A Brush Harbor on Yorkmont Road and a Church That Grew With Charlotte
Greater Galilee Baptist Church sits at 501 West Park Avenue in Charlotte's Wilmore neighborhood, just southwest of uptown. Members call it The Gathering Place, a name that fits a congregation that has welcomed newcomers for more than a century and a half of Charlotte's growth. The church's story begins on October 19, 1885, when William and Sue Eller, together with Trustees Austin Foster, Frank James, and James Little, secured land on Yorkmont Road in southwest Charlotte. Two years later, on October 7, 1887, the property was officially deeded to Galilee Baptist Church.
The first sanctuary was what members call a "Brush Harbor," a simple hut of wooden logs, sticks, and pine leaves reminiscent of the living conditions of African ancestors. Several preachers served the church in those early decades. In 1954, under the leadership of Rev. W.D. Owens, the congregation acquired land on May Street and built a new sanctuary in 1956. As the membership grew, the need for a permanent pastor became clear.
Rev. Warren McKissick of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Charlotte, alongside his wife Sis. Josephine McKissick of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, became the permanent pastor and First Lady in 1968. Under his 35-year tenure the church relocated, first to Wilmore Presbyterian Church on West Park Avenue, then on July 5, 1970, into its current home as Greater Galilee Baptist Church. The McKissick name lives on in the McKissick Building, used today for Bible study and youth ministry.
Dr. Robert L. McGowens and Twenty Years of Expansion
Dr. Robert L. McGowens became pastor in 2005 and served until his retirement in December 2024. His two decades of leadership brought major milestones: licensing 15 ministers, obtaining 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, launching the 2011 Vision Capital Campaign, and expanding outreach to five locations. His wife, Lady Terry McGowens, served alongside him throughout that period. The infrastructure and institutional stability they built gave Greater Galilee a strong platform for the next chapter.
Dr. Kia Hood-Scott and a Historic First
In November 2024, Greater Galilee called Rev. Dr. Kia Hood-Scott to serve as Senior Pastor, making her the first woman to hold the pulpit in the church's 140-year history. She arrived with more than 20 years of ministry experience, including 13 years in youth work and a successful track record as a church planter and strategist. A Cum Laude graduate of Winston-Salem State University, she holds a Bachelor's in Rehabilitation Studies and a Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling from WSSU, a Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary.
Before Charlotte, Dr. Hood-Scott led youth and college ministries, developed intergenerational discipleship programs, and served as Director of Preaching and Worship at Union Baptist Church in Winston-Salem under Bishop Sir Walter L. Mack Jr. She also launched Union Baptist Church-Jamestown-High Point, an extended church site that expanded the congregation's reach into High Point. Her honors include the Catherine Amos Christian Education Award from Wake Forest University School of Divinity, the Mac Bryan Prophetic Preaching Daughters of Thunder Award (2023), recognition as one of the 40 Under 40 Most Influential African-American Leaders of the Triad by Black Business Inc., the NAACP of High Point's Woman of the Year Award, and induction into the Bishop Alfred G. Duston Jr. College of Preachers, Lecturers and Scholars at Livingston College.
She serves on the Leadership Team for the Pastors and Minister Division of the National Baptist State Convention, USA, as Director of Debra's Table, a ministry supporting women in ministry. She is also engaged with Compassion International's Black Church Cohort and the Gilead Project, which addresses HIV and AIDS awareness. She and her husband, Mr. George L. Scott Jr., share a ministry partnership rooted in faith, leadership, and service.
Sunday Mornings at The Gathering Place
Worship at Greater Galilee follows a classic Baptist pattern rooted in gospel music and community prayer. Sunday School begins at 8:15 a.m. in person, and the Sunday Morning Worship Experience follows at 9:15 a.m., available both in the sanctuary and online via Facebook Live and YouTube. First-time visitors are told simply to "come as you are," with open arms and a warm heart "regardless of attire."
The Music and Arts Ministry leads the music, drawing on multiple ensembles: the Hymn Choir for traditional repertoire, the GGBC Mass Choir, Ladies of Praise, the Shekinah Praise Team, and the Male Praise Team. Younger voices come from the Angels of Praise youth choir. Together the choirs blend gospel energy with the hymnody that has shaped the church's worship for generations.
