Our history
History of the Church And its founder
Christ Exclectic Church was organized and founded January 2023 by Bishop, Teacher, and Prophet Elijah Hotep X (Spiritual name), whose birth name is Danny Gilbert. Born in the city of Newark,
N.J. and attended Nyack College and Alliance theological Seminary, & Colorado Technical Institute studying youth ministry and Business Administration.
He has earned certifications, licensing, awards & training both in ministry and management in corporate America as well as the church.
With 35 years of Christian experience and 33 years of ministry, brother Elijah was well equipped to do a new work and thus he began to break ground to be Bishop and founder of a new work. Ordained by his Grandmother Pastor Matilda Wright (third generation Pastor, his great grandfather was a Pastor).
Bishop Elijah was licensed by the denomination through the recommendation of his Bishop Joseph Kennedy. At the age of 17, in 1992 he was the youngest licensed minister of the denomination.
His first ministry work started at Christ Temple of Peace Church in Newark N.J. under the leadership of the late Bishop Gene Wiggins and his successor Bishop Joseph Kennedy. Serving first at the age of sixteen as a Sunday school teacher, being appointed by the mother of the church, Mother Fields and being appointed an acolyte by Bishop Gene Wiggins.
After serving under Christ Temple of Peace in Newark, he visited Faith Fellowship Ministries under Pastor David T. Demola when the church was in Edison N.J. before they moved to Sayreville. He went there several Sundays until he decided where he would be planted. His next training ground was The Love of Jesus Church in Orange N.J. where he served under Pastor Jason Alvarez. It was Pastor Jason Alvarez who took him under his leadership and gave him opportunities for ministry training, full time employment and residence. For eight years Brother Elijah was a dedicated minister of The Love of Jesus Ministries.
With the blessing of Pastor (Apostle) Jason Alvarez, Bro. Danny was asked by Pastor David in Roselle, N.J. to serve at his church, he immediately submitted this request to Pastor Jason, and he encouraged him and released him to serve under Pastor David of Chestnut Community church in Roselle N.J. There Pastor David needed a Youth minster and a praise and worship singer. It was there that he created a new youth outreach kids ministry that drew many to the church.
With more than 30 years of ministry dedication and labor in the kingdom of God, Bishop Elijah has served as a youth organizer, youth Pastor, Youth detention mentor in Newark youth detention center under the leadership of Joe Clark (hired as an Extra in the movie “Lean On me” previously), 12 step drug rehab program counselor, a street evangelist, presbyterian board member, Itinerant preacher, Church tv ministry prayer counselor, altar worker, Church maintenance and construction team, Church consultant and support ministry, & various community outreaches both volunteering
and speaking. God has insured that Bishop Elijah is to be trained and properly prepared for the work of the ministry which he called him to.
After leaving New Jersey to raise his son away from the Ganges of Newark, he settled in Georgia in the year 2003. He became a member of Christian Growth Cathedral under the leadership of Apostle David Kenney, who taught an emphasis on the kingdom of God which has influenced the teaching of Bishop Elijah. While being an active member of Christian Growth Cathedral he stayed in fellowship with other churches and pastors as well. This was critical in obedience to God for the work that God instructed him to prepare for, although at that time he did not fully know or understand many of the details, but he knew it something different God was preparing him for.
Quite naturally he started doing what he was called and anointed to do as he had the ability and finances at the time. Writing and publishing three books and having the vision for more. He went on the radio in metro Atlanta and expanded his ministry on YouTube and other social media networks.
The vison of building Christ Xclectic Temple and Churches was the call of God many years prior to its foundation, God instructed the prophet and teacher to study and organize and pay attention. After spending four years of disciplined and devoted time studying scripture, history, Egypt, religion biblical theology and Christian history it was time to obey the call of God to start a new movement and thus build a new Church.
His first task was to organize by writing the vison and laying out the doctrines according to the first directive of Habakkuk 2:1-3. After he completed a brief layout of the vison, he quickly submitted his vison to the counsel and call of a Pastor friend of his. It was immediately rejected, and the pastor stated he could not even collaborate with him in building the ministry together, although the offer was for the pastor to function as counselor to the ministry for “Non doctrinal” counsel.
Not being frustrated, because he was well prepared for this and experienced it through the years of ministry, he continued. As of the founding year of 2023, he is currently serving as Chief Bishop of Christ Exclectic Church (The Temple of Christ Atlanta) and as Teacher and Prophet.
His vision is to build a ministry of excellence with a directive to teach truth and preach the gospel of Christ. To raise up leaders with the same passion and anointing to do the work of the ministry. To establish ministries and churches and Temples all over the world, starting from Atlanta, Georgia to the north of Newark, N.J. New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Pennsylvania. To travel internationally from Africa to India and around the world to preach and teach as well as to learn and receive wisdom.
In doing this magnificent work it cannot be accomplished without our members, teams, Pastors, Bishops, Elders, Volunteers, partners, and prayer.
