Higher Ground Pentecostal
Church Of Deliverance

Builder, mentor, leader, and teacher. These are just a few of the words that describe Apostle D. DeWayne Christmas. Beginning his ministry at the young age of eleven years old, it has been evident that the hand of God rests on his life. Ministry is the driving force behind everything he does in life.

His evangelistic ministry started at the age of 16. Without pushing himself or asking for preaching engagements, the Lord has always kept him busy in ministry. Doors have opened for him from the back woods of the deep south to the countries of the Bahamas and England. Apostle Christmas continues to preach the doctrine of holiness without compromise.

Apostle Christmas founded his first church, Miracle Tabernacle Pentecostal Church at the age of 21 in the city of San Diego, California. He has also founded churches in Macon, Georgia; East St. Louis, Illinois and Compton, California. After pastoring the Jerusalem Church in San Francisco, California for nearly 10 years he was led by the Holy Ghost to resign and begin a fresh work in the city of Oakland, California. In November of 2010, the Higher Ground Pentecostal Assembly was birthed. Since it's inception many souls have been saved, delivered and many miraculously healed.

In 1986, he was conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by the Church of Gospel Ministry, Chula Vista, California. In 1992, in Brooklyn, New York he was affirmed as an Apostle in the Lord's church. Along with the affirmation of the Apostolic brethren, he was also affirmed by the seal of the Holy Ghost. Churches have been birthed and many sons and daughters have been sent out into ministry with his teachings and blessings along with many signs and wonders that have followed his ministry.

In September of 2021 he was appointed president of Department of Evangelism for California Northern First Jurisdiction. His endeavor is to train young Evangelists how to effectively reach the lost outside of the physical church.

In 2024 through the leading of the Lord the name of the church was change to Higher Ground Pentecostal Church of Deliverance. Apostle Christmas believes in the delivering power of the Holy Ghost. One of the strongest heartbeats in his ministry is to see new souls won to the kingdom. He is a firm believer that “Church isn't church until someone gets DELIVERED....”