Resurrection Week

We are coming out of some of the most exciting days of ministry among churches and people since we were appointed as the State Bishop of Florida. While Paul said the last days would be perilous, they are also adventurous. Many churches reported that people were saved, baptized in water, received communions, expressed their servanthood by washing the saints’ feet, filled with the Holy Spirit, or joined our fellowship. Churches gathered to celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. They celebrated His ongoing work of intercession at His Father’s right hand on our behalf. Many pastors said they had record attendance. Truly, we are seeing Florida move Forward at one of the most exciting times of the year – Resurrection Week!
Scott Gillum
Florida State Bishop

Arcadia – Danny Hurlburt

God was extra good to us during this Easter season in Arcadia. As we commemorated and celebrated the passion of our Lord, there were multiple significant events. What stands out the most to me this season was our Communion and Feet Washing Service.

After we corporately received the Lord’s supper, we obeyed our Lord’s command in John 13 and washed one another’s feet. How happy we truly were as Holy Spirit moved among us in a very powerful way even in the restoring of relationships.

In our children’s church room, men, boys, young and old participated, wept, and prayed as they washed each other’s feet. Some for the first time. One man repented and rededicated his life to the Lord. In the sanctuary as our ladies washed each other’s feet they sang and prayed, there was even an interpretation of tongues. Also, there were words of knowledge and affirmation as the sweet presence of the Lord moved in an extended worship experience among our ladies and girls. As Jesus said in John 13:17(NASB) “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” All were truly blessed!

On Palm Sunday we had 92. Easter Sunday we were in the 70s. 70 participated in Communion and approximately 63 washed feet.

Apopka – Marco Dominguez

We ministered in and outside the church walls. We met with different individuals and families, and we were able to minister, encourage, and pray for them. It was amazing what God did in these moments that transpired this week. We saw God move in a unique way in every one of those meetings.

Easter Sunday. We had a special Easter Kids Church, where we had seven children who learned how God laid down his own life for us to bridge the gap caused by sin. They were excited to learn and receive it.

We had a great time of ministry in the service through the word many were touched. We had 10 visitors for Easter Sunday service and a great fellowship after service with an egg hunt for the kids.

God is moving in Apopka!

Bradenton – Marc Etienne

On our side at the Church of God of Prophecy of Bradenton, this period was marked in two parts.

the first part, it was Friday evening there we spoke about the seven words of Jesus on the cross, it was a way to allow believers to have a good understanding of Christian life, since the seven words are in fact a summary of our Christian life.

The second part was very early Sunday where we celebrated the importance of the resurrection. We also appreciated our leaders with rewards on these days of celebration for their commitment.

finally, we also had holy communion and foot washing

After this beautiful moment of celebration on the importance of resurrection preached by Bishop Marc Etienne, we also had a good moment of fellowship where we ate together.

Crescent City – Philip Hobbs

On Wednesday we showed the movie in our church called “Son of God.” It was a great way to focus our church on what the week was really all about. We had a wonderful turn out

On Good Friday we had service with praise & worship, and a great Word came forth that led us to place our cross at the altar. We then had our Pastoral Staff come and stand behind the cross and people came and stood in front of the cross. With the cross between us people began to come to the cross and we prayed for them. What a sweet Spirit of breakthrough for so many people.

Saturday morning, we had a free breakfast for the whole community and our advertising campaign must have worked because they came out in groves.

After breakfast we had an egg hunt and people could get their picture taken by a retired professional photographer, in front of our Easter Backdrop with or without the Easter Bunny. Then they could pick up a free 5×7 picture of themself on Easter Sunday morning if they wanted.

Wow, we had so many that came out for that event Saturday morning. There must have been 150-200 people.

Then on Easter Sunday morning we broke our attendance record. We had never had over 100 people in attendance at any 1 given service. We shattered that record with a total of 115 people in attendance for Easter Sunday morning.

We had a human video, 2 sign language songs, live praise & worship music, and the Word of God preached “What is Your All?”

The altars were full, and people were really praying and giving their all.

All in all, we had a total of 30 visitors and our people did such a phenomenal job of making them welcome and offering them places to sit with them. A couple of new families had said they had been looking for a church as they had just moved to the area.

Clermont (Faith Outreach Center) – Ronald Miller

We are still on a high after this weekend At Faith Outreach Ministry. Easter weekend was a great blessing, both Sunday and Friday were well attended. At our Good Friday service, we incorporated the Lord Supper and Washing of the Saints Feet. It was the first time for many to experience washing the saints’ feet you can just imagine how super excited they were. In the heights of the celebration, we had one older sister who testified of how she got saved in a Lord’s supper and feet washing service over 62 years ago. The fellowship and celebration were amazing to God be the glory.

For our Good Friday service, we had 48 attend and Sunday morning we had 53.

