Staff Members

Bishop Dr. Howard Willis, Jr.

Posted by on Jan 20, 2014 in Portfolio, Staff Members | 18,397 comments

Bishop Dr. Howard Willis, Jr.

Bishop Howard Van Willis, Jr. was reared in Petersburg, Virginia. He is the third child of Deacon Howard and Deaconess Virginia Willis Sr. He is married to the former Ms. Sabrina D. Thomas of Hampton, VA., and they have two children, Howard III and Vanessa. Bishop Willis has been active in service for the Lord since the age of 16. As a layperson, he served in comfort and healing ministries, Men’s ministries, street evangelism, usher board, and choirs. He has headed Easter fellowships and alternative fellowships during Halloween for youth that have served over 800 children in each event from toddler to teenager. As a minister he has served as Pastor, assistant to the pastor, Sunday school teacher, Bible study leader, chairperson of a stewardship committee to raise 1 million dollars, and he is the past president of the Minister’s Council of the American Baptist Churches of the South. Bishop Willis was licensed to preach the gospel in June of 1999 at the Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church, New Kent County, Virginia, and was ordained at the Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Capitol Heights, Maryland in November of 2001. Being a champion of education, Bishop Willis completed his undergraduate work at Virginia State University where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. In acknowledgement of his calling to the ministry, he matriculated to the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University where he obtained a Master of Divinity degree. In December 2006, he completed a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Preaching and Leadership from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. The title of his dissertation is The Associate Minister Preaching in The African American Baptist Church. Since his installation at Greater Mount Pisgah in 2007, the church has more than doubled its Sunday’s attendance, deacons and deaconess have been ordained and consecrated, ministers have been ordained and licensed to the Gospel, and revitalization and creation of ministries has been dynamic. Under the theme, “Serving Christ in Excellence” Bishop Willis and the Greater Mount Pisgah Family are intent on being faithful Disciples of Christ. With a desire for world evangelism, Bishop Willis graduated from Lott Carey’s Pastoral Excellence Program in 2010. He has taught and preached in Guyana, Jamaica and Italy. On November 5, 2016; Dr. Willis was consecrated as a Bishop by The Eagles World Evangelism Council of Bishops (EWECOB), and currently serves as Vice Continental Chairman of North America for The International Evangelism Council of Bishops (IECOB). Above all, Bishop Willis is a man of faith and seeks nothing else, but to serve God in every capacity and holds fast to the scripture “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek...

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Rev. Ossie R. Coley

Posted by on Jan 20, 2014 in Portfolio, Staff Members | 15,254 comments

Rev. Ossie R. Coley

Rev. Ossie Ray Coley Sr., is a born again believer who believes in the POWER of GOD, to transform lives of everyone who dare to believe.  Rev. Coley accepted his calling to preach the gospel in 1996 under the leadership of Bishop Kevin V. Gresham of the Greater St. John Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.  Rev. Ray Coley was ordained in October 25, 2008 at Greater Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Washington DC under the leadership of Rev. Howard Van. Willis Jr., Pastor He received his Associates of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies at the Inter-Denominational Institute, Inc. Rev. Coley has completed several courses in spiritual development at Washington Bible College. Rev. Coley serves as President of Christ Mission Workers Prison Ministry.  Rev. Coley oversees a team geared to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to those locked behind prison bars in Alderson, West Virginia.  Rev. Coley organizes a yearly revival in Alderson where the word is preached, the Lord Supper is served and souls are baptized. Rev. Coley has ministered in several Federal Institutions: Butner North Carolina, Lorton Virginia, Cumberland, Maryland and Washington DC.   In 20 years of ministering the gospel in various prisons Rev. Coley has seen lives transformed. Presently, Rev. Coley is on ministerial staff at Greater Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church along with his wife, Rev. Delores E. Coley, as Associate Minister under the leadership of Pastor Howard Van Willis Jr.  He also serves as the Superintendent of Sunday and is also a member of the male chorus. Rev. Coley is the proud parent of three wonderful adult children, Ossie Ray Jr., Anthony Darnell, and Effie Katrina and is also the proud grandparent of a beautiful granddaughter, Kameela Hanon. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)...

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Rev. Delores E. Coley

Posted by on Jan 20, 2014 in Portfolio, Staff Members | 15,618 comments

Rev. Delores E. Coley

Rev. Delores E. Coley is a born again believer who believes in the POWER of GOD, to transform lives of everyone who would dare to believe. Rev. Delores accepted her calling to preach the gospel under the leadership of Bishop Kevin V. Gresham, Greater St. John Church located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Rev. Delores was ordained October of 2008 at Greater Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Washington DC under the Leadership of Doctor Howard Van Willis Jr. She has received dual Associates of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies at Washington Saturday College Inter-Denominational Institute, Inc. and United Christian Ministry Institute. Rev. Delores received a Bachelor of Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Currently pursuing a Masters of Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, Ga., expected completion December 2014. Rev. Delores is the first female ordained minister of Greater Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. Rev. Delores has completed a course of study in Christian Leadership: Goal Setting, Action Planning and Ministry Implementation at the Patricia D. Clark Christian Education Institute at Reid Temple AME Church and has also received special recognition for completing a course of Bible study for Minister’s for Christ Outreach. Rev. Delores serves as Ministry Chair to Women of Greater Mt. Pisgah, coordinates events, such as: Girls Night Out, Victorious Women’s Workshop and Annual Women’s Day. She serves as Adult Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Teacher with strong emphasis on the “word” becoming life. She is a Prayer Warrior and Prayer Partner. Rev. Delores assists the Youth Ministry Leader in Sunday Morning Youth Church. As part of community outreach Rev. Delores coordinates with the coordinator of the Tabernacle Church in Laurel, Maryland with Flesh Produce Distribution every 5th Monday. Rev. Delores has a ministry to the elderly at Heart Fields Assisted Living in Bowie, Maryland. Rev. Delores has served on the broad of directors for the Downtown Dinner Program that serve meals to men and women daily. The Lord has used Rev. Delores to minister and evangelize those in women’s prisons, nursing homes, hospitals, street corners, women conferences, seminars and Sunday Morning preaching. Rev. Delores is a devoted mentor to women. Her highest honor is to have birthed three wonderful children, who are truly a gift from almighty GOD and is proud to be the grandparent of a beautiful granddaughter, Kameela Hanon. Currently, Rev. Delores is serving at Greater Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church along with her husband, Rev. Ossie Ray Coley Sr., as Associate Minister under the leadership of Pastor Howard Van Willis Jr. “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” (Psalms 27:4...

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Minister Sherri D. Whittingham

Posted by on Sep 15, 2010 in Portfolio, Staff Members | 21,146 comments

Minister Sherri D. Whittingham

Minister Sherri D. Whittingham is a longtime member of the Greater Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church.  She works tirelessly with the GMPBC Women’s Ministry and Usher Board #2, Catholic Charities of the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area and the H. D. Woodson Sr. High School F.L.O.W. Program for young women, devoting herself to the empowerment women, helping them to operate in their maximum potential. Minister Whittingham accepted her calling from God in December of 2017 and is moving forward to do the work of the Lord, according to Mark 16:15 – “And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creation.” Surrounded with the love of her devoted family, friends, Church members and classmates, she stands today bolding proclaiming God’s word, His saving Grace and...

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