About Divine Restoration COGIC

Enter to worship, exit to serve

• Founded 2013 •

Pastor Eric & First Lady Sonia Ewell

The Lord called Pastor & First Lady Ewell to found a ministry in Duquesne that would be a little different from the traditional church that they had always experienced. They were community service and family oriented and felt called to minister to specific needs of the people of the community.

The Ewells knew that it would take a strong foundation and commitment to the ministry for it to succeed. The first official Bible Study had two people in attendance and took place in Bilal Cook's dining room with he and Pastor Ewell. We were, then, permitted to open up Bible Study at the Duquesne/West Mifflin Boys and Girls Club, which grew to our moving one block away to the First Baptist Church of Duquesne building.

Eric Jr., Nate, Josiah, and Malachi joined their parents in the establishment of Divine Restoration, as musicians, participants, and in supporting community and ministry outreach.

Minister Bilal & Sister Diana Cook

Shortly after accepting the call to establish Divine Restoration, the Lord led pastor Ewell to reach out to his childhood friend with a question. Pastor Ewell called Bilal Cook and asked him the question, "Do you still feel called?" B. Cook was taken aback by the question since he had never expressed this to Pastor. After getting over the shock of the question, Pastor asked a second question, "would you and your family like to join us as we establish the church?"

Without hesitation, B.Cook consulted with his wife and children and they became the first members of the church. Minister Cook would minister his trial sermon at the 1 year anniversary of the ministry. Sis. Diana Cook and their son, Anthony have delivered inspirational messages, and all of their children have also participated in the youth and music ministries.

Ty, Tony(deceased), Andrew, Alijah, and Abel are all valuable members and partners the foundation of the Divine Restoration Church.

• 2015 •

Street Ministry begins

In 2015 the vision cast by God began to take shape and street outreach began with three signature programs, Ministry Mondays, A Day of Giving, and The Clothing Closet. To learn more about these program click here. https://divinerestorationcogic.org/street-ministry

Ministry captured

Divine Restoration has a great journal of ministry through photo, here are few photos, click here for more. https://divinerestorationcogic.org/photo-gallery

• 2019 •

COVID impacts the word.

At the outset of the global pandemic the board of Divine Restoration decided that we would use all that we had to support the community with their needs as the federal government worked through legislation to aide the citizens. While in the midst of supporting our community we were blessed to receive a grant from the POISE Foundation to ramp up the work. Over this time Divine Restoration was able to provide computers, weekend snack packs, daily nutrition through Duquesne City School District, encouraging teachers, feeding seniors hot meals, senior fresh veggie delivery, and providing health care support through UPMC.

• 2022 •

God moves in a supernatural way!

From the inception of the ministry Pastor Ewell believed the Lord would provide a building without the church taking on any debt. Rev. Keith Golebie and Deacon Thomas Nasida of First Baptist were gracious enough to rent the space to Divine Restoration at a very low rate, however were not in a position to gift the building to the Ministry. Many people made recommendation that Divine Restoration purchase the building since the asking price was not much, Pastor Ewell considered it but held to what he believed the Lord said to him several years before. Believing the Lord called him to plant in Duquesne, holding to this would seem impossible. Over the years Pastor Ewell would speak to several organizations who had closed their building, but none were in a position to donate. The old saints would sing the song, let the works I have done speak for me, and late in 2021, the works of Divine Restoration spoke to the hearts of the board of Grace United Church in Christ. Grace had a rich history and dedicated group of people who would soon make a decision that would change the course of both ministries. Grace made the decision to dissolve their ministry and donate the building and all its contents to Divine Restoration. On January 1, 2022 Divine Restoration officially became the stewards of Gods house located at 100 S. 7th Street, ensuring that the ministry could continue in Duquesne, and see Gods promise revealed!