...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47)
Increasing Joy Ministries, formerly known as Word Of Life Fellowship, Inc. began the
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in 1988 as a result of God leading Pastors
William and Barbara DeSue to commute from Jacksonville, Florida to teach Bible
Study. The ministry was later incorporated in April 1992 and has had several
location changes.
Increasing Joy Ministries, formerly known as Word Of Life Fellowship, Inc. began the
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in 1988 as a result of God leading Pastors
William and Barbara DeSue to commute from Jacksonville, Florida to teach Bible
Study. The ministry was later incorporated in April 1992 and has had several
location changes.
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God’s favor was upon the ministry for someone came to the pastors and asked if they would come and minister on the 13th Avenue Community Center’s property. Of course the answer was yes. Initially, permission was given to use the Women’s Club, called the "Green Building". People began to hear about the work that God was doing and began coming with expectancy and excitement to give their hearts to the Lord. We understood that we were not to despise the days of small things (Zechariah 4:10). It was small in the eyes of man; but large in our hearts. Souls were being saved; lives were being changed; and Jesus was being glorified.
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After a few months in the "Green Building" we moved to a room in the back of the gymnasium at 13th Avenue Community Center. It was a small
room with an old window air conditioner unit; mixed match chairs; a large clunking steel door; and the saints attempt to decorate with a picture on the wall and floral arrangements. In this little special place, we had big vision for we began to tape messages; speak and sing through a karaoke machine; have psalmists sing from accompaniment tapes; put on plays and have volunteers teach in the children’s church; outreach to the community; give away clothes and love God with our whole hearts, soul, mind, and strength.
In April of 1992, we became Word of Life Fellowship Inc. Formal membership was begun the first Sunday on July 3, 1994; we received our Federal Exempt (501c3) status; and continued to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Eventually we moved into the big gymnasium for more space. People had no problem crying out to God on the floor of the gymnasium. We would put on our Sunday best; come with anticipation; and praise God with our whole hearts. God told us to learn to dance; sing; and praise Him for the revelation of the Word of God. There was and is today nothing greater, more precious, and needful than God’s incorruptible, life-changing and unadulterated Word.
room with an old window air conditioner unit; mixed match chairs; a large clunking steel door; and the saints attempt to decorate with a picture on the wall and floral arrangements. In this little special place, we had big vision for we began to tape messages; speak and sing through a karaoke machine; have psalmists sing from accompaniment tapes; put on plays and have volunteers teach in the children’s church; outreach to the community; give away clothes and love God with our whole hearts, soul, mind, and strength.
In April of 1992, we became Word of Life Fellowship Inc. Formal membership was begun the first Sunday on July 3, 1994; we received our Federal Exempt (501c3) status; and continued to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Eventually we moved into the big gymnasium for more space. People had no problem crying out to God on the floor of the gymnasium. We would put on our Sunday best; come with anticipation; and praise God with our whole hearts. God told us to learn to dance; sing; and praise Him for the revelation of the Word of God. There was and is today nothing greater, more precious, and needful than God’s incorruptible, life-changing and unadulterated Word.
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While in this nomad anointing, we were able to purchase land for our future home on Mendoza Road in Palmetto. Initially, six acres were purchased in August 1994 and then 4 acres were purchased in 1997. We saw, by faith, a place of permanence for the work of God.
Along with the anointing, souls being saved, and the preaching of God’s Truth came persecution for we were told that we were no longer welcome at this site, and we had to move on. That was good news to us for we knew that God would provide whatever, wherever, and whoever were needed for the ministry. It was exciting to see what God would do for His people and it is the same today. An obstacle is just an opportunity; bad news is just good news in disguise; and faith says to move forward. Nothing could stop what God was doing then and nothing can stop what God is doing now; so, we moved on then and continue to move on now trusting in God. |
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We were able to renovate space on 14th Street in Bradenton. In the interim, the ministry rented space on Highway 301in Ellenton, Florida. This was a temporary stopping place until the renovation was complete. Once on 14th street, we continued outreach and mission efforts; had a food pantry; a radio broadcast; purchased land for an orphanage in Liberia; went out continually witnessing on the streets; as well as teachings on personal witnessing strategies.
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The mission of the ministry was developed and taught to the membership.
"To declare the Gospel which brings willing hearts to a saving faith in Christ Jesus and causes a life of Christ likeness through worship, ministry, evangelism, teaching, and fellowship."
"To declare the Gospel which brings willing hearts to a saving faith in Christ Jesus and causes a life of Christ likeness through worship, ministry, evangelism, teaching, and fellowship."
Our motto, which is our principle focus, is that we will show God’s love by: 1) Seeking the lost; 2) Strengthening the saved; 3) Serving others.
In 1999 we moved into our present location on Mendoza Road (37th Street East) in Palmetto, Florida. In 2003 the ministry’s name was officially changed to Increasing Joy Ministries Incorporated. Our first phase, the Educational Fellowship Facility, is one of many to be added to this site. To this day we continually see souls saved; lives changed; saints praying, God moving and Jesus Christ exalted. To Him be the glory forever and ever.
BRADENTON -- The neighborhood that William DeSue will soon be leaving is hardly the same place that he first saw 12 years ago when he became involved with the Bradenton Housing Authority.
Bradenton Village, a New Urbanist-style development of brightly-colored town houses, continues to grow on the former site of Rogers Garden, a flood-prone public housing project of battered, dingy duplexes.
