Picture this. You are standing before the Full Gospel Assembly in Crown Heights Brooklyn. This unassuming building on Sullivan Place holds a powerful history. Founded on October 1 1978 by Reverend Michael Bacchus Assistant Pastor Jesse Persuad and Brother Colin Wronge it began humbly. Their first service was held in a Long Island University classroom. Prayer meetings took place in a friend’s basement on East 46th Street in Brooklyn.
The Full Gospel Assembly quickly outgrew these spaces. The congregation moved to a YMCA building on Flatbush Avenue. In 1980 a significant milestone arrived. They purchased their first building for $90000. Remarkably they paid off the mortgage just three years later a testament to their faith and community support.
Growth continued. In 1985 the Full Gospel Christian Academy opened its doors. It started small with six students one paid teacher and a volunteer. Over the years the academy thrived. It served children from pre-K to 5th grade. Unfortunately economic challenges forced the closure of the upper grades in 2012.
The Full Gospel Assembly’s influence extended beyond its walls. In 1986 a team of 45 members embarked on their first international mission trip to Guyana. They ministered in Georgetown and Linden for two weeks. Similar missions followed in Barbados in 1991.
The congregation’s expansion necessitated a larger space. They purchased land on Sullivan Place. They constructed a new sanctuary to serve the Crown Heights area especially the Ebbetts Field Complex. The new building opened its doors on December 13 1998. Another remarkable achievement was realized in 2010. The mortgage on the Sullivan Place facility was paid off celebrated with a joyous mortgage burning service.
The Full Gospel Assembly also established a Queens campus in 2011. It started in a banquet hall but eventually acquired a Lutheran church in Richmond Hill. Reverend Jonnel and Aisha Doris were appointed to lead this ministry.
The Full Gospel Assembly stands as a testament to faith perseverance and community. Its journey from a small classroom to a thriving church with a second campus is inspiring. It shows the power of collective belief and dedication. This building isn’t just bricks and mortar it’s a living embodiment of a powerful story of faith and growth. It’s a place where history unfolds daily. It continues to serve as a beacon of hope for generations.