Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America, Inc.

The Mount Sinai Holy Church of America (MSHCA) is a Christian church in the Holiness-Pentecostal tradition.[1] The church is episcopal in governance. It has approximately 130 congregations in 14 states and 4 countries and a membership of over 50,000. Its headquarters is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Founded by Ida B. Robinson, the organization is the only organization founded by an African American woman that held consistent female leadership from its founding in 1924 until February 2001.

In 1924, while fasting and praying in the church for ten days, Robinson said she received a revelation from God: "The Holy Ghost spoke and said, ‘Come out on Mount Sinai.'"[3] On May 20, 1924, the State of Pennsylvania granted her a charter for the church under the name of the Mount Sinai Holy Church of America, Incorporated.

Our Story

The year of 1924 was a very important year in the life of Ida Robinson. During the beginning of 1924, Bishop Robinson on several occasions revealed to a number of persons that God revealed Himself to her through visions and dreams. It was her belief that God wanted to use her as a vehicle to establish a church that would "loose the women" and allow full clergy rights to them. While fasting and praying in the church for ten days, she stated she again received a revelation from God. She stated to members of Mount Olive that “The Holy Ghost spoke and said, ‘Come out on Mount Sinai.” After receiving this message from God, Bishop Robinson was confident that she understood what God meant for her to do.

On May 20, 1924, the State of Pennsylvania granted her a charter for the new organization. Keeping in mind that the call of the Holy Spirit that she envisioned, the charter for the new church was granted under the name of the Mount Sinai Holy Church of America, Incorporated. At the time of its founding, the church leadership consisted of nine officials. Out of the nine officials, six were women. The growth of Mount Sinai was rapid and quickly spread across the east coast of the United States. Elder Robinson was consecrated as bishop at the organization's first Holy Convocation in 1925. Her separation from United Holy Church was one of mutual agreement. Leaders of her parent organization were in attendance at the first Holy Convocation of Mount Sinai and continued to fellowship with the organization during her leadership and after.

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