Greater Fellowship Full Gospel Baptist Church 3.75

GREATER FELLOWSHIP

FULL GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY

December 13, 1987 – Present

The Greater Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church was founded and established on December 13, 1987 by Pastor Carey E. Pointer, Jr. The announcement was made at the Providence Baptist Church with the support of Pastors Carey E. Pointer, Sr., the late Bishop Ricardo Brent, Charles Doom, Lionel P. Pointer, Jr., among others. The foundation of the Church is based on the early church: Acts 2:36-47.

Sunday morning worship services were held in the Masonic Lodge #218, located at 5922 Marlboro Pike in District Heights, Maryland, and offered Christian Bible Training (CBT) and Church School for all age groups at 9:30 a.m. Study of the Word commenced at 11:00 a.m. These same ministries are still in effect. On April 8, 1989, God truly opened the windows of Heaven and blessed us. He gave us a church building of our own, located at 814 Alabama Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. PRAISE GOD.

Previously, Home Bible Study was held every Wednesday night as the church family went from house to house in genuine fellowship and study. The Lord opened up another window and gave us office space located at 3018 St. Clair Drive, Marlow Heights, Maryland. In preparation for purchasing our own church building, we eventually gave up this space, and used office space in the basement of a member's home, Minister Ann Green Cherry. This space was located at 2207 Rosecroft Blvd., Fort Washington, Maryland.

The ministries which were underway then and continue to operate include: Christian Bible Training (CBT), Prayer Partners, Evangelism/Discipleship Training, Street Ministry, Hosts/Hostesses (formerly called Ushers), Church School, Men's Ministry, Telephone Ministry, and Women's Ministry. Since our inception, additional ministries have been implemented. They include: School of Ministry, Youth Choir, Food & Clothing, Teacher Training, Spiritual Maturity Training, Higher Ground, Sick & Shut-In (now called Care & Comfort), Praise & Worship Team, Intercessory Prayer, Spiritual Warriors &Women of Divine Movement Praise Dancers, Media Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, Teens About Christ (T.A.C.) and Youth About Christ (Y.A.C.) study groups for youth, Young Men’s Fellowship, Young Women’s Fellowship and Young Adult Fellowship. The Women’s Ministry was revived into M.A.D. (Making a Difference) Women’s Ministry and in August, 1996 the church had its first Women’s Revival. In 1999 we held our first Women’s Retreat. In the year 2000 the Men’s Ministry was revived to be Men Apprehending Christ (M.A.C.). We held our first Men’s Retreat that year.

In 2001, Youth Now! was birthed whose motto is “Strengthening Academics, Building Character and Developing Leaders.” Ministries instituted but not currently operational include the Bus Ministry, Senior Citizen’s Ministry, Women’s Choir – Voices of Praise, Lions of Judah Male Chorus, Family Counseling, Home Visitation and Drug Prevention Ministry. Future anticipated ministries include Scholarship Ministry, Credit Union and a Nursing Ministry.

Greater Fellowship owes a debt of gratitude to the late Pastor Theodore Harris and the Open Door Baptist Church family located at 136 56th Street, S.E. for their generosity. Pastor Harris and Open Door gave us the “key” to the church to use as needed for special services, i.e., a wedding, two homegoing services, a seminar, etc. We did, until we acquired 814 Alabama Avenue, S.E. We were blessed through that special union. Pastor Harris’ remarks were, “this is your church also, and I’m not going to come down each time to let you in.” The key is a souvenir to that friendship. During our first Thanksgiving and Praise Service at 814 Alabama Avenue, S.E., Pastor Harris was our guest for the Monday night service, preaching from the 23rd Psalm. On that Thursday night at his home, he went home to be with the Lord.

There are others who have been a blessing to us whose acts of love cannot be forgotten. The Southern Baptist Association; the late Pastor James Lewis, Founder of the Resurrection Baptist Church; the late Bishop Ricardo Brent, New Image Community Baptist Church; the late Brother Clyde Herndon and Mrs. Mattie Herndon, and so many others who planted seeds in this ministry, including our own member the late Brother William Miller who went beyond the call to make a difference. We are truly grateful for his faithfulness and commitment to the Greater Fellowship family. Since 2001, Pastor Marvin Battle and the True Gospel Tabernacle Baptist Church have been extremely supportive to the ministry as well.

