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 The Gainesville District was brought into existence in the early 1900s by the founders of the Church of God by Faith, Inc. (COGBF), Elder John Bright and his brother, Crawford Bright, Elder Aaron Matthews, Daddy and Mother Nathaniel Scippio, and Elder Hubert Steadman. In addition, many Evangelists and Ministers ventured into towns and cities establishing churches throughout the counties of Alachua, Columbia, Lafayette, Levy, Union, and Putman. The first two headquarter locations of the COGBF, Inc. were established on the Gainesville District. In 1919 the Headquarters was in Palatka, Florida. In 1922 a General Assembly was held in Alachua, Florida and the four Leading Elders drafted the Charter of the COGBF, Inc. The General Assembly continued to convene in Alachua until December 1941, when it was moved to Ocala, Florida.
Some of the first churches on the Gainesville District were Alachua, Bronson, Gainesville, Hawthorne, High Springs, Newnans Lake, Palatka, Raleigh, and Williston. Elder Griffin Kemp was the District’s first Superintendent. He also served as Moderator of the COGBF. Superintendents serving after Elder Kemp were Elder E.T. Taylor, Elder Donaldson Henry, Elder Charles A. McKnight, Elder Walter Camps, and Elder James Williams. Superintendent James Williams has served in this capacity since his appointment in December 1969. The District continued to expand as our forefathers and many women of God went from town to town preaching the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Other churches were established in Archer, Branford, East Palatka, Fairbanks, Hopewell, Interlachen, Jerusalem, Keystone Heights and Newberry.
Elder T. A. Middleton founded the church at Jerusalem in 1950 in the community of Monteocha. The number of church congregations grew to 20 in the 1960s. The church at Keystone Heights was started when fifteen people from the community got saved at a month long revival at Hawthorne COGBF. On September 26, 1965 Elder Walter Camps served as Keystone’s first Pastor and Elder James Hutchinson as Assistant Pastor. The church at East Palatka was started as a result of the efforts of Mother Freddie Mae Harrington along with the assistance of other District Ministers. A church was also established in Lake Butler due to the mission efforts of Mother Sarah Jane Holmes.
The church at Starke was started when Elder James McKnight, Jr. and his family set out to establish a mission in the Starke community. God honored their faith and today, the church at Starke is a thriving and prosperous congregation.
The Gainesville District continued to grow in membership and in unity, making it one of the largest districts in the COGBF organization. In 1989, the Florida Districts were re-organized and five churches (East Palatka, Hawthorne, Keystone Heights, Interlachen, and Palatka) were reassigned to the newly formed Palatka District. This was not a pleasant time for us, but we accepted it as a sign of progress.
The latest church formed on the Gainesville District is the Mission in Lake City, Florida. It was started in 1997 when the Lord moved upon Elder Jackie Reynolds, Sr. and his wife to begin a work in that community. After working with the mission and maintaining his local Pastorate at Newberry, Elder Reynolds relinquished the work to Elder Joseph Dix in 1998. Elder Dix, Deacon Dennis Hutchinson and others have worked faithfully with the mission. They obtained, renovated and dedicated a place of worship. The mission continues to grow as they minister in the Lake City community. The Gainesville District consists of the following churches:
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