TVC’s first church service was held at Pastor Fred’s own mobile home.
Humble Beginnings
Pastor Fred Gamble received Christ at the age of 22 under the leadership of the late Pastor Bernice Woodard. God called him into the ministry two years later where he served faithfully as Youth & Assistant Pastor at the church now known as the “Tabernacle Witness Deliverance Church”. Several years later after the death of Pastor Woodard, God dealt with this young assistant pastor telling him it was time to “Launch out into the Deep“.
The Lord led Pastor Gamble to the streets to proclaim His Word. Pastor Gamble preached boldly on the streets for a number the years in the surrounding areas (Immokalee, Belle Glade, Pahokee, Miami, and Palm Beach). He was equipped with an old portable amplifier which plugged into the cigarette lighter of his car. The pastor brought his family to every street meeting. His young daughter Monique was his first praise & worship leader. His oldest son Fred (Jr.), had to watch after his younger son Jareem, as he chased down the pigeons. Pastor Gamble’s lovely wife Patricia supported him every step of the way.
Through these Evangelical Street meetings, True Vine Church finally emerged and was established on March 24, 1993. Pastor Gamble held the first service at his own mobile home. He used his kitchen as a pulpit and the kitchen counter for a podium. The Ministry began to grow with new faces showing up ever session. A few weeks later we moved to a small Taxi Standoff of Harlem Academy Street. A few months later that place also filled up, so we moved into small office space at Jimmy Pittman’s Electrical warehouse (531 East El Paso). The space there was about twice as much as the Taxi stand, but years later that place became packed-out almost every Sunday.
Taxi Stand on Harlem Academy St. (2nd location)
In every girl is a woman, in every boy is a man, and in every man is a nation. When First Lady Patricia Gamble was expecting here fourth child, they couldn’t determine the gender of the baby at that time. They began to worry about the health of the baby. Then God spoke to Pastor Gamble saying; “I am going to give you Mary and a multitude (new church)”. The First Lady gave birth to a healthy baby girl and them named her Mary.
Small office space of a warehouse owned by Jimmy Pittman – The entrance furthest to the left (3rd location)
It made sense to believe that all the future rentals would’ve eventually shrunk. Not too long after, Pastor Fred was seeking to buy a large old church building. Unfortunately, it fell through; But God had something bigger and better planned for the growing ministry. The lord told Pastor Fred Gamble to build a church from the ground up. The Pastor’s faith was renewed and he passed this message on to the members. On October 31, 1997 God gave us land to build.
The Ground Breaking Ceremony was held on August 30, 1998. Once the walls of the church began to go up, the money began to flow. People who drove by the construction site were astounded and began to support the building fund with large donations! This house was built by faith. We didn’t have to borrow any money.
On March 1, 2000 we received our “Certificate of Occupancy”. Finally on March 2, 2000 the first service was held at our new official address (2100 10th St.). Pastor Gamble Preached from 1 Corinth. 1:18-23 “That no flesh should glory in God’s presence”.
The Ground Breaking Ceremony (August 30, 1998)
Construction Site (1)
Construction Site (2)
Church Completion (present location)
Once this place becomes to full, we’ll see what God has in-store for us next.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall not speak and not lie, though it tarry, wait for it because it will surely come. It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:03
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