In July of 1982 at our annual State convention, Bishop Eugene Johnson appointed Brother Mark Berry to a new field mission in Deerfield Beach for the possibility of getting a church organized and functioning in the area.

Brother Berry, a licensed deacon at the Hallandale Church of God of Prophecy under the leadership of Bishop Arthur Wilson, Sr., and his wife, Sister Sharon Berry, left their place of worship and went into an unknown field. They were new in the ministry and without any pastoral training.

Although Sister Berry knew from growing up as a pastor's daughter the hardships, struggles and burdens of the ministry, she never discouraged her husband, but became an unmovable source beside him, and gave up directorship of the South Florida Mass Choir in order to have more time to work with her husband in canvassing the Deerfield Beach area and building their ministry.

After the convention in 1982, Bishop Curry, from the Cayman Islands, informed Brother Moses Mullings about Brother Berry's appointment to the mission field in Deerfield Beach. Without hesitation Brother Mullings called the District Overseer, Bishop George Knowles, who gave him brother Berry's telephone number. Brother Mullings told brother Berry that he was willing to work with him and he knew of others who would too.

Legion Hall

After scouting the area for a place of worship, the Lord blessed Brother & Sister Berry to rent the American Legion Hall located at 191 S.E. 2nd Terrace in Deerfield for that purpose.

The first service for the mission was held on October 1, 1982. The Lord blessed Brother and sister Berry, Bishop Walter Smith Sr. and his wife sister Elizabeth Smith not to be alone on the first attempt to start a work for the Lord in Deerfield. Instead they were met by Brother Moses Mullings and Sister Earnestine Mullings, Brother Clarence Oldacre and Sister Oldacre and their daughter Michelle. The work started with nine (9) in the morning service. Sister Sheila Hamilton and Sister Lorna Kirlew came to the evening service, which gave a total of eleven for the day. read more »