Our Story
The History of Kingdom Apostolic Ministries
​​KAM Legacy: 1967-1987
District Elder James O. Franklin, who was elevated to the bishopric in 1975, was installed as the second pastor of Christ Temple No. 2 in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 19, 1967. Committed to sound administration and a clear church identity, he led the name change to Mt. Zion Apostolic Church in 1969. During his pastorate, the church’s constitution and bylaws were established, and several ministries were organized, including the choir, Youth Training Council, and the brotherhood and sisters auxiliaries. The foreign missions program also expanded, supporting orphanages in Haiti, Jamaica, and Africa. A skilled carpenter, Bishop Franklin helped build the Prospect Street church in the 1950s and later directed construction of a three-story annex in 1978. Known as a devoted Bible scholar with a strong interest in eschatology, he wrote numerous articles on end-time prophecy for the church's Sunday bulletin, as well as or the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith (PCAF) organization. Under his leadership, Mt. Zion reached its peak in the late 1970s, with 100 members and nearly 150 regular Sunday School students. He was widely respected for his deep knowledge of the book of Revelation and his invaluable teachings on end-time prophecy.
Bishop James Oba Franklin, born November 1, 1921, in LaVergne, Tennessee, first served as assistant pastor at Christ Temple No. 2, later known as Mt. Zion Apostolic Church (Indianapolis, Indiana), and was installed as pastor in 1969. He was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost under the pastorate of Elder Robert Tobin and received his ministerial license through the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith. An honorably discharged Army veteran, Bishop Franklin worked for 24 years as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier before devoting himself to full-time ministry. He and his wife, Marian Perkins Franklin, were the parents of 11 children. He faithfully led the congregation until his passing at age 66 in 1987. In 2005, the Bishop James O. Franklin Chapel at KAM Indianapolis was named in his honor.