Reverend O'Neal Dozier
Rev. O’Neal Dozier was born on September 3, 1948 to sharecroppers Annie and the late Jessie Emmanuel Dozier, the fourth of eleven children. His family left South Carolina in 1955 on a migrant farm bus and traveled to Pompano Beach, Florida. In 1967, Rev. Dozier graduated from Blanche Ely High School where he was a soloist in the chorus and played football and basketball.
Rev. Dozier received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy from Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida. During the 1974 football season, Rev. Dozier played professional football in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. He was later traded to the New York Jets, where he was subsequently waived due to injury. During the 1979 football season, he was a player/coach for the Alabama Vulcans of the American Football Association Professional Football League (AFA).
Our pastor is a Vietnam veteran. He served two consecutive terms in the United States Army. During his second tour of duty he was stationed in Germany where he was Head Football Coach of the championship Ansbach American High School football team. While overseas, he competed in and won several European bodybuilding contests.
Rev. Dozier earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence Law Degree from the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the Morehouse School of Religion Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been a licensed minister of the gospel since 1975. In 1983, he was ordained as a Baptist Minister. In 1985, Rev. O’Neal Dozier and his wife Leketia founded The Worldwide Christian Center now located in Pompano Beach, Florida, where he continues to serve as Senior Pastor.
For three years, Dr. Dozier was an adjunct professor of law at Broward College and the Criminal Justice Institute of Broward College. In 2001, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Rev. Dozier to a two-year term on the Seventeenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC). The JNC screens and interviews applicants for circuit judgeships. Rev. Dozier considered his assignment to the JNC “a blessing from God.” He looked upon his appointment as an opportunity to honor God and to promote righteousness and godliness through the selection of ”. . . God-fearing candidates . . . good judges regardless of color . . . .” In 2003, Governor Bush appointed Rev. Dozier to an additional four-year term on the JNC. In 2005 Governor Bush appointed Rev. Dozier to the Board of Directors of the adoption program, One Church, One Child of Florida, Inc.
Politicians and political campaigns often seek out our pastor for his advice, support, and counsel. Rev. Dozier was called upon to campaign for the re-election of Governor Jeb Bush in 2002. In 2004, Dr. Dozier was enlisted by the Bush-Cheney Campaign Committee to make radio advertisements for President George W. Bush in his bid for re-election. Rev. Dozier is credited with garnishing a record-breaking percentage of the black vote in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties in that election. During the second term of President George W. Bush, Rev. Dozier was called to the White House on numerous occasions to meet with the President and once to meet with Dr. Condoleeza Rice. Dr. Dozier was among a small group of Black African-American leaders from whom the President sought counsel on matters ranging from the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa to the results of the G-8 Summit. Rev. Dozier was also part of a clergy advisory group that President Bush consulted on national and international issues. Rev. Dozier was a member of Governor Charlie Crist’s official 2006 campaign team and advisory counsel.
In 2005 and 2006, the Reverend was under contract as a panelist on NPR’s News and Notes Roundtable hosted by Emmy-award winning journalist, Ed Gordon. Dr. Dozier was a keynote speaker at the Reclaiming America for Christ 2003 and 2005 conferences hosted by Dr. D. James Kennedy and the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale. In April of 2009, Dr. Dozier was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Christian Coalition of Florida. In November of 2009, Broward Right to Life honored Rev. Dozier with the Bart T. Heffernan Guardian of Life Award for over two decades of strong advocacy for the protection of the unborn by preaching against abortion from the pulpit and rallying against abortion on the streets and in the media. Rev. Dozier continues to do numerous radio and television interviews across the nation, discussing political and social issues of the day. His weekly radio broadcast, “Teaching that Changes Lives,” can be heard weekly on WAFG 90.3, GraceFM, the radio station founded by Dr. D. James Kennedy. Rev. Dozier is a member of the Broward Republican Executive Committee (BREC).
Rev. Dozier is a prayer warrior who faithfully spends time in his own prayer closet and teaches his flock to pray. He visits the sick and those in prison. He helps the poor and needy through various missions in the community and throughout the world. In conjunction with Gateway Community Outreach, each Saturday the church operates a food pantry. Locally and nationally, Rev. Dozier is known for his outspoken, Biblical stand on cultural issues. He does not compromise the Word of God but declares it with boldness. Rev. Dozier unabashedly preaches and teaches the Word of God on abortion, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, welfare, immigration, public school prayer, school choice, income taxation, Islam, and the war on terror. He passionately preaches Biblical morality and is not afraid to be “politically incorrect.” Dr. Dozier’s first book, “Who’s On The Lord’s Side Politically,” is a faith-based guide to principled political action.
Rev. Dozier is the father of three daughters–Adrienne, Tarakiki, and Marilita. He, his wife Leketia, and their youngest daughter reside in Pompano Beach, Florida.