As God called Robert James Kintchen, Jr. to proclaim the word, he also borne in him a fellowship that would be a beacon to the lost and a warm welcome to the needy.
Elder Robert J. Kintchen, Jr., ordained by the Church of God in Christ, was led to establish Christ Fellowship Church of God in Christ in 2001. The first meeting of Christ Fellowship COGIC was held on Sunday, November 18, 2001 in a meeting room at Parkway East Housing Development in the city of Pompano Beach, Florida. A friend, Leroy Tillman, was the manager at Parkway East and arranged for the group to meet in the complex. Shortly afterward, on November 29, 2001, Christ Fellowship was incorporated.
The first service was attending by nineteen (19) people, including the following adults: Elder Robert J. Kintchen, Jr., Mrs. Goldie Kintchen (his wife), Deacon James Chambers, Mrs. Mary Chambers, Mr. Herman Bowles, Sr., Mrs. Pearlie Bowles, Mr. Joshua Bowles, Deacon Clifford H. Durden, Jr., Mother Brenda H. Durden, Deacon Leroy Tillman, Mrs. Elizabeth Tillman, Ms. Cozetta Gilbert, and Mr. Patrick Mosely. The children in attendance were: Jeremiah Kintchen, Jolanda Bowles, Milik Mosely, Tanique Hightower, Danique Hightower, and Daniel Hightower.
The small congregation worshiped at Parkway East for approximately one month. Due to the growth of the congregation, in December of 2001, it was necessary to move the services from the meeting room at Parkway East to the Chorus Room at Blanche Ely High School (also located in Pompano Beach). During our tenure at Blanche Ely High School, Mr. Robert Kintchen, Sr. and his wife Mrs. Grenda Kitchen joined our family of worshipers. The ministry continued to grow by leaps and bounds. As a result, one year later, in December of 2002, another move was necessary. To the glory of God, Mr. Robert Kintchen, Sr. had a friend by the name of Pat Degotto who allowed us to use his building located at 2112 East Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach. Mr. Pat was kind enough to allow us to hold our services in his building free of charge.
Our mission to provide the means, place, and atmosphere to win souls to Christ became more and more evident as Pastor Kintchen’s vision to provide a holistic approach for the body of Christ began to take form. As a result, many active ministries and auxiliaries were added to our fellowship. Some of which included a strong and vital men and women’s department, a dynamic youth ministry, a robust outreach services, and a weekly bible study program. The first appointed officers of Christ Fellowship Church of God in Christ were:
Robert Kintchen, Jr. – Pastor; Goldie Kintchen – First Lady and Hospitality Chairperson; Brenda H. Durden – Church Mother; Leroy Tillman – Chairman Deacon; Virginia Parks – Choir Director; Yvonne Derico – Vice President of Choir; Mary Chambers – Women’s Department Chairperson; Clifford H. Durden – Men’s Department Chairperson; James Chambers – Sunday School Teacher; Lizzie Graham – Youth Leader; Pearlie Bowles – Usher Board Chairperson; Elizabeth Tillman – Church Secretary and Sunday School Superintendent; Robert Kintchen, Sr. – Male Chorus Director; and Grenda Kintchen – Church Announcer.
As we began to offer new ministries through our auxiliary programs our congregation continued to grow. In April of 2005, we had to look for another location to hold our services. After much prayer, the Lord led Pastor Kintchen and Deacon Durden to talk with Mother Grace Rolle whose husband had built a church in the Collier City neighborhood of Pompano Beach at 1210 NW 27 Avenue. Although another church was currently renting the building, Mother Rolle allowed us to rent the church for services also. In April of 2005, we moved in and remained there until early 2010.
God blessed us to build our own church edifice located at 713 Martin Luther King Boulevard in Pompano Beach where services commenced in early 2010.
God continues to bless Christ Fellowship Church of God in Christ, which now includes a membership of over 100 persons. We have a thriving and progressive ministry that meets the needs of our members and the surrounding community through fellowship, spirit-filled services, educational opportunities, and outreach ministries.