In retrospect, the concept of the West Broward Church of God came into being through the direction of the Holy Spirit and the mantle to lead such a great and noble task was assigned to an honorable servant, the late Bishop John P. Davidson. This outstanding pioneer of the Blessed Church of God along with his wife, the Reverend Camey Davidson, yielded in obedience to the divine assignment. The mission started in 1981 with a few members; however, it was re-registered in the state of Florida in 1995.

The church surpassed the hurdles as it grew numerically and spiritually to the extent that there was a great need for a bigger space of worship. The Lord provided and for several years 1200 NW 19th Street, Lauderdale Manor, Florida 33311 was the home for God’s people. Undoubtedly, Bishop John P. Davidson served the Church of God with great distinction and integrity until his untimely passing in the year of our Lord, 2001 while on vacation in his homeland, Jamaica.

Subsequent to the passing of Bishop Davidson, Bishop Maurice Anthony Clarke an experienced leader with excellent track record was selected to continue the mission. However, on the very day of their installation, he and his wife, First Lady, Annette Clarke, and the entire church were unceremoniously, abruptly, and rudely forced to leave the property. This was an extremely turbulent period for the church as the action was unexpectedly crude and unsettling, but behind this distasteful morass of human evil, God was with us as a people. Bishop Clarke concluded after the aftermath, “It was meant for evil, but God meant it for our good” (Genesis 50:20) and moreover, “all things work for good to those who loved God and are called by Him” (Romans 8:28).

During that difficult period the church went through a Nomadic pilgrimage, traversed between the twin cities of Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill. We had no fixed home for rest nor for the people to gather and worship. However, God stepped in right on time and consequently on September 2, 2001, the church had their first worship session at the Inverary hotel, now the Chateau Mar Golf Resort, 3501 Inverrary Boulevard, Lauderhill, FL 33319, which became our worship center for 2 years.

Furthermore, due to the quick eviction at 1200 NW 19th Street, Lauderdale Manor, we were left without any musical instruments or sounds of any type. However, we were able to purchase our first set of musical and sound equipment because of the diligence and consideration of Deacon Delbert Tapper and his encouraging wife, Lissette Tapper, who quickly provided the church with a soft loan of $8,000.00 interest-free. Although this loan was eventually repaid, we are ultimately unable to repay such a selfless and holy act.

The Inverrary experience was likened to that of the children of Israel as they travelled through the Red Sea. However, the congregation stood the test of time, and we can say that we adopted the message that Paul conveyed in Colossians 1:23 (AMP) “But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it”. Likewise, Proverbs 21:22 endorsed the steadfastness of the believers: “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.”

This church has evolved over the years and went through two name changes from West Broward Church of God to Grace Fellowship Center and then Central Light Grace Chapel and is presently located at 4760 N. State Rd 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319. Through the sacrificial generosity of God’s people and the provision from the Master, we were able to purchase the 8000 square feet property. The space consists of the sanctuary which can accommodate 300 persons, and the Deacon Ferdie Ivan Morgan Banquet Hall.

As the church transform and despite the hardship the lessons were potent and a strong testament that God was still in control. We will all agree with the proclamation by Sigmund Freud, "One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as beautiful years." And they were beautiful years, because the shepherd had keen ears to God’s directives, and he was cognizant that it was a season of preparation to embrace what was ahead. Isaiah 58:10 – 11 (MSG), “I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again”.

The vision of our church is explicitly interwoven into our understanding and adherence to the personal, power and passion of the Holy Spirit, the superintendent of the church. “Wherever He leads, we will follow”, furthermore, to operate a church that is Christ-centered, people-oriented and need-sensitive in all its programs and ministries. Likewise, the mission of the Church is to continue and preserve the full gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit and power of Pentecost (Acts 2), through specific attention to and emphasis on the centrality of God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15); world evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20), Ministerial development (Ephesians 4:11-13), Christian discipleship (1 Peter 2:2), Biblical stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30) , church growth (Acts 2: 42), church planting (Mark 16;15-16), family enrichment (Ephesian 5: 21-33) and servant leadership (John 13:1-17). The Great Commission is our mission.

The membership of Central Light has grown significantly as people from different socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds have become family of this blessed church. Our members and partners remain actively involved in the growth and development of the church. According to Acts 2:47b, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

As we examine the mettle of our church, celebrating the church's success is a recognition of God's faithfulness and His power at work among the believers. It also emphasizes the importance of unity and each member using their gifts, time and resources to build up the body of Christ. Celebrating growth is not just about numbers, but also about spiritual maturity, sacrificial service, and the impact of the church on the community.

We celebrate this journey together and we echo the sentiment that this is not an ordinary ministry, and we are no ordinary people. We belong to a church that its pillars are grounded on Righteousness, Gospel Truth, Spiritual and Values Formation, the Fruit of the Spirit, Fellowship, Discipleship, Worship and Evangelism. We are all agreeing that at the heart of Central Light Grace Chapel is the strong belief in the Triune God coupled with the leadership of a shepherd who exemplifies Godly confidence, soundness of character, wisdom, astuteness, and the powerful skills of an innovative visionary. His leadership skills are also complemented by his faithful and Godly wife who had her initial training at the University of Mount Calvary (of which she is still a student). At this University she was conferred with the Born-Again Degree, and it is obvious that she was allowed to do a double major in “Wisdom and Understanding” and “Work for the Night is Coming, When Man Can Work No More.” She is a John 9:4 leader and Central’s honorable Central Processing Unit (CPU).

The church is strategically placed and ministering to the needs of the people is at the heart of Central Light Grace Chapel. There is a common and relevant theory that says, it is crucial to minister to the social demands of people’s lives before you begin to Christianize them. A person who is hungry will be thinking about the next meal instead of listening to the preached word. Likewise, a single mother who is about to be evicted from her apartment will be wondering about the possibility and safety of a shelter as the day comes to an end. An immigrant who is caught up with the intricacies of the law will be pondering about the seriousness of deportation instead of focusing on the word. Therefore, God has raised up men and women who are filled with the Holy Spirit, who are insightful and compassionate about social hurts and woes of our people, which can be seen and felt through social intervention ministries, which seek to empower and uplift others. The effectiveness of this church is felt through Greater Fort Lauderdale and its environs. The projects are implemented through: Our Prayer and Fasting meetings, Bible Studies, Christian Education Department, the Dance Ministry, The Brother for Brother and the Women of Virtue Ministries. These ministries remain vibrant and active and provide a supportive community for God’s people to grow in their faith, deepen their relationship with their Maker, and develop into Godly leaders in their homes, church, and communities. The church continues to be a major source of development for God’s people.

To our new converts, new members, guests and visitors and those without a church home if you are looking for a strong church, don’t look at the same superficial or subjective features that everyone else looks for. At Central Light we exemplify that the gospel changes lives and this is manifested in sound doctrine, Godly leaders, compelling mission and vision, Biblical preaching and teaching, unified standards, and a loving and caring community. We are totally sold out about reverence to the gospel.

Central Light Grace Chapel revere the words of David as he speaks in Psalm 40:2-3 “ He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings”.3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”