Our Story
In 1998, Bishop William J. McDuffie received a Word from the Lord to plant a church in Sierra Vista, AZ. After receiving this Word, he was assigned to Fort Gordon, GA where he and his family attended services at Faith Outreach Christian Life Center with Bishop R.B. Peoples, Sr. Two years later, First Sergeant McDuffie was assigned to Korea for a period of one year and there he began to conduct services in his quarters on Sunday afternoons.
After returning from his tour, he resettled at his new duty station as a newly promoted Sergeant Major in Fort Huachuca, AZ (Sierra Vista area) and God prompted his heart to begin holding church services at home in August 2001. In direct obedience to God, and knowing that if he could not lead his own family in church services, he very well could not lead an entire congregation, he began to conduct regular services in his home.
In April of 2002, William McDuffie Ministries (WMM), the parent organization of Seed of Abraham Christian Center International (SACCI), took a great leap of faith and began to conduct Sunday services downtown at the Sierra Suites Hotel. During the summer of 2002, we began to conduct both Sunday and Friday night services at the downtown location in a small conference room in the hotel.
Later in 2003, WMM facilitated its first Faith Crusade hosting Bishop R.B. Peoples. As Bishop Peoples culminated the crusade with the benediction, he told SACCI that we could not go back to the small conference room and we would have to stretch for something greater. Trusting the Word of the Lord from his spiritual father, Bishop McDuffie inquired about a larger meeting space. The hotel staff offered a larger conference room upstairs that more than doubled our meeting space.
In May of 2004, SACCI moved into its first permanent facility at 968 E. Fry Blvd. The facility was a commercial storefront that looked nothing like a church. After a few weeks of renovation, Seed of Abraham began to conduct 3 services a week in its new home. The spring months offered the children an opportunity go outside and conduct children’s church activities.
In January 2006, SACCI expanded the storefront to include 970 E. Fry Blvd. Additional renovation was required, but the end result allowed the children’s church program to expand, which allowed more space for its growing body of Believers.
In January 2007, one month after retiring from the U.S. Army, Bishop William and Lady Yvette McDuffie received a word of instruction from Bishop Peoples to look for a property to purchase to house the growing congregation. With little money on hand, they acted on the word from their bishop believing it was from the Lord and began releasing their collective faith and preparing the flock for transition.
In August 2009, SACCI purchased its first property at 1100 El Camino Real. This new property consists of two buildings with combined space exceeding 13,000 square feet and has given us room to grow like never before; reach the community in new ways; and expand our children’s ministry. For some, 1100 El Camino Real would be a stopping point, but we know that this is just another step on the journey God is taking us on to reach Sierra Vista, the surrounding areas, and the entire world.
“The Fulfillment of the International Vision”
While attending the Kenneth Copeland Ministers’ Conference in January 2004, Bishop McDuffie awoke from a dream hearing the words: “Seed of Abraham Christian Center International.” He interpreted this dream as a mandate from Heaven to extend his footprint from his local responsibilities in Sierra Vista to encompass the world. A staunch believer in the Blessing of Abraham, Bishop McDuffie fully embraced God’s promise to Abraham, particularly when He said:
…I will bless you and…you shall be a blessing…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2, 3 NKJV)
In 2010, the Lord opened a tremendous door of opportunity into East Africa. Today, Seed of Abraham Christian Center International consists of:
Seed of Abraham Christian Centre-Uganda under the auspices of Apostle Robert Achwera of Lira City. Seed of Abraham Christian Centre-Uganda is made up of 71 churches in 6 Ugandan districts.
Seed of Abraham Christian Centre-Kenya under the leadership of Pastor Christopher Nyangoto Onkoba of Kisii Provence. Seed of Abraham Christian Centre-Kenya consists of 53 churches in 7 cities throughout Kenya.
Seed of Abraham Christian Centre-Tanzania, which is led by Pastor Vincent Mbarikiwa of Mbeya, Tanzania. Seed of Abraham Christian Centre-Tanzania is 22 churches primarily within the vicinity of Mbeya and the southern Tanzanian region of Iringa.
Seed of Abraham Christian Centre-Burundi is scheduled to be launched in January 2012. It consists of 28 churches in Burundi, 1 in Rwanda, and 2 in the Democratic Republic of Congo all under the leadership of Pastor Reuben James Mwambola.
Worldwide Seed of Abraham Christian Center International consists of 178 churches with more than 7,200 members.
In 2012, Seed of Abraham Christian Center International plans to extend into Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the brand new fledgling country of South Sudan.
In addition to branching out to embrace these pastors, Seed of Abraham Christian Center International has taken steps to feed and clothe orphans and widows in these countries, many of whom have suffered from the scourge of civil war, poor health care, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic in subsaharan Africa. The organization also contributes to famine relief in north central Kenya, which is currently experiencing drought in epic proportions.
On November 12, 2011, Bishop McDuffie became SACCI’s first episcopal leader when a College of Bishops consecrated and installed him as International Presiding Bishop and Chief Overseer of Seed of Abraham Christian Center International. Becoming a Bishop was no small task. This position in the Lord’s Church is not for self-acclaim or vain ambition, but provides a vehicle to mentor and develop pastors thereby bringing them to their God given destinies.
