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1918 - 1922
On September 2, 1918, Reverend Baby Box and Reverend J.A. Hunter, along with several other members, founded St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Plant City, Florida. The church was organized in 1919. The first structure was a little wooden church that served the congregations of St. Luke two Sundays of the month and Grace Chapel C.M.E. Church two Sundays of the month. For a short period of time, St. Luke was recorded as a Methodist church. Reverend Box and Reverend Hunter were able to reach an agreement to purchase Grace Chapel's share of the property and St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church became an independent reality. The first letter members of St. Luke included Deacon and Sister Garden, Brother and Sister Wallace Box, Reverend and Sister Wiggins and Brother Frank Farley. Others were added to these pioneer members: Sister Janie Box, Sister Hattie Colden and Sister Susie Patterson. At that time, Reverend Box and Reverend Hunter shared the responsibilities of the church.
1922 - 1936
The church continued to grow under the spiritual leadership of Reverend Preston (1922 - 1924), Reverend Gibbs (1924 - 1928), Reverend Blackson (1928 - 1933) and Reverend Dupree (1933 - 1936).
1936 - 1974
In Spring of 1936, Reverend Chester William Burns was called to the pastorate. Reverend Burns brought vision and infrastructure to the 18 year old church. Under his leadership the membership from 35 to more than 300 which cause the church to build physically. A parsonage was erected and in 1947 the wooden edifice was upgraded to a concrete block building at $25,000. The church was refurbished in 1952 at the cost of $3,575.25 and in 1956 an annex was erected at $3,000.00. Carpeting, padded pews and central air and heat were installed in both the main sanctuary and annex. Before retiring, a covering for the front steps and bulletin board were added to enhance the appearance of the front entrance. Reverend Burns ordained: Brothers: Dennis H. Harvey, W. General Williams, John H. Henry, Ben Byrum, John Freemon, Albert Williams, Willie Gibbs, Gus Isaac, James Grimmage, Robert “Pop” Demps, Marion Lee “M.L.” Broadnax, Tiny Cooper, Nathan Green, Henry Cohen, John Brown, John Butler, William Colbert, Steve Jones, Ralph Rivers, Love Williams, Albert Williams, John Williams, Judge Williams as deacons; Deacons: Clarence A. McDaniel, Joseph Scott, Willie Gibbs, Bud Lewis were added to the Deacon’s Board and Mother Cassie Williams served as the Church Mother.
1975 - 1998
After Reverend Burns’ retirement, Elder Ralph Robert Rivers was called to pastor the church in 1975. Building on the shoulders of Reverend Burns, a weekly prayer meeting, Bible Study each Tuesday and a Youth Bible Study on Wednesday was added. Lay members on a rotational basis, taught Bible Study and Elder River conducted the Youth Bible Study. Due to the increase in membership, a charter bus was purchased to ensure comfortable transportation for the members when called upon to serve outside of the city. The parsonage was demolished and was replaced with: new classrooms, Pastor’s Study and waiting room, Finance Room, nursery, guest bedroom with bath and a fellowship hall. This project was completed in 1990. In addition to purchasing the charter bus, the parking areas were paved and additional ladies restroom was added. As time changed, so did the need for transportation. The charter bus was sold in 1996 and replaced with 2 fifteen passengers vans. In addition to the newly completed project, the Audio and Video Ministry was formed to archive the services, and a marquee was placed in front of the church. Elder Rivers continued serving the church and ordained: Brothers: George Sands, John Brown, Cleophus “Cleo” Solomon, Lutrell Sims, David Green, Johnnie “Pete” Rolle, Eric Williams, Ralph Bettis, Jessie Brooks, and Willie Gardner as Deacons. Ministers: Jessie Montgomery and William Boss were ordained Elders. Deacons: Booker T. Bryant, Raymond Brown, Gus Isaac, and Oscar Robinson were added to the Deacon’s Board. After the transition of Church Mother Williams, Mother Esther Demps was appointed as Church Mother. In August on 1998, after 23 years of pastoring, Elder River officially retired.
