Gods House of Holiness in Christ

Did Mother Bessie Botto ever imagine her small rented movie theater would blossom into the Gods House of Holiness in Christ we see today? It all began in 1958. Mother Botto, driven by divine inspiration, started her ministry in a rented movie theatre. This humble beginning at 411 E. 43rd St. marked the birth of Gods House of Holiness in Christ. In January 1959, she secured a lease for $175 a month from Dazey Realty. She appointed her sons, Charles Leon Little as Pastor and Elgin Emmerson Little as Sunday School Superintendent. The church thrived under their leadership. As the congregation grew, Charles established God’s House for All Nations in 1971. Elgin took the helm as Pastor at Gods House of Holiness in Christ, with Mother Botto remaining as founder and overseer. The ministry extended to the basement of her home. There, they witnessed remarkable transformations. People overcame addictions, found healing, and experienced miracles. Gods House of Holiness in Christ journeyed from Bishop Batey’s Hyde Park Bible Church to a partnership with Elder Lester Bell, Jr. at Christ Deliverance Church. A pivotal moment arrived in 1978. The church acquired properties at 8409-11 and 8435 S. Stony Island from the Saint Germaine Society. Gods House of Holiness in Christ occupied 8409-11. Across the street at 8435 S. Stony Island, they established The All Nations Developmental Center for children aged 3-5, which operated from 1979 to 2005. After Bishop Elgin Little, II passed away in 1996, Dr. LaVel F. Hardy, his daughter and Mother Botto’s granddaughter, became Pastor. She built upon their legacy while pursuing her own vision. Under her guidance, a remarkable over two-million-dollar church and multi-purpose facility, originally envisioned by her father, was completed in June 1999. Dr. Hardy’s leadership saw the congregation grow from 235 to over 2,000 members. Over 25 ministries flourished, including the All Nations Institute, Sunday School, music and dance ministries, a culinary department, and a bookstore. From its humble beginnings in a rented movie theater to its current grandeur, Gods House of Holiness in Christ stands as a testament to faith, family, and the power of divine inspiration.