Our Pastor & First Lady
Bishop Julian Stephenson was born in the parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica. He accepted the Lord as his Savior at the age of 16 years old. He answered the call of God and went to the Zion Bible Institute, in Barrington, Rhode Island. He graduated with a Diploma in Theology and Pastoral Ministries, with a Minor in Christian Education. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Church Management from Nyack College. After graduating from Zion Bible Institute in 1998, he returned to New York, and accepted the position of Youth Pastor at New Testament Temple. He served in various Ministry capacities, such as the Senior Pastor of Miracle Christian Center in Paterson, NJ, and Youth Pastor at the Eastchester Road Church of God(ECOG). He is currently serving as the Senior Pastor, of the Church of God of Woodycrest Avenue, from June 2011 to present.
He also works full-time at the Bowery Mission, which is a rescue mission, as the Associate Director of the 227 Bowery Site on the Lower Eastside of New York. In this capacity he provides leadership as the community life staff supervisor, compassionate care, and gateway program. He also provides counseling to men who are addicted to several substances, broken, and homeless. He is also a member of the Community Life Leadership team at the Bowery Mission. He loves people and is always praying for ways to reach them. He has a heart for missions and he has participated in several foreign and home mission’s trips.
He has been married for over twenty years to his wife, Rev. Dr. Ingrid Stephenson. Their union has produced three beautiful children, Sophia, Rachel and Joanna. You can always hear him say, “Keep it vertical not horizontal”, which means to keep your eyes on God and not on man.
Rev. Dr. Ingrid Stephenson, accepted the Lord at the age of nine years old. She started to preach and assist her pastor in her local church at the age of twelve. She holds a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology and a Doctoral Degree in Counseling Psychology. She is an educator, preacher, counselor, administrator, conference speaker and published author. She has served in several ministry roles such as Assistant Pastor, Youth Pastor, Sunday School Superintendent, Intercessor, Teacher and Evangelist. She has been on several mission’s trips both internationally and locally. She has a heart for those who are in need and seek to assist in whatever way she can, this has allowed her to start a food pantry in her local church, which provides food and clothes to members of the community. Her greatest desires are to see people saved, filled with the Holy Ghost and walking in their God given purpose. She is honored to serve alongside her husband.