Weekly Rhythms: Prayer, Bible Study, and Faith and Fitness
Beyond Sunday morning, Greater Galilee maintains a steady weekly rhythm. The Tuesday Intercessory Prayer Call gathers at 7 p.m. by phone (518-425-1303). Wednesday brings Bible Study at 11:30 a.m. in the McKissick Building and a 7 p.m. session offered both in person and on Zoom. The Faith and Fitness Ministry meets Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the McKissick Building for fitness activities that pair physical wellness with spiritual growth.
Youth Empowerment for Ages 2 to 18
Greater Galilee's Youth Empowerment Ministry meets on the first and third Sundays at 9:15 a.m. in the McKissick Building, reaching young people from age 2 through high school senior. The purpose is to walk young members through the full meaning of church membership and Christian discipleship, with mentors who teach by age group:
- Pre-K through 2nd grade: Mrs. Yvette McCain, Ms. Lorraine Jones, and Deaconess Glendora Sanders
- 3rd through 5th grade: Mrs. Wanda Stowe and Trustee JoAnn Stokely
- 6th through 8th grade: Ms. Diana Jeter and Rev. Keri Durrah
- 9th through 12th grade: Mr. Maurice Fuller and Rev. Bobby Moore
Three youth sub-ministries give younger members a place to serve. Angels of Praise is the youth choir. Men of Standard is the youth mime ministry, conveying spiritual messages through expressive movement. A Chosen Generation is the youth liturgical dance ministry, a group of young girls whose choreographed worship adds to the sanctuary's atmosphere on Sundays.
A Ministry for Every Age and Calling
The church's ministry roster reflects a congregation that takes seriously the call to serve in every corner of church life. The Education Ministry supports school-age youth through academic recognition and stays connected with college students through assistance and prayer. The Clothing House and Food Pantry provide clothing and food assistance to members and non-members alike. Men of Purpose helps men commit to deeper mission involvement, prayer, and stewardship. Women of Purpose empowers and unites women to grow spiritually, foster fellowship, and serve through focused efforts and mutual support.
Christian Education equips members through teaching and programs such as Sunday School, WOW, and Vacation Bible School. The Usher Board and Nurses Ministry work together, with ushers creating a welcoming and orderly worship environment and nurses responding to health needs within the congregation. Transportation and Parking ministries ensure that mobility is never a barrier to attendance and that arrivals are orderly and safe.
Hospitality greets every visitor with warmth. The Media Ministry spreads the Gospel through CDs, video, and online platforms, sharing recorded services for those who cannot attend. The Culinary Ministry manages the kitchen for church events and turns every shared meal into fellowship. Missions and Outreach coordinates food drives, clothing donations, and service projects in partnership with local organizations.
What Greater Galilee Believes
At the heart of the church's teaching is a simple presentation of salvation. Members are invited to accept that they need God's grace and forgiveness, to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He died and rose again, and to confess that faith with the mouth and the heart. Romans 3:23, Acts 16:31, and Romans 10:9 frame the message. John 3:16 anchors it: "God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life." A prayer of repentance is offered on the church's site for anyone ready to take that step, and newcomers who pray it are invited to connect with the church to take their next steps in faith.
Giving, Sermons, and Staying Connected
Greater Galilee offers four ways to give. Members and visitors may give in person by check or cash during worship, give online through Givelify, send a gift through Cash App to $GGBC501, or mail a check to the church's Park Avenue address. Members may also coordinate with their Alpha Team to arrange the collection of tithes and offerings. Livestreamed services air Sundays at 9:15 a.m. on Facebook Live and YouTube, and sermon archives are posted online for anyone who wants to revisit recent messages such as "We Are Writing The Vision" from Habakkuk 2, "I Can See Clearly Now!" from Mark 8, and "Make Some Noise!" from Psalm 100.
Short video encouragements from Dr. Hood-Scott appear regularly on the church's site under Dr. Kia Speaks, where she shares brief reflections titled things like "Rest, Write, Reset, Retreat," "Perfection Not Required," and "Finish Rested." Her preaching calendar is also posted online for those who want to follow her when she ministers beyond Charlotte.
Plan a Visit
Sunday School begins at 8:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship begins at 9:15 a.m. at 501 West Park Avenue. Parking is available on site through the Parking Ministry, and the Transportation Ministry can help arrange a ride for anyone who needs one. Dress is comfortable and welcoming, and visitors are encouraged to come as they are. Bibles are taught, hands are lifted in gospel praise, and visitors can expect a congregation that has been gathering neighbors in west Charlotte since the days of Reconstruction and intends to keep gathering them for generations to come.