Courts Of Praise

Our History History

In 2008, Bishop John B., the late Evangelist Earline McIntyre and then, Minister Lamar P. McIntyre answered the call from God and founded the Courts of Praise Christian Church (COPCC). On Sunday, March 2, 2008 the Courts of Praise Christian Church opened its doors at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Ballroom in Forestville, Maryland.

Since the conception of COPCC, several ministries have been added to enhance the worship experience and ultimately better serve our surrounding communities. These flourishing ministries include COPCC Music, Floetry in Motion (Dance/Poetry), (Men’s Ministry), (Women’s Ministry), Fresh Fire Fridays (Fellowship Services), Hospitality & Pastor’s Aid Committees, Audio Visual, Youth for Christ, Sunday School and Helps & Support. However, the Trustee, Usher, Missionary and Deacon Boards are also instrumental in sustaining the church. As all the ministries continue to grow and thrive, it is the church’s desire that new members will join the fellowship.

As the church expands, God continues to provide. He has transitioned COPCC from the VFW to a storefront off of Ritchie Road; then, a shared facility with Joshua Christian Center of Camp Springs, MD; and now, its current location in Temple Hills, MD. COPCC is trusting God, ultimately, for its own edifice.

The clergy and congregation of Courts of Praise Church look forward to the GREAT work that God is doing within this Body of Christ and we welcome you to share with us.
TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

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What We Believe Believe

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COURTS OF PRAISE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

What we Believe

1. We believe in the proclamation of both eternal power of Calvary and the potential power of Pentecost; the baptizing power of Jesus Christ for salvation because of Calvary, and the filling controlling power of the Holy Spirit for service and Holy Victorious living because of Pentecost (Ephesians 5:18 ; Acts 20:27).

2. We believe in the perpetual and continuing ecclesiastical value of all spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ until the end of this Church Age, which will be consummated by the return of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13,I Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12).

3. We believe in the Divine personhood of the Holy Spirit and His present-day ministry to Believers, including the sovereign distribution of spiritual gifts, which empowers Believers for service in the Contemporary Church (I Corinthians 12:7-11).

4. We believe in Jesus Christ as the Sovereign Giver of spiritual gifts to the church. We further believe spiritual gifts are given for the perfecting of the Saints, for work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ and are given without regard to ethnicity, social class, or gender (Ephesians 4:7-12; Galatians 3:26-28).

5. We believe in the full autonomy of the local church as an independent entity under the Lordship of Christ, through pastoral authority, with regards to: A) government, polity, and operations (Titus 1:5; Acts 15:1 – 35), B) discipline (I Corinthians 5:5; Matthew 18:15-17; II Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15) and C) with the added value of the Episcopacy as a covering (Titus 1: 5; Acts 15:1-35).

6. We believe in the value of biblical terminology for leadership in the contemporary church: Bishop, Overseer, Pastor, Minister, Elder, and Deacon. We believe all of these are designations for servant-leaders (Jeremiah 3:15; Acts 20:28; II Corinthians 6:4; I Timothy 3:1-7).

7. We believe in the formal and intentional praise and worship of Almighty God as a proper, spirit-led, corporate acknowledgement and response to His person and work (Psalm 46-50; John 4:23, 24).

8. We believe in Jesus Christ as the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, who brings men and women at salvation into relationship with Himself and His Body, the Church. We further believe that it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that places one into the Body of Christ. All Believers have been baptized by Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; I Corinthians 12:13).

9. We believe in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for all Believers and that the Holy Spirit verifies and validates the Believer as part of the Body of Christ (Romans 8:9).

10. We believe in the spirit-filled life as desirable, valuable, and an issue of obedience for all Believers who are commanded to be filled with the Holy Ghost. We acknowledge that within the Body of Christ, the term, “filled with the Holy Ghost” is often used interchangeably with the term, “baptism of the Holy Spirit.” When referring to the controlling presence and power of the Holy Spirit, as a result of the submissive will and desire of the Believer, we allow such alternation of terms. We believe it is the will and command of God that every Believer be “filled,” “walk in,” be “led by,” and “live in” the power of the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16, 18, 25).

