OUR CHURCH HISTORY

Bishop Anthony W. Gilyard

Jurisdictional Oversight: Since March 26, 2021, Bishop Gilyard has served as the Jurisdictional Prelate of the Southwestern Florida Jurisdiction COGIC. In this capacity, he manages missions and churches in various cities throughout the Florida Region

Local Leadership in Dade City: The Church of God in Christ Dade City was historically led by Superintendent Mitchell Davis, Jr., who served the district for approximately 37 years before his passing. Following this transition, Bishop Gilyard, in his role as Prelate, served as interim Pastor and appointed Elder Aaron Hayes, Sr. as the Pastor-Designate for the Dade City church in September 2024.

Current Pastoral Roles: Bishop Gilyard is the Senior Pastor and Founder of Bethlehem Judah Christian Fellowship COGIC in New Jersey (established in 2002) and currently serves as the Pastor of Brown Memorial Church of God in Christ in Tampa, Florida

Mitchell Davis Jr.

Administrative Assistant of SWFLJ COGIC

Superintendent of Dade City District

 Pastor of  COGIC Dade City

1983-2025

Pastor Davis was appointed Pastor of The Church Of God In Christ in Dade City, Florida, by the late Bishop W. E. Davis in 1983. He became the Superintendent of the newly formed Dade City District in 1986. He also served as one of the Administrative Assistants to the late Bishop Matthew Williams. On May 13, 1972, Superintendent Emeritus Davis married Mrs. Mitchell Davis, Jr., in Pensacola, Florida.  Superintendent Emeritus Mitchell Davis Jr. transitioned from this life on April 24, 2025.  

Bishop W. E. Davis

Founding Bishop of Jurisdiction OF Southwestern Florida COGIC (1st in Succession)

Former  Pastor of  COGIC Dade City

1902 – 1997

Bishop W. E. Davis was born in 1902 in Madison, Florida. He lived to be 95 years old. In 1949, Bishop Davis moved to Tampa, Florida. In 1964, he became the Pastor of College Hill Church of God In Christ and continued to pastor there for 33 years. He was the founder of the Jurisdiction of Southwestern Florida Church of God in Christ, which presently consists of 50 churches.

Bishop Davis organized missions in several Florida cities: Pensacola, Milton, Munson, Midway, Sanford, St. Petersburg, Dade City and Tampa. He also led churches in Alabama – Montgomery and Tuscaloosa.

Coupled with Bishop Davis’ outstanding leadership abilities was his noteworthy academic training. He completed correspondence courses at the Cincinnati Bible Publishing School, the Voice of Prophecy and Action Bible Study of the New York Theological Seminary.

Bishop Davis was a devout Christian, a leader in the city of Tampa, Florida and an advocate of Citizenship and faithful adherence to the teachings of the Bible.