Our History
With a strong desire to fulfill the divine mandate of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the late Dr. Julian C. Jackson established the Southern Florida Fellowship of Churches. On June 16, 1999, a Special Organizational Meeting was held at Refreshing Spring Church of God in Christ in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where eleven ministers gathered in unity. Among them were Elder Larry E. Bellamy, Elder Lonnie Lundy, Elder Norman McCray, Sr., and Elder John T. Smith. They all pledged their support to Dr. Jackson’s vision for what would become the Southern Florida Jurisdictional Fellowship. Inspired by Acts 5:33–35, 38–39, Bishop Jackson assured those present that this work was of God, declaring, “If this work be of God, it cannot be overthrown.”
Mother Altamese Lundy was appointed the first leader of the Department of Women, Elder Norman McCray was designated superintendent of the Ephesians District (South), and Elder Larry Bellamy was superintendent of the Revelation District (North). Following a season of twelve-hour united prayer, the fellowship grew rapidly from five pastors to over thirty-three by the November 1999 Holy Convocation.
On June 16, 2000, Presiding Bishop Chandler David Owens visited Miami, gave his approval, and named Dr. Julian C. Jackson as Bishop-Designate of the Southern Florida Jurisdiction. On August 26, 2000, Bishop Owens and members of the General Board returned to officially consecrate and install Bishop Jackson as Jurisdictional Prelate.
Upon Bishop Jackson’s recommendation, Mother Willie Mae Rivers, International Supervisor of Women, installed Mother Altamese D. Lundy as Jurisdictional Supervisor on January 5, 2001. Later that month, on January 20, the first official jurisdictional installation service was held at Temple of Prayer COGIC in Orlando, where superintendents, missionaries, and departmental leaders received their appointments.
In 2006, following Supervisor Lundy’s resignation, Bishop Jackson appointed Supervisor Cecille R. Collins as the second Jurisdictional Supervisor of Women. She was officially capped and licensed by Mother Rivers at the Holy Convocation in Memphis on November 6, 2006.
On January 7, 2024, the jurisdiction mourned the passing of its founding prelate, Bishop Julian C. Jackson, a spiritual father and pioneer. In the aftermath of his passing, Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard appointed General Board Member Bishop Lawrence Wooten to serve as Interim Prelate, maintaining the jurisdiction’s continuity.
​During the Spring Call Meeting of the General Assembly, on April 8, 2025, Bishop Marc Antonio Cooper of Miami was ratified and appointed Jurisdictional Prelate of Florida Southern Jurisdiction. At the time, Bishop Cooper was serving as Establishmentarian of the Florida Southeast Ecclesiastical Fellowship, a growing network of churches that became part of the Jurisdiction.
Supervisor Cecille Collins concluded her remarkable twenty six year tenure with Florida Southern in April 2025, after serving nineteen distinguished years as Supervisor of Women. To continue the legacy of strong leadership and visionary service, Bishop Cooper recommended Mother Queen Esther Johnson to succeed Mother Collins as the third Supervisor of Women for the Florida Southern Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
Bishop Cooper began his administration with forty-five days of prayerful transition and reorganization, officially renaming the jurisdiction Florida Southern Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. As part of the reorganization, Bishop Cooper made the thoughtful decision to merge the AIM Convention and Holy Convocation, combining the two events, originally scheduled less than thirty days apart, into one unified gathering called 'The Family Gathering: Holy Convocation.'
Under the leadership of Bishop Cooper, the jurisdiction experienced record-breaking attendance with over 500 attendees on the opening night of The Family Gathering: Holy Convocation 2025 and more than 300 registrations. The Holy Convocation also featured keynote speakers, International AIM Chairman Superintendent Nathaniel Green and General Board Member Bishop Linwood Dillard.
During the 117th Holy Convocation in Memphis, TN, Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis, International Supervisor of Women, installed Mother Queen Esther Johnson as Jurisdictional Supervisor on November 7, 2025.
On November 8, 2025, Bishop Marc Antonio Cooper was officially presented during the The Sacred Ceremony of Episcopal Consecration and Installation and acknowledged as the Jurisdictional Prelate of Florida Southern Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
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"As we reflect on the rich history and milestones of the Florida Southern Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, we stand on the threshold of a new chapter, trusting that God's divine plan will propel us toward greater heights of service, unwavering unity, and profound numerical and spiritual growth within our jurisdiction."
- Bishop Marc A. Cooper, Jurisdictional Prelate