In 1999 the Lord enabled us to make improvements to the building which included new light fixtures, new carpet graciously provided by Eleby and Evangelist Diane Blackwell; and painting of the church inside and outside. In 2000, new furniture and computer equipment was purchased for the office. In 2001, new chairs were purchased for the sanctuary and the Corry family blessed the Church with new drapery. God continues to allow us to improve the appearance of the edifice. In 2000, Gwen Brighthaupt began to serve as Office Manager, maintaining the church office. This was a definite move of the Holy Spirit.

Greater Fellowship has given birth to six sons and ten daughters, licensed to preach since our beginning. They are: Minister Phillip Pointer on December 20, 1992; Minister Betty S. Baten on June 13, 1993; Minister Maurice Williams on February 4, 1996; Minister Keesha Speight on June 30, 1996; Minister Taye Hailu on August 11, 1996; Minister Diane Blackwell on October 27, 1996; Minister Lisa Garvin on October 26, 1997; Minister Lenora Moses on November 29, 1998; Minister Kathy E. Pointer on February 14, 1999; Minister Robyn Bumbry on June 27, 1999; Minister Calvin Fisher on November 12, 2000, Minister Carey E. Pointer III on December 2, 2001, Minister Ann Green Cherry on July 16, 2006, Minister Phyllis Garvin on June 29, 2008, Minister Tonny Williams, Sr. on August 10, 2008, and Minister Francine Dease on October 24, 2010.

God also blessed us with a husband and wife ministerial team, Rev. Richard Carthorne, who serves as Assistant to the Pastor, and his wife, Minister Arthurmae Carthorne who in 2001 went home to be with the Lord. They joined the family on September 27, 1992. Rev. Anthony Marcus joined the Greater Fellowship family on November 23, 2002 and God sent Minister Antonio Price our way on May 7, 2006. Elders Betty S. Baten and Kathy E. Pointer were set aside as Greater Fellowship’s first two ordained elders on February 19, 2000. Elder Phillip L. Pointer was set aside for ordination on December 1, 2001 and in September 2002 was called to Pastor the St. John Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia (currently named the Providence St. John Baptist Church).

On Sunday, February 8, 2004, Elder Kathy E. Pointer was consecrated and set aside as Co-Pastor of the Greater Fellowship Full Gospel Baptist Church. Elder Carey E. Pointer III and Elder Taye Hailu were set aside for ordination on May 7, 2005. Elder Hailu serves as the Youth Pastor at Greater Fellowship, Elder Pointer served for one year as Youth Pastor at Greater Good Samaritan Baptist Church, but his work at Greater Fellowship was not yet complete. He now serves as 1st Assistant to Pastor, Pastor’s Teacher Assistant, AV Ministry Team Leader and Minister of Protocol. Elder Keesha Speight was set aside for Ordination on April 24, 2010 and serves in a leadership capacity with the Youth and Young Adult Ministry. In 2005, Elder Calvin Fisher organized and pastors the Agape Cathedral of Praise in Clinton, MD.

On Sunday, December 7, 1997, Pastor Carey E. Pointer, Jr. was consecrated as District Overseer #1 of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship for Washington, D.C under the leadership of the late Bishop Ricardo L. Brent. Elder Kathy E. Pointer was appointed to serve as State Secretary; they both continued their service to the State under the leadership of Bishop Michael V. Kelsey, Sr. Elder Pointer was later appointed as State Director of Women. Although they no longer serve, they continue to support the vision of the Fellowship.

On Sunday, October 1, 2006 during our Pastor’s Month Celebration in a commencement ceremony Dr. Ambrose Columbus, President of Aspen Christian College and Theological Seminary, Denver Colorado, conferred upon our Pastor a Post Graduate Degree in Urban Ministry. In the same ceremony, Dr. Ambrose conferred an Honorary Degree on Co-Pastor Kathy E. Pointer. God is truly moving the Greater Fellowship family to a new level of Praise and Thanksgiving as he takes us higher in the ministry for Kingdom Business. We praise God for His gifts to our Church.

This year Greater Fellowship celebrates 25 years in Ministry – Praise God! The Greater Fellowship Full Gospel Baptist Church is a Bible-teaching, Christ-centered, Holy Ghost filled church whose mandate is to "Go, Teach, Baptize and Teach", as commanded in Matthew 28:19-20. This is our priority. Pray with us that God will continue to bless our every effort!