HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

In 1978, the Newark Haitian Church of God was established, with Jean-Pericles Francois serving as the first pastor. The inaugural service was officiated by Sister Previlent. This marked just the beginning of the church, supported by its pioneers, including Sis. Marie Joseph Francois, the wife of the former pastor, Sis. Antoinette Guerrier, Sr. Elcie Laroche, and others. Initially, the church was located on Lyons Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. In 1986, the church did not wait for the anticipated time to grow and suddenly moved to its current location at 322 Sanford Avenue, Newark, New Jersey, in the previous building. This does not imply that the church did not face challenges; however, one thing is certain: God’s love has always remained with this church. Despite the difficulties, the growth of the church has been remarkable. Throughout its history, the church has been led by several pastors, including Pastor Jean-Pericles Francois (1978-1990), Reverend Lazaire (1990-1994), Reverend Paulen (1994-1996), Reverend Jacques Francois (1996-2006), and the current pastor, Bishop Wesner Pepe (2006-present). The church continued to gain members and support, and in 2014, under the collaboration of every member, it was decided to renovate the entire building. This renovation initiative commenced on September 1, 2017, and concluded in November 2018. The church celebrated the 5th anniversary of the new building on November 26, 2023. Today, the Newark Haitian Church of God remains strong, supported by the Church of God ministry. As David expresses in Psalm 118:23, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”