Bishop Samuel Steven McCarthy, D. Min.
If everybody was like Jesus, what a wonderful world this would be.
Samuel Steven McCarthy was born St. Samuel McCarthy, August 25, 1928, in Lumberton, Mississippi to Roosevelt McCarthy and Arcola Kirk McCarthy. Samuel was the third child of six boys and four girls born to Roosevelt and Arcola Kirk McCarthy. Samuel was always a serious young man with a strong ambition to succeed in spite of the odds against him. Through a strong faith, developed from the Christian foundation established by the ministry of Roosevelt and Arcola, Samuel had little choice but to acquaint himself with the ways of holiness. The religious migration of the family from their traditional Evening Light Saints Pentecostal practice to the Church Of God In Christ consisted of surprising similarities in restrictions and eye-opening differences in liberalities. While Samuel was in the womb, his mother suffered severe heart trouble. An Elder named Saint Samuel prayed for her, and she was instantly healed. To express her appreciation to the Lord for using this evangelist, she named her blessed child St. Samuel McCarthy.
Sam, as he was affectionately called, was the sibling role model to his brothers and sisters. Since the death of the two oldest siblings, Sam, now the oldest, bore the responsibility of assisting his father in the welfare of the family. He worked hard, attending school and caring for his family, while his father went to Chicago to secure work and a residence for his family. After almost nine months, in 1944, Father Roosevelt sent for Sam to come to Chicago and help prepare for the move to Chicago. Once in Chicago, the family attended the mother church of the State of Illinois, Roberts Temple Church Of God In Christ, at 40th and State Street.
Sam, being influenced by the examples of his father and mother, sought the Lord. He was saved during a revival service run by one of his best friends, the late Elder John Albert Jones at the McGavich Chapel on the South Side of Chicago. Shortly thereafter, he was filled with the Holy Ghost.
Samuel received his education from Picayune High School in Picayune, Mississippi and, upon relocating north, attended Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago. He chose to serve his country and became a member of the Illinois National Guard 128 Regiment, serving for three years. He later received, during his bishopric, an honorary doctorate degree from the Charles Harrison Mason System of Bible College of the Church of God In Christ.
On September 10, 1949, he united in Holy Matrimony with Omega Theresa Lambert, whom he met at Roberts Temple. With little money but a lifetime of love, this couple set out with their commitment to God and to each other to serve God, raise a family, and to dedicate their family to the service of the Lord. From this union was born six children: Samula Dell, Leonard Steven, Joreece Fay, Dion Andrew, Ellis Carlton, and Lorna Michelle.
Samuel’s spirit was touched, and he heard the call of God to preach the gospel. He was ordained in 1954 by the late Bishop William Roberts, founding Bishop in the State of Illinois, and served as the Assistant Pastor to his father, Elder Roosevelt McCarthy, at McCarthy Temple Church Of God In Christ.
Elder McCarthy was called to his pastoral ministry in 1957. He founded the Gethsemane Church Of God In Christ and continued to serve as Senior Pastor until November 28, 2004. With humble beginnings in the basement of his home, Elder McCarthy’s ministry rapidly grew, and Gethsemane was relocated to the present location at 6959 S. Elizabeth, Chicago, Illinois.
God smiled on Elder McCarthy’s dedication and loyalty in the service of the church and proved that promotion comes from God, when he placed him in the spirit of Bishop Freeman Guy Green, the founding Bishop of a newly established Jurisdiction, the 5th Jurisdiction Of Illinois. In 1964, Elder Samuel was promoted to the position of State Expediter of the new Jurisdiction and later to the position of State Secretary. In the same year, he was appointed to serve as Assistant Superintendent of the Macedonia District, where he served faithfully for fourteen years until he was appointed Superintendent in 1978.
Under ‘Superintendent’ Samuel McCarthy, Macedonia District became well known as the largest District in the 5th Jurisdiction of Illinois, recruiting churches unaffiliated with the Church Of God In Christ and winning the favor of churches within the Jurisdiction unaffiliated with any districts. Under the late Bishop F. G. Green. Superintendent McCarthy was elevated to the position of Third Administrative Assistant in 1978. In 1985, he was honored to serve as the Senior Administrative Assistant under the auspices of newly appointed prelate of 5th Illinois Jurisdiction, Bishop Bennie Earl Goodwin, Sr.
In the year of 1993, upon the demise of Bishop Goodwin, Sr., Administrative Assistant McCarthy was favored by the Jurisdiction and appointed Bishop of the 5th Jurisdiction of Illinois, under the auspices of the International Presiding Bishop, the late Louis Henry Ford. Bishop McCarthy served as Chief Prelate over more than 95 churches until his retirement in 2004.
