[6][8]: 175 Mary Lewis began traveling and preaching in Steel Springs, Tennessee, and Paducah, Kentucky.

[1] In 1903, Lewis led her followers in creating the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth in Greenville, Alabama.

[1] Following a period of illness, Lewis experienced a miraculous healing and the Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues.

[2]: 340  From June 25 to July 5, 1908,[3] she held a ten-day General Assembly there, a Pentecostal revival at which she formally incorporated the denomination.

As the Overseer and Chief Leader of the Church, she presided as bishop, ordained ministers, and baptized converts in the "indwelling" of the Holy Ghost.

There Tate established the New and Living Way Publishing Company to print religious literature and music.

[9] At least seven denominations can trace their history back to Tate's establishment of Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth.

Hundreds of women served in The Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth as evangelists, ministers, and bishops.