Malinda Dora Morris's family migrated from Danville, Virginia, to Philadelphia.

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In the fall of 1898, she arrived in New York, took a room, and secured a position as a domestic for a Doctor. Shortly afterwards, she met and married Baptist minister Rev. Morris. Her continued affiliation with the Baptist church caused quite a stir among the women and preachers for her knowledge of scripture, gift of deliverance, and masterful oratories. It is said that even her husband became jealous of her. She would often say that she was almost at the point of despair because church members and sinners alike would laugh and ridicule her. Ministers would often quote that God sent Elisha, not Shelisha, and that God sent Jeremiah to look for a man.

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One day as she traveled home from work, she stopped on the corner to board a trolly and overheard women talking about a new preacher named Rev. Crowdy. One women said he called himself a prophet of God, said that Christ was on his heels, and that he had just gotten here in time to save Israel. Sister Morris was immediately touched and made inquiries about the preacher. She was told he was on 8th Ave. in the True Reformers Hall nightly.

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Sister Morris said she took the trolley, went to her room all excited, washed, changed, and ate her dinner; all her tiredness could hardly wait for 7:30 when the meeting was to begin. She arrived early as the place was filling up then; the first sermon she heard him preach was 'Hear O Israel'.

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She often told the saints how she worked as a domestic and continued to attend these services every night for a year. She told them she had never heard a man preach the way he did. He preached Sabbath was on Saturday, not Sunday; preached against Christmas and Easter, condemned the drinking of wine, kept what she always thought was a Jewish Passover, and preached against common law living, adultery, fornication, lying and stealing. Why she had never heard such truth before, she didn't know. Yet, she tried to run as she still hadn't forgotten, she was a Baptist,

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She thought of what her husband and family would think of her if she even considered joining this man. She persuaded her husband to attend one evening. To her surprise, he enjoyed Rev. Crowdy, but commented he's got something, but he is ahead of his time, it won't last.

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According to a family member's recounting, Sister Morris said, "So I kept going and finally one evening as I listen intensively, and not being able to take my eyes off him, as he bellowed with his thunderous voice, he seemed to make the room shake, his sermon was 'And he will show you things to come and will guide you into all truths'. It was then that I saw a small white dove come from his mouth and fly directly towards me. I was so frightened and yet very astonished, so much that I opened my mouth and as I did, the dove flew right in and I could feel the lump in my throat as I swallowed it. God later let me know that this sign I had accepted and swallowed was the truth.​ I immediately rose, introduced myself and expressed my desire to join him. We began to go on the street, I would sing and he would preach and at times he would allow me to preach. He once told me, daughter, God has sent you to be my spiritual help-mate as it is not good that man should be alone. ​My real problems then began as my husband resented this union even though it was for Kingdom work. As a result of this, he left me in New York City, but I began to see God molding out my life for me."

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Prophet Crowdy now being her pastor, met with her often in the Public Library where he would teach her comparing history books to the Bible. He showed her the origin of much of our pagan worship and when and how man "changed" God's true plan of salvation.

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After several months, he visited her job where she was ironing and eating a bunch of grapes. After scolding her in a very father-like manner, he said, "Daughter, the spirit tells me to ask you will you go to Newark, New Jersey and organize a work for God and me, as I don't have a man qualified to send; I would like you to go and quote Jesus. God will go with you." Sister Morris said her answer was. "Prophet I am not qualified either and I'm a woman, they won't listen to me." She said he then quoted Joel 2:28, laid his hands on her head, ordained her an Elder, and said, "Go."

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Sister Morrie told her employer she had to leave. He paid her, she pack her clothes, took a trolley to the station, and embarked for Newark. She arrived in Newark at 10:00 a.m. on a Tuesday morning in early October. She would often say that after paying her room rent in New York and other small obligations, plus getting a new trunk and train fare, she found herself standing downtown on South Street at the station with only 15 cents left to her name. She made inquiries of passersby as to where she could get a room and someone directed her to Mrs. Brooks on Arlington Street about a half mile away. She was not able to carry her trunk nor pay a cab, so she checked her trunk at the station and walked to Arlington Street.

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Mrs. Brook saw something unusual about this very neat, clean, and graceful looking lady. God moved her heart to welcome in Sister Morris. Rising early the next morning, Sister Morris said the Lord led her to take to the streets and preach. After securing a permit, she preached her first sermon four blocks from where she lived at the Court House Square where the Lincoln Statute now stands. This became her regular preaching spot for many months to come.

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Sister Morris said, "God moved once again as a man stepped out from the crowd that had gathered, took his hat off and saying, "Let's help this brave little woman," gave her some money. He then passed his hat, and coins came from all around; She said she was able to pay her rent, get her trunk, get a cab, and still have several dollars left.

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She continued to preach with no one to say Amen, no choir to sing, no one to read, but she trusted God. Her first Sabbath service was held in Mrs. Brooks living room on Arlington Street. People came to hear her instruct and teach out of God's work. In less than a year, she had converted and gathered enough people to help her secure a store-front on Broom Street. Within fours years, 200 souls were baptized, 700 had their feet washed, and the church remained at this location over 7 years.