1999 - 2002
For the first time in the church’s history, a pastoral search committee was formed. In February of 1999, Elder Douglas Christopher Graham, Associate Minister of Bethel Baptist Church, Plant City was selected as the 8th pastor of St. Luke. He served 6 months as interim Pastor and was installed August of 1999. During Elder Graham pastorate, the church was remodel after “The Great Fall” in 1999. During the renovations, worship services and bible study was conducted in the Annex. The renovation called for much needed upgrades. Under the renovations: pouring of a concrete floor, restricting of the pulpit, choir stand, baptismal pool, congregational seating, new front entrance was created, upgrading of the lighting, air conditioning and audio system, installation of new carpeting and pews and additional property was purchased to create more parking. Brother Maurice D. Wilson preached his trial sermon and received his license to preach May 14, 2000. The completion of the sanctuary was finished in January 2001. Shortly thereafter, it became Elder Graham’s sad duty to presided over Elder Ralph River’s funeral on Saturday, February 24, 2001. In May of 2002, just 3 years after his installation, Elder Graham retired. Although his time was short at Greater St. Luke, the work was all divine. For the second time, a pastoral search committee was formed.
2003 - Present
Following Elder Graham’s retirement, Elder Larry Donnell Sykes was selected as the 9th and current pastor of Greater St. Luke. Elder Sykes, at the time of his selection, served as the church’s musician and a member of the Ministerial Staff. Although Elder Sykes was ordained under The First Born Church of the Living God, he continued to serve Greater St. Luke as its musician. He later rejoined St. Luke on October 15, 1991, under Elder Rivers and became a member of the Ministerial Staff. He was elected Senior Pastor in December 17, 2002 and served as interim pastor for seven months before being installed March 16, 2003. After his installation, he hit the ground running. His theme for the membership was taken from 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow me, as I follow Christ.” With that, his first task was to liquidate the mortgage from the previous administrations. Within his 1st year as pastor, the mortgage was paid off. Elder Sykes also brought vision along with his administration. Thusly Elder Sykes has implemented a monthly mid-week service to include a Wednesday Noon-day Hour of Power, reconstructed Bible Study to utilize Ministers and Deacons as teachers, established the Brotherhood and Sisterhood Ministries, consolidated: three adult choir into the Unity Choir, two usher boards unto the Unity Usher Board and two adult Sunday School Classes, established the Couple’s Ministry and Annual Retreat, purchased additional properties, hired a part-time Administrative Assistant to provide office hours during the week, expanded the uses of banking services, created and expanded the Graduate Recognition Program to include college and post-graduate students, renovated the annex, Pastor’s Study, added an office for the Administrative Assistant, renovated the existing kitchen, upgraded on of the 15 passage vans with and 2019 18 passage van and the list goes on. One the church’s proudest moments was the addition of the Elder Larry D. Sykes Christian Fellowship Center.
Pastor Larry & Lady Adriane Sykes
The Fellowship Center is a state-of-the-art multipurpose building which houses a production stage, additional bathrooms, commercial kitchen and equipment, overhead projection, surround sound and LED lighting. The Fellowship Center holds up to 300 people. It has served a community banquet hall, elementary school graduation and community action center. Elder Sykes continued serving the church and ordained Brothers: William H. Campbell, Wayne Gardener, Calvin Richardson, Donnell Smith, Edward Wilkerson, Maurice Horton, Charles Box, Sr., Madison Broadnax, Tony Mathis, Kenneth Campbell, Andre Williams as Deacons. Deacons: Herbert Vasser and Charles Box, Sr. were added to the Deacon’s Board. Ministers licensed: Donald Myles, Christopher Panier, Andre Williams, Jaquasious Johnson and Brother Darrell Peeler was licensed and ordained. Sisters Debra Campbell, Glenda Richardson, Andrea Tillman, Betty Williams, Izolah Wade, Deborah Vasser and Rhonda Myles were licensed as Evangelist. After 30 years as Church Mother, Mother Demps relinquished her position in order to give others an opportunity to serve. The Mother Board recommended Sister Jimmie Lee Sykes as Church Mother. Deaconess Carla Bettis, Deaconess Mazie Wilkerson, Deaconess Gloria Solomon, Sister Sandra Harrell, Sister Willie Mae Keys and Sister Mildred Wingate were consecrated and added to the Mother’s Board.
Under the direction of Elder Sykes, Greater St. Luke continues to be a beacon of light in the Plant City community.