Since our start, we have been intentional about sharing hope through Christ.

Our Church History


Before being reorganized and renamed "City Church Buffalo," the ministry was named Evangelistic Temple Church of God In Christ (COGIC). It was founded in October 1952 and was first housed at 590 William Street in Buffalo, New York under the leadership of Reverend Melvin A. Bailey.  

Years later, Bishop Joseph Brinson, Sr. was appointed pastor of Evangelistic Temple by Bishop Glenwood H. Young, Sr., Presiding Prelate of New York Western Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God In Christ. In August 2016, Bishop Brinson moved the church to 84 Rickert in the heart of Buffalo’s inner city.

Then on April 9, 2017, Elder Kenya Hobbs was officially appointed Executive Pastor of Evangelistic Temple. He and his wife Dianna Hobbs served under Bishop Brinson until May 2018, when Bishop Brinson relinquished his role as senior pastor and totally turned the reins of the church over to Pastor Hobbs.

With much prayer and through the Holy Spirit's leading, Pastor and Lady Hobbs relaunched the ministry, which has been growing ever since, with a fresh vision and mission. Thus, City Church, a parachurch ministry, was birthed. Its name is based on Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Its unique focus is outreach and evangelism and has facilitated the process of introducing hundreds of new converts to Jesus Christ.

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Meet the Team

  • Kenya Hobbs

    SENIOR PASTOR

  • Dianna Hobbs

    FIRST LADY, WOMEN’S DEPARTMENT

  • Brooke Jones

    CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR

  • Nora Hall

    OUTREACH DIRECTOR

  • Imanuel Rivera

    MISSIONS COORDINATOR

  • Norman Blackwell

    CAMPUS MINISTRIES

DIRECTORS

  • Audrey Davis

    YOUTH SERVICES

  • Devin Bell

    MEN’S GROUPS

  • Eduardo Rios

    STUDENT PROGRAMS

  • Monet Sutton

    GUEST SERVICES

What We Believe

  • We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written Word
    of God.

  • We believe that there is only One God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and, God the Holy Spirit. We believe in the blessed Hope, which is the rapture of the Church of God, which is in Christ, at His return.

  • We believe that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through
    repentance and faith in the precious Blood of Jesus Christ. We believe that regeneration by the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential for personal salvation.

  • We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross provides healing for the human body in answer to believing prayer.

  • We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is
    given to believers who ask for it.

  • We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy and separated life in the present world.

  • Admit that you are a sinner.

    Confess that Jesus Christ is the son of God.

    Believe that He died and rose again for your sin.

    Ask Christ to come into your heart.