Greater Christ Temple Church sits at 804 Youngs Lane on Nashville's north side, a Pentecostal congregation shaped by more than fifty years of ministry and a motto that gets to the heart of its calling: "The church in the heart of the city with the people in the city at heart." Under the leadership of Bishop Sherman L. Merritt Sr., the church has grown into a regional anchor for the First Apostolic Council of Kentucky and Tennessee while staying close to the neighborhood where it began.
A Bishop at the Helm
Bishop Sherman L. Merritt Sr. was born July 9, 1947, in Nashville. He attended Nashville city schools and went on to Tennessee State University, where he majored in Mechanical Engineering, though ministry was always pulling at his attention. In 1973 he was appointed Assistant Pastor of Greater Christ Temple Church under District Elder W. W. Harris and served in that role for twenty years before stepping into the pastorate in July 1993.
He was ordained in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. in 1983 and was later appointed District Elder in both Tennessee and Togo, West Africa, where he began traveling to support mission work. In 1992 he was elected Vice Chairman of the First Apostolic Council of Kentucky and Tennessee, and after two terms he moved up to Chairman. In 1994 he received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Pentecostal Bible College in Tuskegee, Alabama, and that same year was elevated to Suffragan Bishop in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World before being consecrated Bishop in August 2003 at the Summer Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. He now serves as the Diocesan of the First Apostolic Council of Kentucky and Tennessee and sits on the P.A.W. Executive Bishops' Council. The scripture he leans on for the work is Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV): "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
The First Lady and Sew and Reap
Alongside the Bishop is First Lady Vera E. Merritt, whose name means "faithful" and "truth," a description those who know her readily confirm. She and Bishop Merritt were baptized in Jesus' name on Sunday, May 6, 1970, and filled with the Holy Ghost the very next day under the leadership of District Elder W. W. Harris of Greater Christ Temple Church. Vera became First Lady of Greater Christ Temple in July 1983 and has served as a Sunday school teacher for thirty years. She has also served as an advisor or officer for the Young Adult Choir, the Young People's department, the marriage enrichment ministry, the usher board, the deacons, the trustees, and the ministers' wives groups.
She is a member of the P.A.W. National Evangelism Team and is the Founder and CEO of Sew and Reap Ministries, a non-profit located at 802 Youngs Lane, Nashville, that teaches practical and marketable life skills to young women in the Davidson County area. As a skilled puppeteer, she and a team of volunteers bring Christian education and entertainment to children of all ages. She also volunteers at the local Baptist Hospital and leads the church's upper room ministry, caring for new souls seeking the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 31:30 (ESV): "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."
Sunday in the Sanctuary and Around the Radio Dial
Sunday School begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by Morning Worship at 11:15 a.m. in person and online. An additional 8:00 a.m. worship service is available online only. Music and congregational singing play a central role in the Pentecostal worship style, and the music ministry invites vocalists and instrumentalists to join the work of leading praise.
The church's reach stretches well past its walls through a steady schedule of radio broadcasts. Each Sunday at 6:00 p.m. CST, services air on WNQM 1300AM. On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. CST, listeners can tune in to WNTC 790AM and 104.9FM. On Wednesdays the broadcast moves to Is.A.Bell Radio at 11:00 a.m. CST, available through the Is.A.Bell Radio app.
Wednesday Bible Study
Midweek Bible study gathers in two settings. A noon session meets in the Fellowship Hall, and an evening study begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Lower Sanctuary. Both give members a chance to dig into Scripture between Sundays, with the evening study drawing workers and families who want a deeper look at the Word on their day off.
Ministries for Every Age
Greater Christ Temple's ministries are designed to reach every age and stage of life. The Music Ministry invites singers and instrumentalists who want to use their gifts in worship. GCT Youth Reignited focuses on supporting young people through the challenges of adolescence and building lasting relationships with peers and with Christ.
The Men's Fellowship is a working group as well as a brotherhood. Members organize special fellowship services and keep the church facilities in good repair, taking on the projects that keep the building welcoming and functional for everyone. The Women's Auxiliary, also known as GCT Girls Rock, gathers women of all ages for prayer, Bible studies, retreats, and fellowship, creating a place for young women navigating life's choices, mothers balancing family and career, and seasoned women seeking to deepen their faith.
Reaching Beyond the Walls
Outreach has long been woven into the church's identity. Bishop Merritt's work in the Nashville community and surrounding areas includes radio broadcasting, community tutorial programs, and community service outreach projects. First Lady Merritt's Sew and Reap Ministries extends that work directly into the lives of young women in Davidson County, and the puppet ministry takes Christian teaching into classrooms and gatherings around the region. Visitors who want to learn more can stop by the church at 804 Youngs Lane, call (615) 297-7639, or write to info@greaterchristtemplechurch.org.