How it all started...
On September 1, 1992, 35 believers met along with Rev. Dr. Kirk T. Houston Sr. to consider the propriety of organizing a new fellowship of believers. After prayer and deliberation group agreed to the establishment of the “Fellowship” under the name Gethsemane Community Fellowship. The fellowship was not referred to as a “church” at the time because in the Baptist tradition a newly organized fellowship of believers must be approved and set apart by the local Baptist association or Baptist ministers conference. On December 29, 1993 Gethsemane was set apart as a Baptist Church by representative clergy of the Tidewater Metro Baptist Ministers Conference.
The church embraced as its Mission: To reach out to people with the saving power and love of Jesus Christ and to build them up in the faith.
The mission would be accomplished by praising the Lord through worship, proclaiming the gospel through evangelism, petitioning the Lord through prayer, providing for the needs of the church and community through missions/outreach and preparing the believers for Christian life and service through Christian Education and discipleship.
The church embraced as its vision:
• To foster a Christian ministry and culture that honors and glorifies God, build healthy relationships, and promote Christians values.
• To work in partnership with human services agencies, programs and institutions that improves the quality of human life, promotes community betterment, and provide educational services.
• To provide ministry to ex-offenders that will assist them and their families in becoming healthy, productive, Christian citizens.
• To provide individual and family counseling through the GCFBC Counseling Center
The formative years of the church were focused on establishing a strong doctrinal foundation, developing the infrastructure of the church, and building the leadership team. During the first month of existence of the church we were blessed to secure a lease with the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Westhaven community of Portsmouth. This afforded us a stable place to worship, build our resources and mature as a community of faith. During this period many of our meetings and ministries were hosted in the homes of the members which fostered closely knitted relationships of familial love and support. In addition to the establishment and maintenance of the six main areas of the ministry focus we were blessed with the opportunity to minister to students from Norfolk State University and that would eventually become one of our signature ministries.
After 5 years (1992 – 1997) the Lord provided a permanent place for the ministry at 1317 E. Brambleton Ave. The building had been previously been the office of a well-known civil rights attorney, Mr. James Gay. We purchased the building in July 1997 and occupied it in December 1997. At that time, the ministry had grown from 35 members to approximately 150 worshippers. Over the next seven years (1998 -2005) the church experienced powerful growth and expansion in the following areas:
• Formalizing the college ministry and partnership with Norfolk State University.
• The implementation of the Joshua Ministry (ministry to formally incarcerated men and women).
• Ministry to the children of the church and community through VBS.
• The acquisition of 5 adjacent lots (where our new edifice would eventually be built).
• Increased growth that required an additional Sunday worship service.
• The construction of a 9,000 sq.ft. addition that included a 500-seat sanctuary, children’s nursery, administrative suite, and classrooms.
After moving into the new edifice, the church experienced 10 years (2005 – 2015) of explosive growth in members, ministries, and community impact. This period would include:
• The implementation of a 2-year emerging leaders institute (Foundation of Faith).
• The development of a social and personal development ministry for middle and high school aged boys and girls (Alpha Omega and Theta Chi).
• The launching of our Community Development Corporation (The Garden of Hope).
• The physical expansion of the church to include training space and offices for the Garden of Hope.
• The expansion of the sanctuary through the addition of the balcony and enlargement of the lower-level seating and pulpit area.
• The addition of full-time and part-time staff.
• The hosting of many community events, forums and programs.
In 2015, after a review of the vision the leadership agreed that we had fulfilled the objective of that vision and we embraced as our new vision that our highest aspiration is: 8
Saved Souls- We will minister in the spirit of the Great Commission by developing and executing strategies to equip and engage every member and ministry of the church in becoming committed soul winners.
Devoted Disciples-We will train and equip members of the body of Christ to live our Christian calling through the Love of the Lord Jesus Christ, knowledge of the scriptures, compassion for humanity and lives of Christian service.
Strong Families-We will provide ministries and programs that empower individuals to build strong families that reflect God’s design, based upon biblical values and principles.
Healthy Communities-We will provide comprehensive services and programs through the church and Garden of Hope Inc. that will assist in producing thriving people living healthy lifestyles in vibrant community.
The history of Gethsemane is a continued work in progress as we seek to live out God’s divine calling upon the life of this extension of the body of Christ. We remain a healthy, vibrant, purposeful church that strives to remain committed to the principles and practices of the New Testament Church.
