Before us stands Triumph Perfecting Church. It is a testament to faith and community in Detroit. Triumph Church’s story began in the fall of 1920. Reverend Claude Cummings founded it as the Triumph Missionary Baptist Church.
Triumph Church has grown significantly over the years. It is now a non-denominational, multi-site megachurch. The current Senior Pastor is Reverend Solomon W. Kinloch, Jr. He has been a minister since he was 14.
In 1924, the church was officially incorporated. It was located underground in a wood-frame building. The address was 515 Holford Street in River Rouge.
Many pastors led Triumph Church. These include Reverend L.A. Forte and Reverend A.D. Boone. In 1954, under Reverend Boone’s leadership, the members marched to a new location. It was underground at 2550 South Liddesdale in Detroit.
In June 1970, Reverend David A. DeYampert, Sr. became the pastor. Under his leadership, membership increased significantly. Construction of a new building began in March 1974. Members worshiped in the new sanctuary that September.
By June 1988, the mortgage was fully paid. From 1989 to 1997, Triumph faced difficult times. Membership declined significantly. Reverend DeYampert passed away on July 2, 1997.
On March 22, 1998, Solomon Kinloch, Jr. became the pastor. He was only 24 years old. Under his leadership, Triumph Church experienced remarkable growth. Membership expanded from 44 to nearly 20,000.
To accommodate this growth, Triumph Church became a multi-site church. It added services at various locations. In 2012, Triumph acquired the former ROC ministry campus in Northville Township. This became the West Campus.
In October 2014, Triumph acquired the former St. Martha’s Episcopal Church. It was built by Henry Ford. This became Triumph’s Central Campus. The site includes Ford’s gravesite.
In the summer of 2015, Triumph acquired the former Heart Academy. It also acquired St Peter Catholic Church in Harper Woods. This became the Eastland Campus. In the fall of 2015, Triumph Church partnered with North Star Ministries in Flint.
Triumph Church has been recognized for its rapid growth. Outreach Magazine named it the third fastest-growing church in the United States in 2008. In 2012, the same magazine named Triumph one of the top 100 largest churches in the United States.
Even during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Triumph Church continued to grow. The church transitioned to live streaming worship services. They also began broadcasting services on local television channels.
Triumph Church’s journey is a testament to faith. It shows resilience and commitment to the community. From its humble beginnings to its current multi-site presence. Triumph Perfecting Church continues to inspire and uplift. It stands as a beacon of hope in Detroit.