The History of Christian Love Ministries Church

 In June of 1998, inspired by a Godly-vision to "convert the unsaved to salvation in Jesus Christ" and tasked with an apostolic mandate upon his life, Kendrix James Gardner became Organizing Pastor and Visionary of Christian Love Ministries Church.  On June 28, 1998, at the Best Western King of the Road Motel, inside the "red room," the church had its first worship service and sixty-five people joined in its inception.  Pastor Gardner also organized The Voices of Faith, Hope and Love, an evangelistic ministry that consisted of radio and television broadcasts, taped sermons and books.  Christian Love Ministries Church had its first radio broadcast on June 29, 1998 on WJEM 1150 AM. 

In the following months, Pastor Gardner communicated the vision of building a church where people are "loved into the Kingdom of God by teaching Christ, serving and living a Bible based life" to the congregation.  He also defined the meaning of the church's name, Christian Love Ministries Church:  "Christian, means to be Christ like; Love, bespeaks of the self sacrificing love Jesus personified; Ministries, which means to be a servant and Church, this local assembly that connects us to the body of Christ."

    On July 8, 1998, Christian Love Ministries Church rented a building at 124 North Oak Street and planned to hold its eleven o'clock worship service there.  However, because of the size of its already growing congregation, the church only had Wednesday Night Bible Study at the aforementioned location and the Lowndes County Civic Center located at 2102 East Hill Avenue was rented to conduct its eleven o'clock worship services for the month of July. 

While searching for a permanent site for the ministry headquarters, Christian Love Ministries Church moved to 200 North Forrest Street on August 2, 1998, a vacant building that once housed a local church.  Famous for saying "this ministry is like a hospital where sick people come to get well," Pastor Gardner continued to preach Godly living sermons and expound the church's vision.  On September 6, 1998, he ordained Jerome Atkinson, Carl Davis, Jerome Roberts and Jimmy White as deacons to help shoulder the vision.

Despite numerous obstacles and challenges, the Pastor and congregation continued building upon the vision of the church.  After persevering a "serious spiritual struggle" and political bureaucracy with diligent prayer, the Lord allowed Pastor Gardner to purchase a 7500 square foot building with approximately three acres of land at 526 Griffin Avenue for the ministry headquarters.  The building, formerly owned by Morton Peoples, housed a family owned tractor business, which had been in existence for several years.  Prompted by Pastor Gardner sharing his vision for the church, Mr. Peoples personally approved the sale of the building.  Phase one of Pastor Gardner's vision for the physical structure of the church consisted of a fifty by eighty by sixteen square foot sanctuary, multi-purpose room, administrative office and pastoral office was completed in June of 2000. 

Sadly, Viella Lamon Davis, a church patriarch and wife of Deacon Carl Davis died June 15, 2000 before the church moved into its permanent location.  Directors of Ralph Harrington Funeral Home, under the orders of Pastor Gardner, modified the funeral procession and drove by 526 Griffin Avenue in honor of Sister Davis' faithful service. 

On July 11, 2000, Christian Love Ministries Church, consisting of over 300 members and under the pastoralship of Kendirx James Gardner, had its first worship service at its new location.  Since being in our present location, the church has continued to grow spiritually and in membership.  The expository teaching and preaching from our Visionary has equipped the saints with Biblical knowledge that has enabled us to live an abundant life in Jesus Christ. 

 In keeping with Pastor Gardner's vision to win souls to Christ, The Voices of Faith, Hope and Love Evangelistic Ministry extended to television, an additional radio station and a web site.  Our first televised broadcast aired on channel 19 November 25, 2000, WHLJ 97.5 FM radio on February 3, 2002 and launched our Web Site, www.christianlovechurch.org  on February 21, 2002.  Additionally, phase two which included an educational wing, consisting of three classrooms, a nursery and a fully equipped kitchen with dining area was completed in April of 2003. 

On June 6, 2004, Co-organizer First Lady Voytelle Miller Gardner went home to be with the Lord.  Her life was God's grace and power personified.  She will be missed and her legacy will always be alive.  First Lady Gardner and Pastor Gardner met in February of 1991 and were married on September 26, 1991.  Two beloved children of grace, Seth James and Joshua James, came to their union.  In honor of her memory, Pastor Gardner established the Voytelle Miller Gardner Scholarship Fund.

With God's guidance, Pastor Gardner is taking the ministry to new levels.    As a result of his leadership, the Christian Love Ministries Church Family is reaching out to all men, letting them know that God is a God of Love; thereby, enabling us to bring our pastor's vision of loving people into the kingdom of God into fruition. 

For all these blessings that we have received, WE GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY!  

In June, 2010 Pastor Gardner following the voice of God and being led by the Holy Spirit accepted pastoralship at the New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Lakeland Florida, after serving as Founder and Senior Pastor for 12 years at Christian Love Bible Baptist Church.

In September, 2010 Pastor Tim E. Riser was installed as the next pastor and Leader of Christian Love Bible Baptist Church, Valdosta, Georgia. The Christian Love Bible Baptist Church Family welcomes Pastor Riser, First Lady Lynne Riser and their son Darrius.

In July, 2011 Pastor James Bernard Braswell II was installed as the next pastor and Leader of Christian Love Bible Baptist Church, Valdosta, Georgia. The Christian Love Bible Baptist Church Family welcomes Pastor Braswell, Lady Carmella Braswell and their children Cedric Carter Jr., Carmen Denise Carter, James Braswell III and Cameron Braswell. One of the major contributions in the two and half years of leading this congregation was to witness the spiritual growth of the congregation and lives being changed for the better.

In September, 2014 Pastor Jimmy R. Boyd was installed as the senior pastor of Christian Love Bible Baptist Church, Valdosta, Georgia. As the new leader/visionary of Christian Love Bible Baptist Church Pastor Boyd shared the vision that God has given him which was to encourage the body of Christ to have a personal relationship with Him, to equip the saints with the spiritual tools necessary to be victorious on this Christian walk, and to empower born again believers to teach and train others to walk in victory.

CLBBC VISION: WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH.

The Christian Love Bible Baptist Church Family proudly welcomes Pastor Jimmy R. Boyd, Lady Danita Boyd and their children.