Bishop McCarthy was a strong influence as a member of the “PASTORS FELLOWSHIP CONGRESS”, an alliance of pastors coming together to answer the call of ministry to the relationship between the political and religious entities throughout the city of Chicago. His contributions to the “FRIENDS IN NEED SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL”, an organization caring for the welfare of people around the world, was a welcomed strength. Bishop McCarthy was a welcomed influence and needed support to many of the churches born from the Gethsemane Church Of God In Christ. He acted as an advisor to National Bishops throughout the Church Of God In Christ, as well as sat on many boards, which included the board of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in the State of Kentucky, for more than five years. He was an intricate part of various ministries, supporting their crusades, revivals, and building efforts. He was awarded certificates of appreciation from many of the ministries throughout the city for his support.
His contribution to the educational society, which includes religious education and the qualifying of our ministers and missionaries for the work of the ministry brought forth support to the Emmanuel Christian Academy, Zion Hill Christian Academy, the John P. Altgeld Parochial School, and many of the schools in Chicago, has not gone unnoticed. Bishop McCarthy’s ongoing concern for religious education was evident in his diligent efforts to establish the accreditation of the Charles Harrison Mason Bible Institute, which had formally been unaccredited. Bishop McCarthy was also the first authoring Bishop to establish the first chapter of the C. H. Mason Historical Society, in which he made recommendation of the Elder Norvell Woolfolk as the first National President under the auspices of the formal Presiding Bishop Chandler David Owens.
Under Bishop McCarthy, the 5th Jurisdiction of Illinois was reorganized into regions - to more effectively reach all of the pastors he served throughout the inner-city, northern, and southern half of Illinois, which also included two churches from Indiana and Iowa. The reorganization of the jurisdictional regions reached attention throughout the National Church Of God In Christ. Bishop Samuel McCarthy was also an instrumental force in the renaming of the Calumet Expressway in Chicago to theBISHOP LOUIS HENRY FORD EXPRESSWAY.
Bishop McCarthy’s influence was felt not only throughout the United States but also overseas, where he was invited to ordain and certify more than 35 pastors into the Jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago. While there he addressed the Prime Minister’s cabinet, the senate, and the congress of Port of Spain, Trinidad Tobago.
Despite the physical trials he faced in his later years, Bishop McCarthy continued his work for the Lord, serving as an advisor to the new Bishops of the reorganized 5th Illinois Jurisdiction-East & West, and to his son, Dr. Dion A. McCarthy, who was appointed Pastor of Gethsemane Church Of God In Christ. Bishop was honored by the City of Chicago on more than one occasion. He was honored by Mayor Richard M. Daley…naming May 5th, FIFTH ILLINOIS JURISDICTION DAY, in the City of Chicago. He was again honored, March 27, 2004, with the naming of 70th Street at Elizabeth to, BISHOP SAMUEL STEVEN MCCARTHY WAY.
The Lord smiled and said “Thy work is done, good and faithful servant” as Bishop McCarthy was called home on Thursday, February 3, 2005.
“…If Everybody Was Like Jesus, What A Wonderful World This Would Be!”
Sam, as he was affectionately called, was the sibling role model to his brothers and sisters. Since the death of the two oldest siblings, Sam, now the oldest, bore the responsibility of assisting his father in the welfare of the family. He worked hard, attending school and caring for his family, while his father went to Chicago to secure work and a residence for his family. After almost nine months, in 1944, Father Roosevelt sent for Sam to come to Chicago and help prepare for the move to Chicago. Once in Chicago, the family attended the mother church of the State of Illinois, Roberts Temple Church Of God In Christ, at 40th and State Street.
Sam, being influenced by the examples of his father and mother, sought the Lord. He was saved during a revival service run by one of his best friends, the late Elder John Albert Jones at the McGavich Chapel on the South Side of Chicago. Shortly thereafter, he was filled with the Holy Ghost.
Samuel received his education from Picayune High School in Picayune, Mississippi and, upon relocating north, attended Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago. He chose to serve his country and became a member of the Illinois National Guard 128 Regiment, serving for three years. He later received, during his bishopric, an honorary doctorate degree from the Charles Harrison Mason System of Bible College of the Church of God In Christ.
On September 10, 1949, he united in Holy Matrimony with Omega Theresa Lambert, whom he met at Roberts Temple. With little money but a lifetime of love, this couple set out with their commitment to God and to each other to serve God, raise a family, and to dedicate their family to the service of the Lord. From this union was born six children: Samula Dell, Leonard Steven, Joreece Fay, Dion Andrew, Ellis Carlton, and Lorna Michelle.
Samuel’s spirit was touched, and he heard the call of God to preach the gospel. He was ordained in 1954 by the late Bishop William Roberts, founding Bishop in the State of Illinois, and served as the Assistant Pastor to his father, Elder Roosevelt McCarthy, at McCarthy Temple Church Of God In Christ.
