WLBC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Apostle 's Board of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Apostle Herbert Edwards is a member of the Apostle's Board of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. and is Regional Apostle for Region XI. He is Presider of the Upstate Diocese in South Carolina and Pastor of Refuge Temple in Greenville, South Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Apostle 's Board of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Apostle Walter Jackson is a member of the Apostle's Board of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., is Apostle for Home Missions & Ethics, and serves as Regional Apostle of Region VIII. He is Presider of the Palmetto Diocese and Pastor of Refuge Temple in Charleston, South Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Vice Chairman
Bishop Clarence Groover, Sr., earned a B.S. in Mathematics/Physics from Savannah State University in Savannah, GA, and did graduate work toward a M.S. in Computer Science at American University in Washington, DC and a M.S. in Aerospace Operations Management at the University of Southern CA in Los Angeles. He served for three years in the United States Army during the Vietnam Era. Bishop Groover is certified as an electronics technician for a sophisticated anti-aircraft missile system and is an instructor of Mathematics and General Science at the Wiesbaden Education Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. He has worked as an Information Technology professional for more than 40 years in the government, private and education sectors. He served as Mathematician and Assistant Data Processing Engineer for the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory Satellite (OAO-A2); Lead Systems Analyst for various other Satellites, including the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD; Technical Consultant at SMX Technologies in Dunn Loring, VA; Information Technology Manager at National Computer Systems in Iowa City, IA; Information Systems Analyst at Federal Home Loan and Mortgage Corp (Freddie Mac) in Reston, VA; and Supervisory Computer Systems Analyst in the Government Printing Office and Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, DC. Bishop Groover served on teams for the Revised Consumer Price Index (CPI) system implementation and retired as Vice-Provost and Chief Information Officer (CIO), Information Systems and Services from Howard University in Washington, DC, which is the highest technology office at the University. Had direct management oversight for an annual budget of $19 million dollars and 168 employees. He is founder and pastor of Fisherman of Men Church in Washington, DC, and serves as Bishop of the Mid-Atlantic Diocese of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. he hosts a weekly one-half hour radio broadcast on WYCB, having been on the air for 38 years.
Job Titles:
- Bishop
- Member of the Academic Affairs Committee
- Civil Director
- Counselor Education
Bishop Smith earned a B.S. in Music Education and a M.S in Counselor Education from South Carolina State University. He serves as a Civil Director at the South Carolina Department of Health & Human Services in the Division of Contracts.
Apostle William Lee Bonner was born on November 21,1921 in Bolden County, Georgia, to Emmett and Janie Bonner. Apostle Bonner is the widower of the late Ethel Mae Smith Bonner. He is the father of two children, the late Ethel Mae Bonner Archer and William Lee Bonner, Jr.
Apostle Bonner's ministry began in the 1940s under the tutelage of the late Bishop Robert C. Lawson (1883-1961), founder of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. His first pastorate was the Green Avenue Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Brooklyn, New York. It was in 1944 that Bishop Lawson sent Apostle William Lee Bonner to Detroit to pastor the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was a storefront. Today, it is a two thousand five hundred (2,500)-seat edifice known as Solomon's Temple. In 1961, upon the death of Bishop Lawson, Apostle Bonner became the pastor of the three thousand (3,000)-member mother church, the Greater Refuge Temple in Harlem, New York City.
Apostle Bonner currently pastors churches Detroit, Michigan, New York City, Washington, D.C., Jackson, Mississippi, and Columbia, South Carolina. He is the Chief Apostle and Senior Prelate of the General Assembly of the Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. This is an international body of churches. Under his administration, the assembly has grown from one hundred and fifty-five (155) churches in 1961 to over five hundred (500) churches and missions throughout the world. He has faithfully kept the charge of the founder Bishop Lawson, to "Add Thou to it."
Apostle Bonner received his religious education and the Doctor of Divinity through the Church of Christ Bible Institute in New York City. Pastor Bonner is listed in "Who's Who in Religion" (1985). Apostle Bonner's ministry is based on prayer and faith in God. His message is one of hope and deliverance. He believes that those who pray can expect a miracle. Bishop Bonner, an auto-pedagogical scholar, has written many books that enable Christians to know and understand who they are in Christ, and to comprehend,
more thoroughly, tenets of the Christian faith. Some of his works include Another Comforter, The African Story, The Battle of Armageddon, The Uncontrolled Emotions of Young People, Life in the Holy Spirit, The Three Women: Sarah, Rebecca and Jezebel, The Apostolic Dilemma, Part I and II, My Father in the Gospel, and Add Thou To It. In addition, many books have been written by others as a tribute to his contributions to church growth and evangelism, Christian education and world missions. One of the most distinguished of these works is The Man and His God.
W. L. Bonner College is the crown jewel of Pastor Bonner's educational ministry. Since 1995 the school has trained approximately 1,400 students for ministry and professional development that has made them eligible for promotion and advancement within their denominational institutions. Earning its first accredited status with The International Christian Accrediting Association (ICAA) in 1999, the institution is now pursuing the accredited status with The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE).
Representatives marvel as they listen to Pastor Bonner tell the vision that God gave him to start a theological institution for training ministers, missionaries and lay persons to become more effective in their ministry. Pastor Bonner has influenced those who once felt that higher education and training was not essential if you are called by God, to enroll in the college and many have remained until they received the institution's highest degree, the Bachelor of Religious Studies.
Apostle Bonner desires to see every church in this Organization grow and have the spiritual and financial success that the Lord Jesus Christ intends for them to have. The members of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. embrace the vision of our great visionary, believing that we shall receive all of the gifts and all the blessings that God has for us.
