After 11 months in the Misawa community, Pastor Shawn D. Smith developed an unrelenting burden for lost and stagnant souls. It was stated that only 8 percent of the Misawa community were in relationship with Jesus Christ and regularly attending worship services. Pastor Smith realized that there were Christians who had put their relationship with God on hold while serving in Misawa and more importantly lost souls who had never known Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In June of 1999, while TDY to the Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Okinawa, Japan, he received a vision from God to organize a church in the Misawa Community. The vision for this church was to be: To build a church where the lost could find Christ; the wounded could be made whole, burdens could be lifted and yokes could be destroyed, all by the Grace of God, through the love of Jesus Christ and the guiding and teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. Under the tutelage and mentorship of Pastor Charles Daniels of the United Missionary Baptist Church, Okinawa, Japan, Pastor Smith accepted the commission as a laborer in the vineyard of Christ.

One month later, Pastor Smith was ordained and set apart for the work of the ministry by the late Rev (Dr) William Rogers Charles, Former Moderator of the Southwest District Association of the Western Baptist State Convention, San Diego, California and former Pastor of the New Horizon Baptist Church. Pastor and First Lady Smith received the bishop’s charge on July 18, 1999 in the presence of God and the New Horizon Missionary Baptist Church Assembly (I Timothy 3:1-7).

In August of 1999, a prophecy was spoken by a co-laborer in the Gospel, Minister Mary Deberry. The Lord had given her a vision for the location of our former church home. She stated that the church would be located behind a Circle K. Upon return to Misawa, Pastor Smith endeavored to secure a location in which to begin his mission. Upon advice from a friend, the former location (behind Circle K) was found and made available (I Peter 1:19-21). On September 17, 1999, an organizational meeting of all those who had expressed interest in becoming a part of the ministry was called; there were 17 in attendance.

It was stated that the first worship service would be held the first Sunday in October. After continued prayer and supplication the keys were acquired on September 30th. The Lord sent people who had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6). On Sunday, October 3, 1999, the first service of Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church was held with approximately 250 in attendance (John 2:20). During that first service, seven people accepted salvation.

As Pastor Smith continued to seek the growth and development of the Greater Love Church, the hand of God showed strong and mighty. He led the Greater Love Family in a campaign to build and own a church campus in the Misawa area. In March, 2002 ground was broken on our current location. In August of 2002, the Lord stretched forth His hand and Greater Love was relocated to our present church campus. Again in 2006, the hand of the Lord moved and Greater Love was able to build an addition to the campus-The Love Center, a state-of the-art multipurpose facility.

In the summer of 2007, the church held its first Reunion Conference in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Since 2008, Greater Love International has had reunion conferences in San Antonio, Texas, Little Rock, Arkansas, and most recently Dallas, Texas. In May of 2008, Greater Love was welcomed under the spiritual covering of New Beginnings International Ministries by Chief Apostle Charles A. Daniels. In the same year, Pastor Smith was ordained as an Overseer and First Lady Smith as an Elder. In June of 2009, Overseer Smith was consecrated to the office of Bishop. Since 2009, Greater Love International has grown to have branches in Aviano, Italy; Junction City, Louisiana; Yongsan, Korea; and Virginia Beach, Virginia.

In March of 2010, The Lord blessed and allowed the church to build a baptismal pool on the church campus. As the hand of the Lord has continued to show faithful, the main building of the Greater Love Church Campus was paid off in March, 2013. This momentous occasion was celebrated on May 17, 2013 with a mortgage burning ceremony.

In October 2019, The Greater Love Church celebrated 20 years of ministry and subsequently in January of 2020, paid off the mortgage of the Love Center and received the title to the entire church campus, to include the Education buildings previously located on the property.

After relocating during the Covid Pandemic, in 12 April 2020, Greater Love Everywhere (Virtual Ministry) was launched and the church and its mission continued. For three years virtually, with and in-person celebration for the 22nd Anniversary October 2021, in McDonough Ga, and Refreshing and Renewal Conference, July 2022 in Dallas Texas, the church continued its mission to reach men and women who don’t know Jesus Christ and bring them into a loving and lasting personal relationship with Him, and responsible church membership.

On 31 July 2023, God did it again, as the church was able to purchase property at 603 Wellborn Road, Warner Robins Georgia, and will celebrate the acquisition of this sacred space as well as the 24th church and pastoral 7-8 October 2023. Under the Holy Spirit-led leadership of Bishop SD and Elder Tammy Smith, the Kingdom Impact of this ministry has been felt around the world. The Lord has been faithful to perform that which He has promised as we follow the vision of Exalting the Savior, Equipping the Saint, Evangelizing the Sinner, and Edifying Society. To God be all the Glory for the Greater Things He is doing.

GOD did it, again…