In 1950 the family moved to Albion, Michigan and took a group of people, one man and three ladies. Services were held in the V.F.W. Hall. In 1955 another sweet daughter was born, Rebecca Trammell, Another little daughter Priscilla Spears was born in 1957 and In 1965 Sara Copple delighted the family on her arrival. Outgrowing the first church that they built, they purchased a large former Baptist church in downtown Albion. The church had a record enrollment of 800. The church averaged 250-300. William R. Starr founded the Michigan District Campground in Marshall, Michigan with around 120 acres. The campground is beautiful with 70 modern cottages and Boys and Girls dorms, Kitchen and dining hall and educational buildings and large auditorium the camp was named in his honor. He was Michigan District Superintendent for 28 years. After his death in 1987 their son-in-law Rev, and Mrs. David Trammel became pastor of Christ Apostolic Church. The church celebrated its 53rd anniversary this year. The daughters are all Pastors’ wives with the oldest Marcia now being an Evangelist wife of Rev. Martyn Ballestero having resigned their church after 26 years. Alexa, wife of Rev. Rick Olson pastoring in Jacksonville, Florida, Priscilla wife of Rev. Curtis Spears in Shreveport, Louisiana and Sara, wife of rev. Tom Copple of Orange, CA. Some of the grandchildren are Pastors and Pastor’s wives. In November of 1992 Sister Starr married Bishop Howard H. Davis of San Bernardino, California.

Bishop Howard Harold Davis was born on November 19, 1925 to Mr. and Mrs. Otis Davis, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He had three sisters, Ruth, Bernice, and Jewel, and four big brothers: Porter, Jimmy, Lee, and Harvey, all ministers of the Gospel. Bro. Davis received the Holy Ghost at the age of 16 in West Tulsa, Oklahoma. His pastor was C.P. Williams. He attended Apostolic Bible College in 1942-43, and was the youngest student there. Being aware of the war and the draft he joined the United States Nay at the tender age of 17m and served as a Crew member on the USS Wiley DD 597, during the Second World War. After the war, he was discharged from the Navy on January 6, 1946. Shortly after this, he met his first wife, Sister Jeannine (Buchanan) Davis and they were married on Christmas Day 1947. When Bro. Davis decided to return to a “Jesus Name Holy Ghost” church, Jeannine was very surprised to find out that her husband was a “Holy Roller” and that his brothers were Pentecostal preachers. However, Bro. Davis and Sister Jeannine started attending the church in Fresno, CA pastured by A.V. Kelly. Sis Jeannine received the Holy Ghost May1948. In April 1949, they moved to the Bakersfield, or “Weed patch” church, pastured by Bro. Davis’ older brother, Jimmy Davis.

Bro. Howard Davis began his ministry there, starting with Sunday school, working with the youth group and winning souls. Hw received a local license with the Western District of the UPCI in 1950 at the Old Frazier Park Camp Ground. He planned on evangelizing and had only preached one revival when his brother, Harvey Davis, called him to pastor the church in San Bernardino. His Bro, Harvey was leaving for the mission field in Liberia, West Africa. Bro Davis was elected Pastor of the San Bernardino church on January 4, 1954. During Bro Davis’ Pastorate in San Bernardino the church experienced great growth and revival. In 1954, the church had 8 adult ladies, and 2 young men. The church had grown to 280 average for the entire year of 1965. One special addition was when a precious little girl named Glenna was born to Bro. Davis and Sister Jeannine on October 8, 1960. Sister Glenna is now the wife of Bro. Royce Walker, Pastor in Kingman, Arizona. Through the years, bro. Davis has served in the UPCI as Sectional Youth Leader, District Youth President, and Promotions Director of the Foreign Missions department, Director of the Foreign Missions Division of the Western District and as Presbyter of Section Two for Ten years. While Foreign Missions Director, he introduced “Faith Promise” to the Western District.

Bro. Davis has always supported foreign missions and has traveled to most of the world spreading the gospel. He has been to all of Europe, Canada, South America, and Asia. One of the greatest accomplishments of Bishop Davis’ ministry has been the sending out men of god into the ministry. The men who have been sent out under his ministry, or that were mentored by Bishop Davis are as follows: Bro. Larry Baker, Pastor, Highland, CA; Bro Scott Bobo, Pastor, Carson City, NV, Bro. Darnell Fletcher, Pastor, Fontana, CA, Bro. Danny Frazier, Pastor Roswell, New Mexico; Bro Chris Gilmer, Pastor, Fort Stockton, TX; Pastor Ray Hoffman of Hobbs, NM, Pastor Danny Mercer, Pasa Robles, CA; Bro Tom Hooper, Evangelist, San Bernardino, CA; Bro James Johnson, Pastor, Natchez, Miss & Bro. Bob Jones, Assistant Pastor, Eureka, CA Bro Mike Jones, Pastor Wabash, IN. Bro Reid Kurtz Assistant to the Pastor, Fort Wayne, IN, Bro David O’Brien, Evangelist San Bernardino, CA Bro James Pence, Pastor, Prescott, Arizona, Bro Daniel Powers, Pastor, Perris, CA; Bro. Robert Reece, Pastor, San Bernardino Downtown Church and Bro John Stratton, Pastor Gateway Fellowship San Bernardino, CA. When asked about his success in mentoring men in the gospel, along with his other achievements, the only things he says he has done are (1) adhere to the Word of God (2) endeavored to life a standard of holiness, (3) endeavored to work to train ministers, both privately and publicly, and (4) refused to stagnate. On November 6, 1991 Sis. Jeannine passed away and Bro. Davis lost his sweet wife of 43 years. It was a time of great grief and sorrow for Bro. Davis and the church family. We were all so happy when he started smiling again, when Marian June Starr came into his life. Bro. Davis officially proposed to Sis. June at the 1992 General Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah and they were married on November 7, 1992.

As we like to say at Gateway, weeping endures for a season, but June comes in the morning! Bro. Howard and Sis. June Davis combined two families that consist of six daughters, who are all married to Pastors and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What a tremendous heritage they have given their children and all who know them. They faithfully served as Pastor of Gateway Christian Fellowship, for 42 years in February of 1996, when Bro. Davis felt it was time to hand the church over to his son in the gospel, Pastor John Stratton.

Bro Davis now serves in the capacity of bishop and it is still a blessing to have Bishop Davis teach on Sunday mornings. The Davis’ and the Stratton’s have a wonderful relationship and enjoy working together. The Church in San Bernardino is still in revival and is growing with an average of 500 in attendance of Sundays and Wednesdays. God continues to bless the work that Brother Davis started.