After hearing the voice of God to establish a new ministry in the city of Elizabeth, New Jersey, for Dr. Rev. Karl Joseph, the pastor of God church, the Elizabeth experience started in September 1976, seven years after he left Haiti. “Council Evangelical Apostolic Church of God” also known as C.E.A. The location for this first meeting was in the living room of one of the member’s house in Elizabet
h, New Jersey. Council Evangelical Church of God was the first Haitian church in the city p\of Elizabeth at the time. After, that first service in the living room, a church on 1st street agreed to rent space to the Haitian worshippers. For three months, they had Sunday services after the landlords had finished their own. The next location was a sublet, a storefront church on route 1&9 and Flora Street in Elizabeth. They stayed there until 1981, when they managed to buy their first home; a three-story building at 143 Catherine Street. Immediately, the word of C.E.A. church of God existence began to spread and the people came to be a part of the changes that God his doing in the city of Elizabeth. In 1993, the church has moved to 67 Prince Street in Elizabeth, New Jersey its current location to meet the high demand of the congregation and to provide more space to meet for weekly services. The church continued to grow both spiritually and numerically. In November 2002, the church moved to a temporary location First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth in Elizabeth, NJ. While, the growing sanctuary undergone an intensive makeover and renovations where a 2nd floor was added. In September 2003, renovations were completed and C.E.A. Church of God reopening marked a milestone in the Pentecostal congregation’s evolution, fueled by the constant growth of the Haitian population in Elizabeth, NJ. Church of god has about 300 members. The church holding capacity with the second floor is 500 people. As of 2015, C.E.A. Church of God has been in existence for 39 years.