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The Newark church established by Elder Malinda Morris is the third oldest church in the area and one of the first black churches built in Newark in 1909 on Lewis Street. Their first Holy Days was kept in their new church.

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Bishop Crowdy, the national founder, kept a watchful eye on this progressive woman although his visits to Newark were far and few in between.​ She possessed a God-given gift for healing and was known to restore sight to the blind, raise Evangelist-At-Large Philip Thomas's mother from the dead, made the dumb speak, and the lame walk. She fed the hungry and gave money to the poor. She ran a grocer, meat market, and dry good stores, a restaurant, home for the elderly, and more.

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Her reward came at the Plainfield Passover in 1906 when Prophet Crowdy called her to the pulpit, placed a pink open top crown on her head and said, "Many daughters have done virtuously, but your righteousness excels them all. I crown you Chief of the Daughters; your title shall be Chief Evangelist, Chairlady of the Daughters Auxiliary."

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Eventually there arose much confusion and questions from the ministers and some of the daughters on her role. She was ultimately removed from the pulpit for one year as Prophet Crowdy yielded to the wishes of the brethren. At the Newark Passover of 1907, she was restored to her pulpit in the Newark Tabernacle and was told to stay there until Christ comes. At that time, Prophet Crowdy turned to the ministers and said, "Boys catch her if you can"; she remained on the pulpit for 37 years.

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Prior to the death of our founder on August 4, 1908, he was stricken by a stroke which impaired his speech. Often he would attempt to speak, but was misunderstood. Many ministers including Chief Evangelist Joseph Crowdy, Evangelist William Plummer, Elder Calvin Skinner, and others would stand and attempt to interpret his sayings, but he would shake his head vigorously, pound his fist on the pulpit, and repeatedly say, "No, No." He would then look down at Chief Evangelist Morris and beckon her to come to the rostrum. As she stood there, she said she was asking God to please reveal to her the message this man was trying so desperately to put forth. The words then came flowing from her lips. The Prophet smiled, nodded his head and spoke very clearly for the first time saying, "That's what I was trying to say."

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Chief Evangelist Morris often recalled when the prophet became very ill and sent for her to come to Washington to get him. She nursed and cared for him until he fell asleep. She would say to her church, "I don't care what the boys say or do as they don't know what the Prophet said to me, as I was the last one blessed to see him alive." The Prophet passed in her home, holding her hand.

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She reports she sent telegrams to notify the church that the Prophet passed. She recounted you could count the ministers on one hand that came to see him while he was sick. The national nor local churches ever sent funds to help care for him while he was sick; she buried him with her personal money and the help of her own members.

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She repeatedly sent the call for help to the head church officers to send money for a headstone. Bishop James Morrison Grove was the only one to respond and sent her $25.00. One year after the Prophet's passing, Chief Morris put two stones on his grave, and inscribed "Erected by Evangelist M. D. Morris".

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At the prophet's death, the church in Newark was only eight years old and received its charter on February 26, 1908. By this time, Chief Morris began to feel the pangs of jealousy, so she purchased property on Lewis Street acquiring the title on January 17, 1909. She began to build and they were able to keep their first Holy Days in the tabernacle, even though the structure was not completed. They hung canvas and burlap at the windows to keep out the cold and heated within by burning two large wood burning stoves, often marching her people around the walls to keep warm.

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In 1909, one Passover was called by Bishop James Grove to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chief Morris called Chief Joseph Crowdy to ask what to do as she felt she should attend. Her testimony to her tabernacle was that Chief Joseph said, "Of course by all means, we should go to Pittsburgh. I will meet you there." Chief Morris ultimately chose to go to Pittsburgh as Bishop Grove was the only remaining live Bishop and the Constitution stated the Passover should be held wherever the Bishop calls.​ She hired a whole train coach and went to Pittsburgh, only to find that Chief Joseph nor Evangelist Plummer were present. Chief Joseph let her down and held influence over a number of tabernacles in the east with Evangelist William H. Plummer.

 

As history shows, this caused a riff in the church. The brethren rejected Bishop Grove as leader, although he carried the highest office and authority. She, however, did remain loyal to Bishop Grove as leader. She also tried to remain loyal to Chief Joseph Crowdy, but not in the capacity as an Executive head. Realizing the hypocrisy and recognizing her authority over the daughters only, she went home and got down to the business of holding her church together.​​​ In that same year, Chief Joseph, Evangelist Plummer and Elder Skinner began court action charging her with insubordination in attempt to remove her from her pulpit. She fought back and said the spirit led her to recharter as an independent body; this is what saved her as these leaders were out to take over the Newark Tabernacle.

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Over the years, hundreds joined under her leadership. God blessed her with a home, several automobiles, a maid, a chauffeur, ministers, deacons, a choir of over 40 singers. 

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She passed on Sabbath morning at 10:00 a.m. on April 24, 1937, thirty years after the prophet ordained her (on the same date).

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The Pastors and Leaders that succeeded Chief Evangelist Malinda Morris:

- Evangelist Fredrick Hamilton, G.F.A.

- Evangelist Robert G. Brown

- Allen W. Hamilton twice as Evangelist, G.F.A., then as Bishop

- Evangelist John Harris, Jr.

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More history will be added about Chief Evangelist Melinda D. Morris soon.