Daytona – Richard Roberts

I know this might seem small compared to others’ events that happened on Sunday, but to Richard and I, it was a big deal so I thought I’d share. We announced after service that we would engage in feet washing and baptisms and invited anyone that wanted to join was welcomed. We’re happy to report that 13 people engaged in feet washing and the thing that we were most excited about was of that 13, three of them were very eager children that ran up to me after service and excitedly said, “we want to get our feet washed too”.

It reminded me of when Jesus took the child and set him beside Him and told the disciples that unless they humbled themselves and became as the little children, they wouldn’t be able to enter heaven. Their excitement encouraged us and blessed us tremendously. We had 23 attending.

Del Ray Beach – Luc Loriston

Ordination of two ministers at the Good Friday Service, 87 attending. Resurrection Sunday we had 350 in attendance. We had a Revival before Easter with 1 saved.

Deland – Chris Miller

For the past three weeks we have had someone give their heart to Jesus! On Good Friday, we had a gathering in the front yard of the church giving praise and worship with signs while playing music on the speakers. We offered prayers and blessings to the community. Saturday some of us went to Walmart and shared Jesus and prayed with many.

At Easter we had 8 visitors! Dinner was served after our worship service. Chris and I attended our Spanish Church family service and we’re wonderfully blessed.

Gainesville (Westside) – Michael Parker

Our wonderful youth put on their very first play, depicting the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus.

With the direction of our youth leader, Sis Rachel Pisano and volunteers along with our youth members and several visiting youths of the families they did an excellent job of showing the last hours of Jesus’ life from the garden of Gethsemane to Pilate’s Hall to the cross and the beautiful Resurrection and ending with being seen of His decides, especially Thomas who wouldn’t believe until he touched the nail scars.

Then after the play, Pastor Mike Parker (myself) brought the Word to the church, passionately delivering every scripture from the Bible with the telling of the last supper and the importance of the Prayer at the garden of Gethsemane where the sins of the world were placed on the shoulders of Jesus where He was made sin for us, then on to the midnight trial, Pilots hall and Golgotha, the place of the skull.

Then told of two quiet followers of Jesus (Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus) who helped take Him down and buried Him. Oh, the wonderful heart felt and exciting telling of the Resurrection of our Savior!

Oh, it was a joyous day for all Bishop, we even had a new family come and told me they felt at home. They had been looking for a church where they felt love and not judgment. We give all praise and worship to the Lord Jesus for it all.

28 adults attended and 10 youth ranging from 18 to an infant. Pretty sure 38 in total. It was great seeing the building full.

Jacksonville (21st Street) – John Willis

Community Good Friday at R.E. Davis Park 100 attending. Resurrection Sunday – 100 attending. What an outstanding altar response where God met with each one!

Jacksonville (Clay Hill) – Billy Canterbury

We had a wonderful week leading up to Easter. Wednesday service our youth learn the importance of serving and served one another with a foot washing service. At the Good Friday service we had 50 in attendance, mostly teenagers.

We had a visual, and taught on Jesus’ suffering on the cross, and, had communion service. We allowed our teenagers to help serve and participate. It was a wonderful experience. God’s presence was truly there. Resurrection Sunday service was standing room only we had 170 in attendance with over 20 saved or rededicated to Christ large dinner afterwards was a wonderful day in the Lord God is so Good!!! Check out the service on YouTube type in Clay Hill COGOP

Key West – Jean Jean

We had a fantastic Resurrection Sunday. Children’s Choir, Ladies Choir, and many lives changed by the Gospel. We had 427 in attendance

Leesburg – Troy Vernon

We were blessed to have Bishop Gillum and Sister Brenda with us as they ministered to each of us with grace and truth. The Word of the Lord challenged us to progress from being in the omnipresence of God, to the manifest presence of God, to the Holy Place at the Mercy Seat, the transformational presence of God!!!

The Lord moved mightily in the hearts of the people as we were drawn in with love and called to live at deeper level of intimacy with the Lord. The children washed each other’s feet, shared in the Lord’s supper, prayed the prayer of repentance, and asked the Holy Spirit to fill them. We thank the Lord for all that He has done and look forward with expectation to next Sunday!! Good Friday – 25 attending. Resurrection Sunday – 74 attending.

Lehigh Acres – Wantworth Heron

We baptized 2. On the Good Friday service 125 attended and on Resurrection Sunday our attendance climbed to 155.

Moore Haven – Charity Martinez

We did a community Sunrise Service with over 125 in attendance

Ocala – JV. Sullivan

We had 110 in attendance yesterday and 2 saved! We also had a lady get saved on the 17th and 2 teens saved during youth meeting this month. We give God all the glory!!

Ormond Beach – James Davis

We had good service as several of us had family members with us that do not attend regularly so that was a true blessing. Pastor brought a great Resurrection Message. We are alive and well and pushing forward Bishop. We had 40 attend the Sunday services.

