WEST PARK, Fla. — For 83-year-old Jerry Hicks, the House of God church in West Park is more than just a building.
“This is my life, this is all I know,” Hicks said. “We built this from the ground up.”
Hicks, who now serves as a deacon at the church, said he was shocked when a “for sale” sign appeared out front.
He and other members later learned the property was being sold — they say through unethical procedures, and even the pastor was unaware.
“That took my heart out,” Hicks said. “You know, it’s where it’s just coming from. And I just do not understand, why are they trying to sell all of these churches and for a word of reason, for money?”
The West Park site is not alone.
Records show at least four other House of God churches are also listed for sale — in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood, Dania Beach, Miami Gardens and Pompano Beach — with prices set below market value.
The Broward property appraiser values the West Park church at more than $1 million, but the current listing is $799,000.
“Once that trust is broken, they really can’t serve,” said congregant Ives Hicks. “So they’re gonna not just lose a building. They’re gonna lose parishioners, they’re gonna lose members.”
The sites are owned by a national organization based in Tennessee, House of God–King Dominion East Coast.
“We were a day late and a dollar short when we found out about it,” said Gino Jamison. “We hope we can get this resolved in a peaceful way but I don’t see that happening.”
Earlier this month, the group sent a letter about the closures, saying in part:
“Please join with the upper prelature of the Church for a sacred pause regarding these matters until further notice, where we will conduct every feasible due diligence.”
But property listings for the churches remain active.
For Hicks, the process has left him devastated.
“It hurts to know that all I’ve done is for nothing,” he said. “I hope they take away the fact that we do not want out church sold.”
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