Our Vision
The Church of God of Prophecy will be a Christ exalting, holiness, Spirit-filled, all-nations, disciple-making, church planting Movement with a passion for Christian Union.
Our Mission
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, through prayer, we will plant churches and equip leaders to carry out the biblical mandate to make genuine disciples of all the peoples, to the glory of Christ our Lord, Head of the church.
Core Values
Our four core values summarize what we believe the Holy Spirit is speaking to our Movement, and therefore, aligning us with what we see God doing in the world. As we consider our core values, God has spotlighted priority areas that should not be overlooked: Prayer, the Harvest, Leadership development and Stewardship.
There has been a renewed thrust to reap the harvest by the Evangelism Department in purchasing new equipment and launching out once again into street evangelism fulfilling the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19.
Our corporate and intercessory prayer life has also received another push through an increase to four sessions weekly. The continuous development and training of our congregation is always launching out into deeper waters.
Church History
This church began as a mission planted in 1938 by Bishop Simeon and Ethel Handfield in a rented building owned by Good Samaritan Lodge. Later the work was fully organized in 1939 under the leadership of Pastor Joshua and Philistina Gardiner who also built the first church building. Pastor Joshua Gardiner was the longest serving Pastor, with thirty years of service. In 1973, the church was rebuilt under the leadership of Former National Overseer, Bishop Franklyn Rudolph Williams, MBE and Rev. Isabella Irene Williams (both deceased). This structure was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in September 2008 and rebuilt under the direction of the National Overseer, Bishop Clarence N. Williams, Senior Pastor Mary Forbes and Associate Pastors, Rev. Sardrica Nancy Hamilton and Minister Scott Butterfield in 2008-2009. Unfortunately, tragedy once again struck the building, which was undergoing renovations and extension work, on Wednesday 3rd June 2020, when a fire broke out on the interior of the sanctuary. This fire caused extensive damage to the sanctuary. As a result, the congregation currently conducts face-to-face services under covid-19 restrictions in a classroom of the H. J. Robinson High School as a temporary measure. Plans regarding a future permanent building to house the Cox Street congregation are being discussed.
The Church has been blessed over the years with faithful and dedicated Pastors and their spouses namely: Bishop Uriel A. Morris (deceased) and Helene Morris, Rev. Wilbur Caley and Sister Doris Caley, Rev. Martin Walkin (deceased) and Dorothy Walkin, Rev. Daniel and Leonza Williams (both deceased), Rev. Stafford Williams and Angie Williams (both deceased), Apostle Oscar and Ophelia Talbot and Bishop Franklyn R. Williams, MBE and Rev. Isabella Irene Williams (both deceased) and Associate Pastor and District Overseer, Rev. Richard Garland, Minister Scott Butterfield and District Overseer Bishop James C. Williams (Deceased).
The Current Overseers/Pastoral team consist of Bishop Andrew Stone, National Overseer and Rev. Mary Forbes, District Overseer. The current Senior Pastor is Rev. Mary Forbes and Associate Pastors Rev. S. Nancy Hamilton and Minister Glennevans Clarke.
The Church of God of Prophecy has based its beliefs on the ‘whole Bible, rightly divided’. We accept the Bible as God’s Holy Word, inspired, inerrant, and infallible. We believe the Bible to be God’s written revelation of Himself to mankind and our guide in all matters of faith; therefore, we look to the Bible as our highest authority for doctrine, practice, organization and discipline.
The membership of the church comprises a multi-cultural community with a family-like atmosphere. There is currently a spirit of excitement amongst the congregation as God takes His church to another level of worship. The future of the church looks bright with the enthusiasm of the youth and children’s ministries and increase in attendance in Christian Education Sessions (Sunday School).