Bishop Eric W. Davis was called to Mount Calvary Baptist Church in October 2000. He gave his first sermon the following month in November to a congregation of approximately 30 members. The worship service was held in a small room at Bluff Road Park because the Mount Calvary Church building, located at 1220 Tolliver Street, was in disrepair and could not be used for worship.

 

Over a process of two years, God blessed the congregation to move from the small room at Bluff Road Park to the gym; from the gym to the C.R. Neal Adult Center cafeteria, and from there, to renovated facilities at 1445 Shop Road in the old McDonald Printing Building. The church moved to the Shop Road location during the first week in October 2002, with approximately 150 members including children.

 

After Bishop Davis received a vision from the Lord to change the name of the church in March 2003, Mount Calvary Baptist Church was changed to Word of God Church & Ministries.

 

Various ministries were established from 2000-2005 under the leadership of Pastor Davis. The Deacons Ministry was reorganized. The Praise Team, Ushers/Greeter and Audio Visual Ministries were organized. The Frontliners Men’s Ministry was established. The Daughters of God Women’s Ministry was implemented. Also during this time, the Vision Classes, New Converts classes, Nursery and Youth Education Ministries were formed. Ministries for Couples, Singles and Single Parents were developed. Word of God’s Care Leaders Ministry was established. The Outreach Ministry (Prison, HOPE and many other ministries) was formed.  An Altar Counselors Ministry was established. The S.T.E.P. (Addictions) Ministry was activated. The MAP Program (Making Abstinence Popular) for the youth was developed and the church’s Mentoring Program for Young Men and Women was expanded. The 12 week New Members class was implemented. Mother’s Day Inc., a ministry for mothers, was expanded under First Lady Vanessa Davis’ leadership.

 

On October 6, 2005, a Letter of Commitment was signed for a $1.2 million dollar loan from South Carolina Community Bank (SCCB) to purchase and renovate the Columbia East Shopping Plaza at 7355 Garners Ferry Road. On October 31, 2005, Pastor Davis closed on the loan and purchased the 100,000 square-foot plaza, which is now Word of God Church and Ministries Southeast.

 

The eight-acre property houses the church’s new worship center and community out-reach campus which includes a 10,000 square foot Sanctuary, a Banquet Hall, Youth Church & Ministries, a Thrift Store, an Education Building, Administration Building, Physical Fitness Center, a Cafe, and privately owned businesses.

 

Consecration Service for Word of God Southeast was held on Friday, July 28, 2006. The congregation gathered to pray and to invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of the people and throughout the grounds and buildings of the new campus. Spirits that were not of God were prayed out in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, declaring Word of God Church and Ministries Southeast holy ground.

 

The members were led throughout the campus to each building. They were given the history of each building. Various buildings on the campus were used as a nightclub, Bingo Hall, gay bar, liquor store etc. After Word of God Church occupied these buildings, each door was anointed while powerful prayers were lifted up.

 

The first Sunday Morning Worship Service and Vision Class at, Word of God Southeast, was held on Sunday, July 30, 2006. The new facilities became the church home for a congregation that was approaching nearly 1,000 members with the firm belief that  through the preaching of the Gospel and strong faith in God, the growth of the church would continue - ultimately requiring a much larger facility.

 

October 2006 was declared Harvest Month.  Harvest Month was the time for the church family to focus on the goodness of God and to thank Him for the many blessings, His anointing and His provision that He bestowed upon the church.

 

Harvest Month, inspired by Bishop Davis when he was on sabbatical, acknowledged that every major or significant move in this ministry occurred during the month of October.  Bishop Davis was elected pastor in October of 2000. We made our first major move into our first building on Shop Road the first week in October 2002. And, we purchased the Word of God Southeast campus on October 31, 2005. Because significant moves of God for this church have occurred during the month of October, WOG honors God for what He has done in our Ministry. The entire Word of God Southeast campus is His and so it must be dedicated to Him; dedicated to Him for His services, His ministries, His people, and His purpose. As a part of the Harvest celebration, the entire Southeast campus was dedicated to God on October 29th during a special Dedicatory Service.  Hundreds of members, family and friends attended the “Dedication of the Harvest” service.

 

On December 31, 2012, the first service was held at the new location located at 119 Diamond Lane on the northside of Columbia, S.C,  This long anticipated move and service marked the 12th year of ministry for Bishop Davis and the congregation.  The Inaugral Worship Service and ribbon cutting of the new campus was held on January 10, 2013.

 

In August 2014, Bishop Davis was elected bishop during the First Annual Holy Convocation. All of the Word of God churches such as WOG Baltimore, WOG Espanol, WOG Mexico, WOG Sierra Leone, and WOG Ghana were in attendance.