Bishop Nick Hightower, Sr
1897-1971
Founder
Bishop Nick Hightower, Sr. was a well-known Minister, a singer and a musician. He was born in Arlington, Georgia.
Bishop Hightower founded and organized the House Of God Saints In Christ, Inc. in 1927 in Jacksonville, Florida. He established the Constitution, the Disciplinary Orders, and Holy guidelines at the same time for the entire House Of God Saints In Christ, Inc.
Bishop Nick Hightower, Sr.’s Organization vastly began. to spread from Jacksonville to the entire State of Florida and into South Georgia. Churches were formed out of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio; over 100 Churches were Organized under his leadership. What a dedicated and true Founder, Chief Apostle, and a Man of God he was, Bishop Hightower, Sr, was very dedicated to his heritage and always practiced whatever he preached. Many who heard his message from God, believed and received it. Many were saved, healed, delivered and set free. There were times when people did not accept the gospel from him, but it did not stop him, being one of God’s chosen people.
Bishop Hightower continued to preach the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ and led many through the toils and struggles of recession and the depression, Relentlessly, Bishop Hightower, Sr. refused to give in or to give up.
Bishop Hightower, Sr. grew up in the era of lynching, and excessive brutality toward blacks. He was placed in jail for practicing his Gospel.
He was chased completely off his property of acres and acres of land; and given a deadly threat of never, ever to return again. Even though he grew up in this era of troubled times, Bishop Hightower possessed a great adoration, a great love and an ultimate respect toward “All People” regardless of their race, creed or color,
Bishop Hightower continued to Press on as God continued to give him wisdom, knowledge and understanding to lead His people. He continued to do the very ministry God had called him to do: “Preaching the Gospel for the Saving of Souls!”
Bishop Hightower knew that only through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, he was able to sustain and was able to overcome the multiple obstacles throughout his entire life, He planted seed, his crops flourished, and he gained prosperity, Bishop Hightower was a Drum Major for God, Humanitarian, Pioneer: and a Great Legend in his own time. Bishop Hightower fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith, His legacy continues.
His life and legacy has influenced our lives throughout all these years; for his living was not in vain.
Bishop J.L. Litman, Sr.
1971-1994
Second Presiding Prelate
Bishop Johnny Lee Litman, Jr. was born to Mr. John and Mrs. Lillie Bell Litman in Ocilla, Georgia. He is the eldest son of six siblings. He attended the public schools of Tift County and graduated from the American Baptist Seminary, Nashville, ‘Tennessee.
He was united in Holy matrimony to Mrs. Shirley Biggs. Bishop Litman received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and a week later was called into the ministry. In 1948, he became Junior Pastor of the House of God Saints in Christ in Valdosta and Douglas, Georgia. In 1949, he became Pastor of the House of God Saints in Christ in Lenox, Georgia. In 1950, he was appointed Pastor of the House of God Saints in Christ in Albany, Georgia. In 1951, he established and Pastored a church in Leesburg Georgia. In 1952, he was appointed District Elder of District 1 in the State of Georgia and the National Youth President of the House of God Saints in Christ, Inc. In 1965 thru 1971, he was State Overseer of Georgia and Chairman of the General Board of Directors. In 1971 until his demise, he served as the Presiding General Bishop of the House of God Saints in Christ and Pastor of J. L. Litman Cathedral in Albany, Georgia and Hightower Memorial Temple in Douglas, Georgia.
In 1971, he along with some other area ministers, organized the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and served as President. He was also an active member of the Albany Ministerial Alliance.
Through Bishop Litman’s Ministry which spread throughout the United States and foreign countries, many, many souls were saved. Bishop Litman has many sons and daughters in the Ministry today. He Was a prayer warrior and would often say, “You can’t continue to pray and nothing happens”.
During the 60’s, he was an active participant and leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Albany, Georgia, marches, sit-ins, and prayer vigils. He marched along beside Dr. Martin Luther King and was the keynote speaker in Dr, King’s presence at one of the rallies. For he was a great Preacher and Orator.
Bishop Litman was voted as one of the most influential Blacks in South Georgia, published in the South Georgia Black Who’s Who Publication,
Bishop Litman was a dedicated, untiring, humble, loyal and industrious servant of God.
One of his favorite sayings was, “If you want to go somewhere, get with someone going somewhere”.
Bishop Lorenzo Moore
2003-Present
Present Presiding Prelate
Born to the parents of the late Roscoe and Queenie Moore in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina, Bishop Lorenzo Moore a man of truth and wisdom received and accepted the call from God at the young age of 16 years old to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He encountered a divine vision as a young man regarding his ministry and support to an unknown man of God. Soon after, the vision became reality when Nick Hightower Sr. the founder of the “House of God Saints in Christ” confirmed his assignment to travel and to minister alongside him. Bishop obeyed the move of God on his life to leave his hometown and job to serve faithfully and humbly alongside his spiritual father and leader.
He is the husband of First Lady Delores Moore. Bishop Moore met the former Delores Hightower, the fourth daughter of Bishop Nick Hightower, Sr. and Annie Bell Hightower, while traveling with him. They were married on December 2, 1962. To their union were born two children: Settra L. Moore and Sandi L. Moore-Ford (Rickey Ford) and one granddaughter Rickell Delores Ford.
In 1977 Bishop Moore was appointed to Pastor Mt. Moriah HOGSIC in Jacksonville, Florida on the “eastside” known as a poverty-stricken community. Bishop Moore, an ambitious and visionary man of God, was not satisfied. He began to tear down old houses and old buildings and purchase the land for the Kingdom of God. A new church, a new Victory Family Life Center and new houses were built in the community.
The vision helps change the atmosphere of poverty, to one of hope in the eastside community.From faithful service and commitment, Bishop Moore who is now the Presiding General Prelate of the House of God Saints in Christ and has served faithfully in this role and has gained over 50 years of service in ministry. In honor and recognition of his service, Bishop Moore received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from ST. Thomas Christian College in: Jacksonville, Florida on Friday, October 24, 2003.
Bishop Lorenzo Moore has now earned his place by God as an anointed Spiritual father and leader of truth, giving sound wisdom in the spirit of love to pastors, leaders, and members of the body of Christ. .