Gates of Praise Church, established September 6, 1992 in Hampton, VA by our founders, Pastor Carl & Lady Pamela Miller
Our Mission
Our Mission, as members of the Body of Christ, is to evangelize the lost; establish believers through discipleship, ministries, activities, and involvement; establish a place of worship for all people; provide opportunity for spiritual growth and enhancement. To fulfill the Great Commission that all may receive Revelation and Understanding of God’s Redemptive Plan for all mankind.
Our Vision
The Vision of the Gates of Praise Church is to be Christ centered and fully committed to worship, praise, prayer, and evangelism. Our prayer is that revival will be produced by the faithful preaching and teaching of the Word of God.
Our History
Who can really say when the ministry of Pastor Carl W. Miller began? Was it years ago at Christ the King Catholic School in Norfolk, VA? Or perhaps when he was chosen to attend the seminary to become a priest? Or was it when he answered the call to salvation in September 1981 at the Way of the Cross Church of Christ in Newport News, VA? Or maybe it was the call to the ministry in August 1984 during a Holy Convocation in Washington, DC? The exact time can never be pinpointed because Pastor Miller has always had a strong zeal working for the Lord. He knew that one day he would become a pastor. However, it was during a vacation in the Bahamas in September 1987, that the Lord revealed the name of the future church: “Gates of Praise.”
In 1989, Pastor Miller established Neighborhood Bible Studies. Also, he had a weekly radio ministry entitled “Bible Basics”. This broadcast helped him establish ministry contacts. As a result, he received an invitation to be a guest speaker for a Men’s Day Service in Sunbury, NC on August 25, 1991. The topic of his message was “From the Beginning, It Was Not So.” Even though he was a brother in the church, Pastor Miller delivered the Word with the power and authority of a seasoned Minister. Later, Pastor Miller began to have prayer services in the homes of the late Sister Gertrude Burrell and Deacon Floyd Blacken in Gloucester, VA. During this time God revealed to him to establish a ministry in this area. On August 28, 1992, Pastor Miller and family left the Way of the Cross Church in Newport News to establish the Gates of Praise. He became a Pastor, without any ministerial credentials, just a strong faith in God.
On September 6, 1992, the Gates of Praise held its first worship service in Pastor Miller’s home in Hampton, VA. Those present were Pastor, First Lady Pamela, Candace, Jonathan, and Joy Miller. A deposit was made to purchase chairs and other equipment from Mother Essie Robinson, the widow of Bishop Leroy Robinson.
Word quickly spread of the new church. Seven people attended a Labor Day meeting at Pastor Miller’s home to discuss the new church. The first Prayer Service was held Wednesday, September 16, 1992. The attendance increased mightily. Every corner in the downstairs area was utilized, including the stairwell and the garage! On Wednesday, September 23, 1992, the late Bishop C.W. Hairston and the late Mother Dorothy Hairston visited. The late Elder Frank Mitchell, pastor of Spiritual Aid Way of the Cross Church in Hampton, VA had spoken to Bishop Hairston on Pastor Miller’s behalf. Elder Mitchell became the spiritual father to Pastor Miller and the Gates of Praise. Bishop Hairston was pleased, and confirmed the ministry. He recommended that the Gates of Praise Church become a part of The Way of the Cross International Body. Later, the Presiding Bishop Leroy H. Cannady and the late Mother Virginia Cannady came to visit the Miller home during a Wednesday service. Bishop Cannady was also pleased with the new church. He officially confirmed that the ministry would now be known as the Gates of Praise Way of the Cross Church of Christ.
While still worshipping in the Pastor’s home, the church began operating. Several ministries were established: Christian Education, Ushers, Bread of Life, Benevolence, Missionaries, and the Youth for Christ Choir. Services were increased to include Sunday Worship. Pastor Miller’s first Sunday morning message was “Is There a Doctor in the House?” When the church doors were opened, all in attendance raised their hands wishing to officially become a part of the church.
On November 8, 1992, the church moved from Pastor Miller’s home to Gloucester County, VA. The building was small, but full of love. The Bread of Life Ministry, under the direction of Missionary Helen Artis, distributed food to the community every Wednesday. Pastor Miller finally received his Minister’s License in a special Thanksgiving service in Rocky Mount, VA from Bishop C.W. Hairston. The young church was excited and growing. The Pastor’s Aid Ministry worked hard to send Pastor and First Lady Miller to Dayton, Ohio in June 1993. There, after much prayer and studying, Pastor Miller passed the Ordination test with high marks! A proud moment for the Gates of Praise was on Friday, August 13, 1993 when Pastor Miller was ordained an ELDER during the 49th Holy Convocation in Hampton, VA.
The church continued to grow steadily, and moved to a larger building in Gloucester Point, VA. To accommodate the increase in attendance, the building underwent a major renovation. The Lord continued to bless, and in November 1995, the Gates of Praise purchased the entire complex. This was definitely a miracle! The church was energized and moving in the vision.
As the years progressed, a halt in the ministry came as Pastor Miller was asked to pastor Elder Mitchell’s church during his sickness. Pastor Miller merged the two churches together for a season. Souls were saved and baptized in Jesus name, and many came to know Christ.
With God’s guidance, Pastor Miller found another location for the Gates of Praise in Hampton, VA. The church family came together once again. The entire structure was transformed in a matter of days for the first service on September 4, 2005. While in this location, the Gates of Praise received its Charter on November 12, 2005. Pastor Miller was also elevated to the office of District Elder on August 8, 2007 during the 63rd Holy Convocation in Henderson, NC.
The church was growing and busy doing the Lord’s work. However, unexpected obstacles were thrown at the Gates of Praise. These barriers forced the church to move once more. Not wishing the flock to scatter, Pastor Miller asked the Lord to provide a place for worship. The church was led to the Crowne Plaza in Hampton, VA and later to purchase another property in Hampton, VA. The Lord began to heal the tired and wounded spirits. The church family developed a new sense of teamwork, love and togetherness. It was as if the ministry was beginning anew.
Still moving forward with the vision, in November 2011, the Lord led Pastor Miller to a church building for sale. After several inquiries and much prayer, the Lord blessed the Gates of Praise to acquire this property. We entered new gates in April 2012 at our current location on Kecoughtan Road in Hampton, VA. This building was Dedicated to the Lord on June 30, 2012, and in that same year Pastor Miller was consecrated to the Office of BISHOP during the 68th Holy Convocation in Arlington, VA in August 2012. The Lord has blessed us abundantly in the years that we have worshipped and fellowshipped in this building. Many have come to Christ and given their lives to the Lord. We praise God for His many blessings, and have high expectations on what’s to come in the years ahead!
In November 2018, Pastor Miller felt the Lord leading him and the Gates of Praise in another direction, where our ministry would be under the leadership of Overseer Brian Carn and City Church International Fellowship (CCIF). We were the third church to come under this growing, God ordained fellowship. As a Bishop in CCIF, Pastor Miller has baptized over 400+ people in Jesus name as a result of being connected to the ministry of Overseer Carn.
The Gates of Praise is still here by the grace of God. All praise and honor belongs to Him! We can’t stop praising our Lord for His mighty acts. It is our desire to help our Pastor, Bishop Carl W. Miller, spread the gospel so that all will know that “One Visit to the Gates of Praise Will Change Your Life!”