11. We believe that it is God’s desire that all Believers live under the “Divine Direction” of the Holy Ghost. We believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing ministry of the Spirit in the life of the Believer, that enables the Believer to live a life of power, victory, and glory to God (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 4:8, 4:31).

12. We are Trinitarians who believe in the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as ONE Triune God. (John 10: 30, I John 5:7-8, 2 Corinthians 13:14).We believe the Holy Spirit fills and empowers Believers for service in the Kingdom of God. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is the result of continuing submission to Divine power and control (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18).

13. We believe all Believers are to be baptized (Fully Immersed) in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and all Believers should be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19-20, I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:18, Acts 2:38-39, Colossians 3:17).

14. We believe that it is God’s desire that all Believers live under the “Divine Direction” of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing ministry of the Spirit in the life of the Believer, that enables the Believer to live a life of power, victory, and glory to God (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 4:8, 4:31).

A) We believe the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the filling of the Holy Ghost are distinct, separate, valid, and valuable ministries of the Holy Ghost which may occur simultaneously at salvation.

B) The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs once and for all at salvation.

C) Being filled with the Holy Spirit should not only be a continuous reality, but an ongoing characteristic of the believer’s consecrated holiness (Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; I Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 5:18).

D) We believe in speaking in tongues, as our heavenly language, that builds us up in our most holy faith. Tongues is an indicator, not a qualifier.
(Jude 20, Acts 19:2-6; Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor 14:14-15)

E) We believe in Transubstantiation of the Holy Eucharist. We believe that (Real Presence) is found in the Eucharist after the Consecrating of the elements because the Church is the Bethlehem (Hebrew-The House of Bread) of Jesus Christ (John 6:54-56).

The Church (the ekklesia) is where the presence of Christ may be found.

Our Senior Pastor Pastor

Reverend Lamar P. McIntyre is the Senior Pastor and one of the organizers of The Courts of Praise Christian Church, Temple Hills, Maryland where his lovely wife Lady Keisha McIntyre serves by his side as First Lady. Reverend McIntyre is the Father of two lovely ladies Keiara and Essence McIntyre. Reverend McIntyre served as Associate Minister at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Cumberland, Maryland under the pastorate of his father Bishop John B. McIntyre and mother, the late Co-Pastor Earline McIntyre for 14 years.

Reverend McIntyre was ordained in August of 2008 by the National Association Council of Community Churches of America and Elsewhere, Incorporated. He received Baptist ordination in December of 2013 from the Living Faith Baptist Church in Washington, DC under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Edwin E. Jones, Sr. Reverend McIntyre is a member in good standing with the Missionary Baptist Minister’s Conference of Washington, DC and the Baptist Convention of DC & Vicinity. He is a certified member in good standing with the Joint College of African-American Bishop’s located in Cleveland, Ohio. In July of 2016, then Reverend McIntyre was consecrated and elevated to the office of Overseer and in December of 2021 he was elevated to Bishop-Designate under the hand of The Honorable Bishop C. Anthony Muse, Presiding Bishop of The Ark United Christian Community Churches, International, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Reverend McIntyre holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Christian Leadership from The Faith Bible College and Seminary located in Washington, D.C. He earned a Master of Divinity Degree with a concentration in African American Church studies from The Wesley Theological Seminary in May of 2020. Reverend McIntyre is presently in post graduate studies as a Doctor of Ministry student at the Historic Howard University School of Divinity.

Reverend McIntyre is the author of the book, “Marriage Made Sweet” which has been sold in Europe, Canada and throughout the United States. There are a numerous amount of awards and achievements that Reverend McIntyre has accomplished and could share however; Reverend McIntyre believes in the saying; Good, Better, Best, Never let it Rest…Until your Good is Better and Your Better is Best!!