The history of Gethsemane is a continued work in progress as we seek to live out God’s divine calling upon the life of this extension of the body of Christ. We remain a healthy, vibrant, purposeful church that strives to remain committed to the principles and practices of the New Testament Church.
The church embraced as its Mission: To reach out to people with the saving power and love of Jesus Christ and to build them up in the faith.
The mission would be accomplished by praising the Lord through worship, proclaiming the gospel through evangelism, petitioning the Lord through prayer, providing for the needs of the church and community through missions/outreach and preparing the believers for Christian life and service through Christian Education and discipleship.
The church embraced as its vision:
• To foster a Christian ministry and culture that honors and glorifies God, build healthy relationships, and promote Christians values.
• To work in partnership with human services agencies, programs and institutions that improves the quality of human life, promotes community betterment, and provide educational services.
• To provide ministry to ex-offenders that will assist them and their families in becoming healthy, productive, Christian citizens.
• To provide individual and family counseling through the GCFBC Counseling Center
The formative years of the church were focused on establishing a strong doctrinal foundation, developing the infrastructure of the church, and building the leadership team. During the first month of existence of the church we were blessed to secure a lease with the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Westhaven community of Portsmouth. This afforded us a stable place to worship, build our resources and mature as a community of faith. During this period many of our meetings and ministries were hosted in the homes of the members which fostered closely knitted relationships of familial love and support. In addition to the establishment and maintenance of the six main areas of the ministry focus we were blessed with the opportunity to minister to students from Norfolk State University and that would eventually become one of our signature ministries.
After 5 years (1992 – 1997) the Lord provided a permanent place for the ministry at 1317 E. Brambleton Ave. The building had been previously been the office of a well-known civil rights attorney, Mr. James Gay. We purchased the building in July 1997 and occupied it in December 1997. At that time, the ministry had grown from 35 members to approximately 150 worshippers. Over the next seven years (1998 -2005) the church experienced powerful growth and expansion in the following areas:
• Formalizing the college ministry and partnership with Norfolk State University.
• The implementation of the Joshua Ministry (ministry to formally incarcerated men and women).
• Ministry to the children of the church and community through VBS.
• The acquisition of 5 adjacent lots (where our new edifice would eventually be built).
• Increased growth that required an additional Sunday worship service.
• The construction of a 9,000 sq.ft. addition that included a 500-seat sanctuary, children’s nursery, administrative suite, and classrooms.
After moving into the new edifice, the church experienced 10 years (2005 – 2015) of explosive growth in members, ministries, and community impact. This period would include:
• The implementation of a 2-year emerging leaders institute (Foundation of Faith).
• The development of a social and personal development ministry for middle and high school aged boys and girls (Alpha Omega and Theta Chi).
• The launching of our Community Development Corporation (The Garden of Hope).
• The physical expansion of the church to include training space and offices for the Garden of Hope.
• The expansion of the sanctuary through the addition of the balcony and enlargement of the lower-level seating and pulpit area.
• The addition of full-time and part-time staff.
• The hosting of many community events, forums and programs.
In 2015, after a review of the vision the leadership agreed that we had fulfilled the objective of that vision and we embraced as our new vision that our highest aspiration is: 8
Saved Souls- We will minister in the spirit of the Great Commission by developing and executing strategies to equip and engage every member and ministry of the church in becoming committed soul winners.
Devoted Disciples-We will train and equip members of the body of Christ to live our Christian calling through the Love of the Lord Jesus Christ, knowledge of the scriptures, compassion for humanity and lives of Christian service.
Strong Families-We will provide ministries and programs that empower individuals to build strong families that reflect God’s design, based upon biblical values and principles.
Healthy Communities-We will provide comprehensive services and programs through the church and Garden of Hope Inc. that will assist in producing thriving people living healthy lifestyles in vibrant community.
The history of Gethsemane is a continued work in progress as we seek to live out God’s divine calling upon the life of this extension of the body of Christ. We remain a healthy, vibrant, purposeful church that strives to remain committed to the principles and practices of the New Testament Church.
The history of Gethsemane is a continued work in progress as we seek to live out God’s divine calling upon the life of this extension of the body of Christ. We remain a healthy, vibrant, purposeful church that strives to remain committed to the principles and practices of the New Testament Church.
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