For DeSue, it's the shining legacy of his career in public housing -- a career from which he's decided to retire at the end of this month.
"It was a good time watching people's lives change, watching the community change and helping reverse a historic decline," DeSue said. "What you see (at Bradenton Village) is the culmination of a plan, a vision and a whole lot of work by a lot of people."
On Wednesday, more than 60 of DeSue's friends and colleagues joined him at Bradenton Village's community center to celebrate his retirement.
DeSue told the authority about four years ago that he intended to retire at the end of 2005 to devote more time to the ministry he co-founded with his wife, Barbara.
"We were hoping he would change his mind, but his church needs him," Housing Authority Chairwoman Lois Gerber said.
In 1988, the DeSues started Increasing Joy Ministries as a Bible study class at the 13th Avenue Community Center. They're now building a church for it at 2515 37th St. E., Palmetto.
When DeSue joined the Housing Authority's board in 1993, the agency was in disarray. It needed $6 million for repairs, mainly for its dilapidated Rogers Garden complex on U.S. 41.
In 1994, DeSue accepted the board's invitation to take over as executive director.
The next few years brought disappointment. The authority applied for a federal HOPE VI grant to raze and replace Rogers Garden with a mixed-income neighborhood. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rejected the application twice.
In 1999, however, HUD approved a $21.5 million HOPE VI grant that helped launch what would ultimately become an $80 million undertaking by the authority, state, city, the city's Central Community Redevelopment Agency, HUD, Telesis Corp. and others.
The 180-apartment Rogers Garden was razed and replaced with Bradenton Village -- a community that, when completed, will have 440 renter- and owner-occupied houses and town houses, including a seniors complex.
Its soon-to-be built Education Center will be named for DeSue, authority members told him at his retirement party.
DeSue and the authority received criticism and emotions were often tense as Rogers Garden tenants were evicted. Some returned to new homes at Bradenton Village but most remain in subsidized housing elsewhere. "People are afraid of change," former authority member Donald Hadsock said. "It was hard on people."
"You don't eliminate problems with a Housing Authority in distress quickly," said Jerry West, the city's former planning director. "He got hit from all directions."
Yet DeSue and the authority remained convinced that creating Bradenton Village was the right thing to do. They say it has revitalized what had been a blighted part of town.
With Bradenton Village more than halfway completed, DeSue said the project can continue smoothly under others' guidance.
"It's been a wonderful experience," DeSue said. "But it's time to move on and let others more capable than I take on that responsibility."
Gerber said the authority has found a replacement for DeSue and will announce its choice next week.
Bradenton Village, a New Urbanist-style development of brightly-colored town houses, continues to grow on the former site of Rogers Garden, a flood-prone public housing project of battered, dingy duplexes.
For DeSue, it's the shining legacy of his career in public housing -- a career from which he's decided to retire at the end of this month.
"It was a good time watching people's lives change, watching the community change and helping reverse a historic decline," DeSue said. "What you see (at Bradenton Village) is the culmination of a plan, a vision and a whole lot of work by a lot of people."
On Wednesday, more than 60 of DeSue's friends and colleagues joined him at Bradenton Village's community center to celebrate his retirement.
DeSue told the authority about four years ago that he intended to retire at the end of 2005 to devote more time to the ministry he co-founded with his wife, Barbara.
"We were hoping he would change his mind, but his church needs him," Housing Authority Chairwoman Lois Gerber said.
In 1988, the DeSues started Increasing Joy Ministries as a Bible study class at the 13th Avenue Community Center. They're now building a church for it at 2515 37th St. E., Palmetto.
When DeSue joined the Housing Authority's board in 1993, the agency was in disarray. It needed $6 million for repairs, mainly for its dilapidated Rogers Garden complex on U.S. 41.
In 1994, DeSue accepted the board's invitation to take over as executive director.
The next few years brought disappointment. The authority applied for a federal HOPE VI grant to raze and replace Rogers Garden with a mixed-income neighborhood. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rejected the application twice.
In 1999, however, HUD approved a $21.5 million HOPE VI grant that helped launch what would ultimately become an $80 million undertaking by the authority, state, city, the city's Central Community Redevelopment Agency, HUD, Telesis Corp. and others.
The 180-apartment Rogers Garden was razed and replaced with Bradenton Village -- a community that, when completed, will have 440 renter- and owner-occupied houses and town houses, including a seniors complex.
Its soon-to-be built Education Center will be named for DeSue, authority members told him at his retirement party.
DeSue and the authority received criticism and emotions were often tense as Rogers Garden tenants were evicted. Some returned to new homes at Bradenton Village but most remain in subsidized housing elsewhere. "People are afraid of change," former authority member Donald Hadsock said. "It was hard on people."
"You don't eliminate problems with a Housing Authority in distress quickly," said Jerry West, the city's former planning director. "He got hit from all directions."
Yet DeSue and the authority remained convinced that creating Bradenton Village was the right thing to do. They say it has revitalized what had been a blighted part of town.
With Bradenton Village more than halfway completed, DeSue said the project can continue smoothly under others' guidance.
"It's been a wonderful experience," DeSue said. "But it's time to move on and let others more capable than I take on that responsibility."
Gerber said the authority has found a replacement for DeSue and will announce its choice next week.
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The DeSue years
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