Voice Of Praise Worship Center has a long history of serving God and our community.  In the fall of 1952, the late Reverend R. Irvin Smith along with his wife Virginia, was led to Bluewell, West Virginia and began leading a revival in a small tent.

Shortly after the revival took place, Reverend Smith began looking for a building to have regular church services in. Mr. Roy Albert donated the use of his building and the church began meeting there until they could purchase land.

On February 22, 1954, the church was able to officially purchase a lot that would eventually house the church building. A few short months later, the digging of the foundation began on June 30, 1954.

On May 25, 1958, the church became an officially recognized church in the Virginia Conference (currently the Appalachian Conference) under the name of “Bluewell Pentecostal Holiness Church”. They were organized under the leadership of the presiding Conference Superintendent, Reverend W.W. Carter. There were nineteen charter members in all.

Throughout the years, Bluewell Pentecostal Holiness Church has been a beacon to our community. The Women’s and Youth ministries, and many other ministries reached out to the community in a variety of different ways. In September of 1975, under the leadership of Pastor Don Elliott, a bus ministry began and by the end of the first year they went from having only two buses to seven! They had an average of 35-40 people riding the buses every Sunday and one time they had over 90 people on one bus! During that time period, the Lord blessed the church with great numerical and spiritual growth as emphasis was placed on revival, Sunday school, and community outreach.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Lord used Pastor Preston Mathena and his wife, Kathy, to bring several exciting changes to the church including a new name (Voice Of Praise Worship Center), a new building on new property (State Route 20), and a new church plant in Springville, Virginia (Destiny Outreach Ministries).

Over the years, the Lord has called forth many church leaders, pastors, missionaries, and new churches from Voice Of Praise Worship Center, allowing the love of Christ to extend throughout the local community, the nation and around the world. We are humbled by what God has done in the past and excited about what He has in store for our future.