Elder McCarthy was called to his pastoral ministry in 1957. He founded the Gethsemane Church Of God In Christ and continued to serve as Senior Pastor until November 28, 2004. With humble beginnings in the basement of his home, Elder McCarthy’s ministry rapidly grew, and Gethsemane was relocated to the present location at 6959 S. Elizabeth, Chicago, Illinois.
God smiled on Elder McCarthy’s dedication and loyalty in the service of the church and proved that promotion comes from God, when he placed him in the spirit of Bishop Freeman Guy Green, the founding Bishop of a newly established Jurisdiction, the 5th Jurisdiction Of Illinois. In 1964, Elder Samuel was promoted to the position of State Expediter of the new Jurisdiction and later to the position of State Secretary. In the same year, he was appointed to serve as Assistant Superintendent of the Macedonia District, where he served faithfully for fourteen years until he was appointed Superintendent in 1978.
Under ‘Superintendent’ Samuel McCarthy, Macedonia District became well known as the largest District in the 5th Jurisdiction of Illinois, recruiting churches unaffiliated with the Church Of God In Christ and winning the favor of churches within the Jurisdiction unaffiliated with any districts. Under the late Bishop F. G. Green. Superintendent McCarthy was elevated to the position of Third Administrative Assistant in 1978. In 1985, he was honored to serve as the Senior Administrative Assistant under the auspices of newly appointed prelate of 5th Illinois Jurisdiction, Bishop Bennie Earl Goodwin, Sr.
In the year of 1993, upon the demise of Bishop Goodwin, Sr., Administrative Assistant McCarthy was favored by the Jurisdiction and appointed Bishop of the 5th Jurisdiction of Illinois, under the auspices of the International Presiding Bishop, the late Louis Henry Ford. Bishop McCarthy served as Chief Prelate over more than 95 churches until his retirement in 2004.
Bishop McCarthy was a strong influence as a member of the “PASTORS FELLOWSHIP CONGRESS”, an alliance of pastors coming together to answer the call of ministry to the relationship between the political and religious entities throughout the city of Chicago. His contributions to the “FRIENDS IN NEED SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL”, an organization caring for the welfare of people around the world, was a welcomed strength. Bishop McCarthy was a welcomed influence and needed support to many of the churches born from the Gethsemane Church Of God In Christ. He acted as an advisor to National Bishops throughout the Church Of God In Christ, as well as sat on many boards, which included the board of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in the State of Kentucky, for more than five years. He was an intricate part of various ministries, supporting their crusades, revivals, and building efforts. He was awarded certificates of appreciation from many of the ministries throughout the city for his support.
His contribution to the educational society, which includes religious education and the qualifying of our ministers and missionaries for the work of the ministry brought forth support to the Emmanuel Christian Academy, Zion Hill Christian Academy, the John P. Altgeld Parochial School, and many of the schools in Chicago, has not gone unnoticed. Bishop McCarthy’s ongoing concern for religious education was evident in his diligent efforts to establish the accreditation of the Charles Harrison Mason Bible Institute, which had formally been unaccredited. Bishop McCarthy was also the first authoring Bishop to establish the first chapter of the C. H. Mason Historical Society, in which he made recommendation of the Elder Norvell Woolfolk as the first National President under the auspices of the formal Presiding Bishop Chandler David Owens.
Under Bishop McCarthy, the 5th Jurisdiction of Illinois was reorganized into regions - to more effectively reach all of the pastors he served throughout the inner-city, northern, and southern half of Illinois, which also included two churches from Indiana and Iowa. The reorganization of the jurisdictional regions reached attention throughout the National Church Of God In Christ. Bishop Samuel McCarthy was also an instrumental force in the renaming of the Calumet Expressway in Chicago to theBISHOP LOUIS HENRY FORD EXPRESSWAY.
Bishop McCarthy’s influence was felt not only throughout the United States but also overseas, where he was invited to ordain and certify more than 35 pastors into the Jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago. While there he addressed the Prime Minister’s cabinet, the senate, and the congress of Port of Spain, Trinidad Tobago.
Despite the physical trials he faced in his later years, Bishop McCarthy continued his work for the Lord, serving as an advisor to the new Bishops of the reorganized 5th Illinois Jurisdiction-East & West, and to his son, Dr. Dion A. McCarthy, who was appointed Pastor of Gethsemane Church Of God In Christ. Bishop was honored by the City of Chicago on more than one occasion. He was honored by Mayor Richard M. Daley…naming May 5th, FIFTH ILLINOIS JURISDICTION DAY, in the City of Chicago. He was again honored, March 27, 2004, with the naming of 70th Street at Elizabeth to, BISHOP SAMUEL STEVEN MCCARTHY WAY.
The Lord smiled and said “Thy work is done, good and faithful servant” as Bishop McCarthy was called home on Thursday, February 3, 2005.
“…If Everybody Was Like Jesus, What A Wonderful World This Would Be!”