The latter part of 1961, Pastor J. Q. Millsaps was called to serve. Under his leadership, six Deacons were ordained: Thomas Moody, Wallace Malone, Cornelious Whitehead, Oneal Russ, Marshall Robinson and Homer Davis. Four Ministers were licensed and ordained: Charles Maddox, William Davis, Zack Robinson, and Albert Austin. The church purchased a building at 2220 Rossville Boulevard in April 1962. Pastor Millsaps served faithfully until 1969. Pastor Little was called to serve in 1969 until the early 1970s.

In December 1970, Pastor Sullivan Coleman was called to serve. Under his leadership, five Deacons were ordained:

• Charles Flint
• Stanley Thurmond (still active in 2019)
• Arthur Maddox Jr. (still active in 2019)
• Wilber Waddle and Napoleon Goins

Two more Ministers were licensed: Arthur Maddox Sr. and Marshall Robinson, who were later ordained.  The membership grew under Pastor Coleman’s leadership.

• Two buses were purchased 
• the inside of the church was remodeled.

Plans were being made to brick the outside of the church when Pastor Coleman died on August 27, 1980. He fought a good fight, and he kept the faith. In December 1980, Elder Oscar L. Lockhart Sr. was called to serve. There were up to six Associate Ministers under his leadership during his tenure. In 1991, a new church was built at 980 North Orchard Knob Avenue (current location); a Children’s Church was created; the Christian Education Board was established; the Sunday School was expanded; new transportation was purchased; the Thankful Community Development Corp. was formed and a “House of Refuge” was opened – just to name a few of God’s blessings. After serving as Thankful’s Undershepherd for 35 years, Elder Lockhart retired as Pastor in December 2015.