It is Bishop Neil Ellis' hope that the formation of Global United Fellowship (GUF) will kill the spirit of class and rank that impedes the church's growth and arrests its ability to build the kingdom of God in a vibrant, efficient and beneficial way.
Speaking at GUF's first pastor's meeting last week in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Ellis, GUF's presiding prelate and senior pastor of Mt. Tabor Church, said GUF was the birth of something fresh in the Body of Christ.
"I am driven by the revelation that this is a transgenerational move of God and not just another movement," said Ellis at the meeting that took place at the Embassy Suites.
"We are laying the foundation for a kingdom vehicle through which future generations will literally come into the fullness of kingdom-building," he said.
At the meeting, at which Ellis stressed that GUF which has to date amassed a 300-church membership globally, is a fellowship and not a denomination.
He announced GUF's group of assistant presiding bishops which included Bishop Joby Brady (The Potter's House of North Dallas); Bishop Sheldon McCarter (Greater Cleveland Avenue Christian Church; Winston-Salem, N.C.); Bishop Rudolph McKissick Jr. (Bethel Baptist Institutional Church; Jacksonville, FL), and Bishop Designate Dr. Carolyn Showell.
While describing one of the fellowship's five prongs that is uniting the Body of Christ, Ellis said, "The Body of Christ is now fragmented, therefore, we are not maximizing all that can be done to build and uphold the kingdom of God here on earth." And that GUF is inclusive of pastors and parent church ministries of any denomination that desire to move toward the spiritual mandates of the Lord.
In addition to being appointed bishop designate, Dr. Showell, it was announced, would oversee GUF's operational structure. Three additional bishopric candidates were announced in Bishop Designate Dr. John E. Guns (St. Paul Church; Jacksonville, FL) who will assume responsibility for Christian education; Bishop Designate Dr. William H. Murphy Senior (Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church; Detroit, MI) who will serve as the father of the fellowship and chairman of the Shepherd's Care Unit; and Bishop Designate Dr. James R. Woodson II (St. James Home of Fresh Start; Greensboro, N.C.) who will serve as executive secretary.
Other key appointments announced during the meeting included Dr. Juanita Bynum (global ambassador of prayer) and Bishop Hezekiah Walker (bishop of music, worship & the arts); as well as GUF's executive board and spiritual advisors, which included Bishop Rudolph McKissick Sr. (special assistant to the presiding bishop); Bishop Kenneth Ulmer (apostolic aide to the presiding bishop) and Dr. Jackie McCullough (spiritual advisor).
As the fellowship begins to shape its leadership, nearly 80 officers were named over the two-day period. Further announcements of additional officers will be forthcoming.
"The fact that I waited eight months before announcing the leadership team is indicative of the fact that a lot of prayer and concentration have gone into the selections," said Ellis. "I am totally satisfied that we have been able, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to pull together an initial team that not only has ability but has credibility. I believe this team will serve to help get the fellowship off to a strong start as we move towards following the mandate that has been given to us to unite, equip, enhance, resurrect, and build."
Resurrecting the discipline of prayer in the body of Christ is another prong of GUF. According to Ellis, the 21st Century church had replaced prayer with praise. He said the fellowship has to put prayer back in its rightful place of being the bedrock of their relationship with God.
"Prayer is to prepare for the praise, and the praise is supposed to lead us into God's presence," said Ellis at the meeting at which he outlined the overall mission, specific ministerial touchstones; organizational structure and key Fellowship appointments.
To that end, pastors gathered to pray over the city of Winston-Salem. Later, Mayor Allen Joines issued a proclamation naming March 26 as Global United Fellowship Day of Prayer in the city.
"My heart is with Global United Fellowship, and I am excited about Global United Fellowship. Winston-Salem is a city that embraces diversity, and churches are the glue that holds this town together. I thank you for honoring us with your presence, and look forward to your return in July," said the mayor.
GUF will hold its first conference "The Gathering", July 15-18, at the Benton Convention Centre in Winston-Salem. The theme of the conference will be "Reformation of Denomination." Conference speakers will include Dr. Jamal Bryant; Bishop Kenneth Ulmer; Bishop I.V. Hilliard; Dr. Jackie McCullough; Bishop John Francis; and Bishop Tudor Bismarck.
Established in 2013 under the leadership of Bishop Neil C. Ellis, Global United Fellowship (GUF) is an inter-denominational fellowship of spiritual leaders and churches united to strategically plan, implement and execute transformative and generational change, and expand the Kingdom of God to all the nations of the world. The Fellowship's five-prong mandate is to unite churches; equip leaders; enhance marriages; resurrect the discipline of prayer and build relationships within the Body of Christ.
GUF is comprised of more than 300 churches from countries including The Bahamas; England; Jamaica; Pakistan; South Africa; the Turks & Caicos Islands, and The United States.
With over 80 consecrated bishops and apostles in the fellowship, and hundreds of influential pastors, GUF is equipped to impact today's culture for God through targeted ministries in the areas of family, education, business, media, religion, government and arts and entertainment.
GUF was formed after Ellis' resignation from the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International in August after 20 years.
Ellis is and dynamic pastor, speaker and leader who is passionate about the Word of God and its ability to transform lives. He is the author of 12 books. He is the recipient of the 2010 Trumpet Award for Spiritual Enlightenment and is the youngest living inductee in the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

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