the congregation (including car washes, yard sales, dinners prepared under the supervision of First Lady Thomas who would often say "Be on time!") the work commenced. These finances were used to break ground for the new building and pour its foundation. The saints, young and old, and others in the community were inspired to help in the work, often volunteering their time during the week and weekends. Progress was slow due to the goal of the Bishop for the church to incur as little debt as possible.

The perseverance of Suff. Bishop Thomas kept the work going. Many times he worked alone because the saints had other jobs. As the years passed, he never wavered from his vision to establish a place in the community where we could be of service thus the familiar theme "we serve God by serving people".

In April 1989 due to the generosity and love of a friend in the ministry (Christ Apostolic Temple pastored by Bishop Reed), a financial loan of $24,000 was extended to MTAFC to help in the building effort, which was repaid well in advance. This was an inspiration to the Bishop and it helped ease his burden. This also encouraged him to keep going despite ridicule, obstacles and financial pressure he faced. In July of the same year the walls and the roof were placed on the new sanctuary. Area businesses donated the roofing supplies and the roof was completed. Once again the same friend in the ministry, Bishop Reed, personally gave the Bishop funds to put the siding on the new church. In many ways, John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this..." defined their relationship. In 1992 during a council meeting many of the brethren there volunteered their time to come help Messias Temple cover the interior walls of the new sanctuary.

The new sanctuary (though unfinished) was dedicated on June 27, 1992 with a Victory Celebration and banquet dinner held at the Davenport Holiday Inn. When membership declined the faithful stayed focused and continued the work. Suff. Bishop Thomas kept focused, undeterred from the task at hand and untiringly seeing the greater purpose for the church he knew God had given him. Although physically exhausted God always renewed his strength day by day. He often sang the song "Down through the Years, God's been Good to me". He often told us "that I may not finish the building but at least I started it." This work was his vision.

After returning from the funeral of Bishop David Ellis Sr. (March 1996), the saints of the congregation witnessed to Suff. Bishop Thomas making the statement in regards to Elder Jerry L Vesey "...I must get busy on grooming this brother to be pastor of the Messias Temple church in my time of departure."

Friday morning, December 5th 1997, God said that's enough and called our beloved pastor and founder home to rest. His life continues to be an inspiration to us today.

There was a board meeting held on December 12th concerning the wishes of Suff. Bishop Thomas regarding the installation of Elder Vesey to be pastor of MTAFC. He was appointed by the board and accepted by the saints to be the pastor. On December 15, 1997 services were held to recognize the installation of Elder Jerry L Vesey as the new pastor of Messias Temple Apostolic Faith Church.

Adhering to the wishes of her late husband First Lady Thomas, paid off the remaining balance of the church mortgage.