ABOUT US

Refuge Church Gainesville Brief Church History

 

DISTRICT ELDER FRAISER WILLIAMS, JR., PASTOR WILLIAMS  AS  HE  was  KNOWN  IN  THE  COMMUNITY  CAME  TO  GAINESVILLE IN 1993 TO  ESTABLISH  A  CHURCH FULLY POSITIONED  ON  THE  APOSTLES  DOCTRINE AND  TEACHINGS AND to  WIN  SOULS  FOR THE  BODY  OF  CHRIST.  THAT CHURCH IS THIS CHURCH. WE ARE A PART OF THE FLORIDA ECCLESIASTICAL DIOCESE (FED) AND AFFILIATED WITH THE CHURCH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST OF THE APOSTOLIC FAITH, INC. (COOLJC)

 

The first services were held at TB McPherson on the South East side of Gainesville before moving to the present location.

 

PASTOR WILLIAMS and his congregation, the Griffin and Blount Families and several saints from Jacksonville, participated in a local prayer / preaching service called Saturday Night live which took place at Mom’s Kitchen and the adjacent streets around 5th avenue.

Pastor Williams UNSELFISHLY TRAVELED THE BUSY HIGHWAYS YEAR AFTER YEAR TO DELIVER GODS WORD, and the church grew. 

 

Many families and individuals came and joined the church thru the years, families of different races, social economic backgrounds and levels of educations, some stayed and some moved on. However, that did not stop the work of God. Pastor Always encouraged the congregation to go out among the people and bid them to come. The church motto is "The harvest Begins With Me."

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In 2010 for his faithfulness, Pastor Williams was elevated to the office of District Elder.

 

Although small in number we were always reminded that it was not the number of members in the church, but how the church impacted the community and that we could do anything that we put our minds to as long as we keep God first. Because of this mine set, the church was purchased and paid for in full years before the note became due.  We also purchased the adjacent land.

 

In October of 2011, Our Dearly beloved founder was called from labor to reward, but we must keep the light of salvation burning in this community and we know God will be with us each step of the way. After the demise of Pastor Williams, our Diocesan Prelate, Bishop M. Ruel McCoy, Sr. became our pastor. He has enthusiastically embraced the vision and enhanced the work of our founder. Subsequently we have paid off the church van, remolded the church sanctuary, purchased new chairs, and installed central heat and air. To God Be The Glory! 

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Greater Refuge Memorial Church, 596 West Church Street, Orlando, FL 32805

Headquarters

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Refuge Church, 601 NW 2nd Street, Gainesville, FL 32601

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Refuge Church, 25200 SR 46, Sorrento, FL 32776

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Refuge Church, 3750 Washington Street, Sanford, FL 32771

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Refuge Church Webster, 588 SE 7th Street, Webster, FL 33597

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City of Refuge Mission, Daytona Beach 32117

Home Bible Studies

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Straightway Church of Christ, 37 Market Street, New Haven, CT 06513

Pastored by Bishop McCoy in the Northern Connecticut Diocese