Bricktown Gospel Fellowship...more History
History
We are the first church plant of Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship, New York. Senior Pastor, Carl Johnson, and the leadership of the then New City Gospel Fellowship had a vision to one day launch a daughter church. As that congregation prayed and moved forward to fulfill the vision, the nearby Village of Haverstraw surfaced as an area in need of a ministry unlike the ones already home to that community. Haverstraw is home to a predominately Spanish-speaking population, mostly Puerto Rican and Dominican, along with Mexicans, Ecuadorians, and other Central and South American ethnicities.
In 2001, after spending the previous six years as a full-time Assistant Pastor at New City, Pastor Tim was chosen to pioneer the work in Haverstraw. The first year was spent meeting weekly with a core group in the Pastor's home for Bible Studies. This time was also spent searching the Village for a potential church site. The group was already getting involved in various neighborhood outreaches and "compassion ministry". Pastor Tim was meeting residents and making important connections with Village businesses and leaders.
After looking at a number of facilities in the area, a banquet hall, "Terrace on the Hudson" (State Route 9W), was finally rented on Sundays for public worship. Our "Grand Opening" was on Easter Sunday in 2002, with over 300 in attendance. Sunday worship services would continue at this first site for five years with attendance of 125-140. The original church name, Haverstraw Gospel Fellowship, was changed after two years when we incorporated under the new name, Bricktown Gospel Fellowship. Commercial office space was eventually rented in addition to the meeting hall, placing us visibly in the central business district.
The downtown locations (2 years on Main St. and 2 years on New Main) along with our relational approach and missional model proved to be an effective combination. The church has enjoyed unusual favor and impact in the Village. We took the initiative in meeting felt needs outside the church, using a "no strings attached" approach. Our goal, however, became to combine our clerical operations and worship assemblies under one roof. We continued to search for real estate in the Village that could be purchased.
In 2007, a vacant church building became available in our neighborhood. We rented the building for two years, moving all of our functions and offices to our present location at 17 Rockland Street. By faith, we invested in many building improvements and, in our third year there, we purchased the site - Hallelujah! Although we lost the visibility enjoyed at the banquet hall location, it has been a tremendous blessing to be able to keep any schedule we want, while gaining equity instead of renting. The group has matured in worship...leaders have been developing...and the Lord is leading us in new ways to reach out and keep growing!
We are the first church plant of Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship, New York. Senior Pastor, Carl Johnson, and the leadership of the then New City Gospel Fellowship had a vision to one day launch a daughter church. As that congregation prayed and moved forward to fulfill the vision, the nearby Village of Haverstraw surfaced as an area in need of a ministry unlike the ones already home to that community. Haverstraw is home to a predominately Spanish-speaking population, mostly Puerto Rican and Dominican, along with Mexicans, Ecuadorians, and other Central and South American ethnicities.
In 2001, after spending the previous six years as a full-time Assistant Pastor at New City, Pastor Tim was chosen to pioneer the work in Haverstraw. The first year was spent meeting weekly with a core group in the Pastor's home for Bible Studies. This time was also spent searching the Village for a potential church site. The group was already getting involved in various neighborhood outreaches and "compassion ministry". Pastor Tim was meeting residents and making important connections with Village businesses and leaders.
After looking at a number of facilities in the area, a banquet hall, "Terrace on the Hudson" (State Route 9W), was finally rented on Sundays for public worship. Our "Grand Opening" was on Easter Sunday in 2002, with over 300 in attendance. Sunday worship services would continue at this first site for five years with attendance of 125-140. The original church name, Haverstraw Gospel Fellowship, was changed after two years when we incorporated under the new name, Bricktown Gospel Fellowship. Commercial office space was eventually rented in addition to the meeting hall, placing us visibly in the central business district.
The downtown locations (2 years on Main St. and 2 years on New Main) along with our relational approach and missional model proved to be an effective combination. The church has enjoyed unusual favor and impact in the Village. We took the initiative in meeting felt needs outside the church, using a "no strings attached" approach. Our goal, however, became to combine our clerical operations and worship assemblies under one roof. We continued to search for real estate in the Village that could be purchased.
In 2007, a vacant church building became available in our neighborhood. We rented the building for two years, moving all of our functions and offices to our present location at 17 Rockland Street. By faith, we invested in many building improvements and, in our third year there, we purchased the site - Hallelujah! Although we lost the visibility enjoyed at the banquet hall location, it has been a tremendous blessing to be able to keep any schedule we want, while gaining equity instead of renting. The group has matured in worship...leaders have been developing...and the Lord is leading us in new ways to reach out and keep growing!