Commissioner Cheryl Hinton Harris has a MBA from South University. She is a member of the Richland County School District One Board of Commissioners, where she currently serves her second term as chair. She is a member of the National Drop-Out Prevention Program of Clemson University, a member of NSBA, SCSBA, and several other national and state organizations. She is the CEO/Founder of Inspire Mentoring Program within the community serving boys and girls 10-21 years of age.
Councilman Sam Davis earned a B.S. in Political Science from the University of South Carolina and a M.A. in Management and Administration from Webster University. He works as the Program Coordinator in Incident Management at the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs and serves on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Inc., College Place Neighborhood Association, House District 73 Citizen's Development Council, and is a City Council Councilman for Columbia's District I.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Dr. Celeste Ashe Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Elizabeth City State University and a Master of Science Degree in Education, Supervision and Administration from the City College of the City University of New York. She studied for the Doctor of Education Degree at the University of Massachusetts and earned the Doctor of Religious Education Degree from Christ Theological Seminary. Earned her Certification, Life Long Learning, Harvard University The Commonwealth University conferred upon her the degree of Doctor of Sacred Literature, honoris causa. The Richmond Virginia College and Seminary conferred upon her the Doctor of Laws Degree. Former Academic Administrator, College of New Rochelle School of New Resources, Bronx, NY, Former Director, Education Programs, Westchester County Department of Corrections, Valhalla, NY, Sixth President/CEO, International Association of Ministers Wives' Widows', Incorporated, Interdenominational, Hartford Team Leader, Independent Contract, No Child Left Behind, Futures, Inc., Hartford, CT, Recipient of the Black Revolutionary War Foundation Award in support 104 th Congress of the United States to erect the Black Monument in Washington, DC, Published Author, Let the Words of My Mouth, 2002.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs Committee
- Physician, ELite Healthcare, Inc.
Physician, ELite Healthcare, Inc.; Former Professor of Psychology WLBC; Director of Health Services WLBC; Member of American Medical Association; Member of Board of Presbyters COOLJC
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Dr. Bullock earned an Associate degree from Vance Grandville Community College, a BS in Business Administration from Shaw University in Buies Creek College in North Carolina, a BS in Biblical Studies from W. L. Bonner College, a Master of Divinity from Shaw University, and a Graduate Theological Foundation from the University of Notre Dame. He serves as Staff Chaplain for the North Carolina Department of Corrections, Pastor of Fishers of Men Church in Henderson, NC, and District Elder of the Metropolitan Diocese of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. He is a member of the Board of Suggs High School in Farmville, NC.
Ida Thompson earned a BS in Student Personnel Services and Psychology and a Masters in Educational Administration and a Masters in Library and Information Science. She is currently a doctoral candidate at South Carolina State University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Dawn Mills Campbell earned a B.A., Journalism from Benedict College and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University. She is a Doctoral student at the University of Phoenix where she is studying Higher Education Administration, and works as a Technical Writer/Research Coordinator and adjunct professor at Benedict College. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Historic Columbia and as a Notary Public for the State of South Carolina. She is a past chair of the Eastover-Lower Richland Business Association, founder and president of New Dawning Publications, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Student / Services / Admissions Director
Pastor Bonner is a visionary leader, church planter and builder, evangelist, pastor and educator. He established the Commission for World Evangelism to increase the involvement of parishioners in missionary work. Under his administration the denomination (COOLJC) has experienced phenomenal growth. In 1961, the organization had 155 assemblies with a combined membership of 45,000. Today there are approximately 506 churches with a combined membership of 100,000. Church congregations are located in every major city in the United States, with churches and missions in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, West Africa and Europe. As a world missionary, Pastor Bonner has expanded upon the work began by Bishop Lawson in establishing, not only churches, but educational institutions and health facilities. In Bokaytown, Liberia, West Africa, he built a clinic so that women could come from the "Bush" to have their babies in sanitary conditions.
Greetings . . .I am so excited about what the Lord is doing at W. L. Bonner College (WLBC). Each accomplishment and every success story has brought greater appreciation and enthusiasm. Prior to my employment here at WLBC, I worked as Assistant Registrar at S. C. State University, resigning after 28 years. My current role as Director of Enrollment Management/Registrar has enabled me to serve God's people in a greater capacity. It begins with recruitment, as we establish friendly, positive rapport, with potential students. These effective relationships extend through the funnel process, as we guide them through admissions processing, pre-assessment, orientation, academic advisement, course scheduling, graduation, and beyond. It is as exciting for me, as it is for the students. Observing them these past five years, and witnessing how they blossom into professionals, is evident that the College Mission is being accomplished, "Preparing them for proclaiming Him."
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Shannon Hawkins earned a Bachelor of Religious Studies in Youth Ministries from W. L. Bonner College and a M.A. in Bible Teaching from Columbia International University. She works as an Independent Adjuster, with Bankers Financial Corporation and is a former Administrative Assistant to the Polk County School Board. She serves on the Focus on Leadership of Greater Lakeland, Class XI; Sheriff's Advisory Council, Polk County, FL; Board Member of Habitat for Humanity of Lakeland; The City of Lakeland Code Enforcement Board Member; The International Women's Council of the Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ of The Apostolic Faith, Inc., and Liaison of the Department of Education to the W. L. Bonner College.
Job Titles:
- Administration and Student Services / IT Coordinator
Job Titles:
- General Education / Professor of Humanities
Job Titles:
- Church and Family Law Professor