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.