"Although
the fraternity may be young in name and establishment, it is by far the
oldest in terms of brotherhood and servitude."
Gamma Phi Delta Christian
Fraternity, Incorporated was founded on March 21, 1988, on the campus of
University of Texas at Austin, and incorporated on March 16, 1994. The original
catalyst: Kelvin C. James, Curtis Campbell, Rodney Walker, and Dwight Burns conceived the idea to form such an organization, due to the lack of a Christian
organization for college educated men on the diverse campus at that time.
Brothers Luis Lopez, Eric Wilson, David Porter, Derrick Riley, Jeffery Holmes,
James Lee, George Floyd, Michael Satterfield, Alex Bird, Bernard Jackson,
Ikless Pettiet and Melbourne McDonald joined in the vision with the original
catalyst and have now become known affectionately by the members as The Sixteen Visionaries.
The fraternity originally
began as a fellowship and bible study among some of the men who knew God.
As time progressed, the urge by many of the Visionaries to pledge a fraternity
grew. After attending various interest meetings and parties of the fraternities
established on the campus at the time, it was a synonymous vote among
the Visionaries to hold fast to their morals, standards and beliefs and
still experience what has become such an intricate part of college life,
fraternity. After much thought and planning, the idea of a Christian fraternity
became reality in the spring of 1988.
Since 1988, Gamma Phi Delta Christian
Fraternity, Incorporated has established chapters at University of Texas
at Austin, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University at
College Station, Sam Houston State University, Grambling State University,
Langston University, University of Houston, and North Carolina Central
University. Although Gamma Phi Delta initial founding purpose was for
social reasons, which is still the dominant need at the college campus
level, throughout the years, serving campus, community and world has become
extremely important to the fraternity and its members.
Through many ministerial
seminars, series, and national programs such as Adopt A Church Project,
Gamma Phi Delta Christian Fraternity, Incorporated has been able to reach
men, women and children from all age groups and ethnicities, in the hopes
that many may be saved in the name of Jesus Christ. Although the fraternity
may be young in name and establishment, it is by far the oldest in terms
of brotherhood and servitude.
Excerpt from the official History of Gamma Phi Delta
Christian Fraternity, Inc.
