Updated July 2009

CONNECT WITH CHURCH OF GOD

   The Church of God is the oldest Major Pentecostal Movement and was  organized in Monroe County, Tennessee in August 19, 1886 with eight members. It was called The Christian Union and Richard Spurling was appointed pastor. In 1896 it experienced its first outpouring of the Holy Ghost at the Shearer Schoolhouse in Cherokee County, North Carolina when over 100 received the baptism in the Holy Ghost and speak with other tongues. In 1902 a simple plan of government was adopted, and its name was changed to The Holiness Church. In 1907 it was changed to The Church of God. In 1909 the Office of General Overseer was instituted and  A. J. Tomlinson was elected the first to this office.

    In 1909, Edmond S. Barr, a native of The Bahamas, attended the autumn Camp meeting in Pleasant Grove, Florida, and with his wife, Rebecca, received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The Barrs were appointed ministers in the Church of God with Rebecca holding the distinction as being the first female minister in the Church of God. Understandingly he wanted to return to his homeland and tell his countrymen the good news of the full Gospel. Robert M. Evans, a retired Methodist minister, also became concerned about The Bahamas, Evans raised the money to send the Barrs back home and promised to follow. The Barrs arrived back in Nassau on November 1909, hence becoming the first person to take the Church of God message outside USA and the first Mission endeavor of the Church of God. This marked the beginning of World Missions of the Church of God. Evans sold all of his possessions and brought a wagon and a team of mules. He and his wife Ida drove to Miami, where he sold the wagon and mules and bought tickets to The Bahamas. On January 4, 1910, the Evans along with Carl M. Padgett landed at Nassau and became the first missionaries to represent the Church of God abroad

When the Evans met the Barrs, they were busy spreading the gospel on street corners and highways, but it was not properly organized until 1910 in Bain Town with Arabella Eneas being its first documented convert. Shortly afterwards her husband, W. V. Eneas was converted, he started a work in his home, and later moved to the Camp ground in Hospital Lane, which became the first headquarters for the Church of God.. Bishop Eneas was appointed the first minister outside the U.S.A. in the Church of God. In 1911, the General Overseer, A. J. Tomlinson led a group from Cleveland, Tennessee, making visits to New Providence, Ragged Island, Long Island and Exuma organizing churches in these Islands. In 1913 Carl M. Padgett moved into Abacos, and in July 19, started the Church at Green Turtle Cay, Abaco.  We had two major splits, one in 1923, which resulted in the formation the Church of God of Prophecy, and the other in 1965 when the Highway Church of God in The Bahamas was formed. Because the Green Turtle Cay Church remained faithful to the Church of God, Cleveland Tennessee during the splits, it holds the distinction of being the longest continuing church outside the USA. In 1954 the Church of God was incorporated by an Act of Parliament with Bishop M. W. Patterson, W.V. Eneas, W.R. Franks and P. H. Patton were the original trustees of the Church. The Church was under the oversight of Colonial or Missionary Overseer with Bishop Eneas and Bishop Franks served during times of difficulties. However in 1972, The Bahamas became indigenous and self supporting, when Bishop William M. Johnson was appointed as the first National Overseer. He completed the expansion of the National Office Church of God with the formation of the Convention Centre and Evans-Barr Theological Institute. He served until 1998 and upon his retirement, the process of appointing National Overseer was introduced. Bishop Neville E Hart succeeded him and was the first Overseer to be appointed via the preference vote taken every assembly or two years. He served for four years and was succeeded in 2002 by Bishop John N. Humes, who is the present Overseer as we enter this centennial year of 2009. There are 68 local churches and two missions in The Bahamas with a following of over ten thousands. The Church of God was instrumental in the establishing of the Assemblies of God and other Pentecostal denominations, hence started the Pentecostal movement in The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands; making this year the centennial of this movement.

Turks and Caicos Islands

In 1932, when the work was organized in the Turks and Caicos as the New Testament Church of God, it was placed under The Bahamas and remained until 1940, when it was placed under Jamaica. In 1962 it returned under The Bahamas unto this day. There are 11 local churches and two missions and a following of over two thousands.  

With the two countries, there are over 78 local churches and 4 missions with a following of over 12 thousands. It is made up of 15 Districts, 12 in The Bahamas and 3 in The Turks and Caicos Islands, each district is under the supervision of a District Overseer.

Today the Church of God is in over 169 Countries around the world and remains committed to the total evangelization of the world and to obeying Christ in fulfilling the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19 

Academy to be Restructured in September