Palatka (Connect Church) – Allen Baggett

What a great Easter weekend as we celebrated Jesus! We started with a Drive-Thru Prayer event on Saturday and had the honor to pray with 3 individuals who needed prayer. We are so grateful to be able to tell others about the love of God and to share Jesus!

On Resurrection Sunday we had a wonderful attendance (105) as our praise team filled the room with songs about the Blood of Jesus!

The presence of God was with us during the message time and in the prayer time that followed. Hearts were eager to draw close to the Lord. What a great spirit in the church house on Resurrection Sunday!

Our hearts are overflowing with the goodness of the Lord. We are thankful for what God is doing @ Connect Church.

Sanford True Praise and Worship Center – Harrold Daniels

Good Friday, Communion and Feet Washing Service: 28 attending. Resurrection Sunday: 64. To God be the glory.

Sanford, Whole World Gospel Center – Shawn House

The presence of our Savior has been truly tangible during this precious Holy Week! We walked with Him through His passion for the world He so loved and gave His life for!

We started celebrating Palm Sunday with jubilee through a parade of palm leaves, welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem and every church attendee at the entrance.

We observed Communion and the Washing of the Saint’s Feet on Wednesday instead of Thursday since our eldest member, evangelist sister Hilda Overstreet had passed away, we had to make arrangements to hold her funeral at our local church.

We had a live Last Supper table with the Men’s Ministry and the Holy Spirit moved mightily in that service.

Resurrection Sunday we crowned the Lord with praise, worship, especial singing, praise dances, and a dramatization that conveyed a powerful message. Closing with a sermon on Silent Saturday and how we go through silent seasons where we don’t hear from God but afterwards God manifests Himself gloriously!

At the altar call, Holy Spirit ministered healing and mended broken hearts! He is surely alive and after celebrating the week that changed human history forever, He is more alive than ever in our hearts, our congregation, and in the gospel message we are responsible to convey to this desperate, fallen world.

Also, our children’s church had a especial program that attracted many visiting kids, we don’t glorify bunnies but they serve as an agent of bringing kids and young parents to church, and for that, we raise a hallelujah!!!

You may check our Facebook page.

Sunrise – Novel Wilson

We thank God for the opportunity to share what the Lord has done among us during Passion Week.

1. We have seen the best attendance since the Pandemic. We trust the Lord that this will continue.

2. Over the week, three people surrendered to the Lord.

3. Three people were baptized in water.

Our attendance was 189. This is coming from an average attendance of 110 just before Passion week.

Additionally, at the end of the service, I spoke with a family of 5. They told me that they have been searching for a church to call home for some time now and Sunrise looks like the place. To God be the glory. 

Tallahassee (Westway) – Lewellyn Mullins

Thanks be to God; we had a beautiful Easter Sunday service. We had a record attendance of fifty-five, and two made confession to follow Jesus. Also, on Palm Sunday we had two to join the church. We give all glory to the Lord. Please continue to pray for us.

Tampa (City of Praise) – Andrey Syrisko

On Saturday, we hosted an Evangelical event that placed a strong emphasis on engaging children. The day was filled with a variety of games and activities tailored for the kids, creating a joyful and energetic atmosphere. I had the privilege of preaching the Gospel and sharing the message of hope and faith with all in attendance. I am pleased to report that the event was a success, with over 120 individuals turning out to participate in the day’s festivities.

Our Resurrection Sunday drew a congregation of about 90 people. We experienced a wonderful time of worship, with new people coming together to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The message for the day was, “Blessed are those who have not seen but believe.”

Wellington – Godfrey Brown

We had a wonderful service. Sis Elain acted as a sign language interpreter for the song, by Sandi Patti – We Shall Behold Him, so a hearing-impaired child could know what was said. The smile on her face told it all, it was a blessing.

We had 28 in attendance, with 3 saying they wanted to make our church their home church.

West Park (Sure Foundation) – Arthur Wilson Jr.

God is really moving mightily in our services. Throughout this season, we have witnessed the transformative power of God’s work in the lives of our members and within our ministries.

Our Good Friday service was a beautiful time of reflection as we commemorated the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which included wonderful attendance from all the different age groups Equipping pastors to equip leaders for life 11 | P a g e

(youth, men, women, and children). Following the service, we gathered for a joyful fellowship at our Good Friday Fish Fry, which served as a testament to our shared faith.

The essence of Easter came alive during our Resurrection Sunday service, a jubilant celebration of Christ’s triumph over death. Our youth captivated hearts with their portrayal of the crucifixion and resurrection, while our children’s ministry beautifully conveyed the message of hope with their presentation of “Because He Lives.”

The festivities continued with an Easter Egg Hunt followed by photos with the Easter Bunny.

As a special touch, each attendee received a traditional Jamaican Easter treat of, “Bun and Cheese.”

Here are Facebook links to the play presented by the youth.
One Blood Part 1
One Blood Part 2