Bishop Thomas Martin, Jr.

Treasurer

The Most Reverend Bishop Joseph H. Bell, Sr.

Inaugurated September 22, 2001

Bishop Joseph H. Bell, Sr. was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA.  He accepted Christ as his personal savior and became a member of Mt. Olive Holy Church of Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America in January 1944, under the pastorate of its founder, the late Bishop Ida B. Robinson. 

Bishop Bell currently resides in Teaneck, New Jersey with his lovely wife of more than fifty years, Elder Minerva R. Bell.  They have been blessed with three children, eight grandchildren (including the Bell triplets), and one great grandchild.  A learned science teacher, Bishop Joseph Bell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Science from Howard University, a Master of Arts degree in Science Education from Columbia University and courses leading to Certification in Supervision and Administration from City College, Fordham University and Columbia University. In addition, he studied at Sarah Lawrence College and Yeshiva University under National Science Foundation Grants and Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics during 1960’s.

 Concurrently with his studies in the sciences, Bishop Bell was pursuing his calling to the ministry as a man of God.  He delivered his initial sermon in 1964 and was ordained an Elder in 1970. The Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America, Inc. consecrated him to the Bishopric in 1974.  He received a degree in Biblical Studies from the Hawthorne Bible School in Hawthorne, New Jersey.  

Bishop Bell is dedicated to education and learning, as evidenced by his stellar career as a teacher in the New York Public School system for more than 30 years.  He served as a teacher of science in both junior and senior high schools from 1954 to 1970.  In 1971 he became principal of the Olinville Junior High School in the Bronx, New York.  

 Upon the passing of his father, Bishop James Bell in July 1990, the Board of Directors of Mt. Sinai Holy Church appointed Bishop Joseph Bell pastor of the Bethel Holy Church in New York City.   He had assisted his father in a broadcast ministry that spanned a period of 38 years, from 1949 to 1987.  Bishop Joseph Bell also served as assistant to the pastor and served the church in many administrative capacities.   He served Bethel as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Church Secretary.  As the present pastor of Bethel Holy Church, Bishop Joseph Bell has established an outreach ministry that includes a soup kitchen, clothing distribution and food pantry program. The ministry also serves parents and their children in dealing with social, peer and academic issues.  Once a month he conducts a chapel service for the Florence Nightingale Health Center in New York City.  In 1995, Bishop Bell initiated the launch of the Bethel Community Bible Institute, which is a fully accredited institution.

Bishop Bell has served the Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America, Inc. in various capacities.  He served as the president of the National Youth Convention and is presently active as a part of the support system for the youth of Mt. Sinai.  He is a member of the Board of Presbyters and the Board of Bishops.  He has been a dedicated member of the Board of Directors since 1971.  Prior to being promoted to the presidency of Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America, Inc. in February, 2001, Bishop Bell served the corporate church as it’s General Secretary and Secretary of the Board of Directors from 1982.  He was faithful and dedicated in service to the two preceding presidents of the Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America, Inc., the late Bishop Mary E. Jackson and his immediate predecessor, the late Bishop Amy B. Stevens.

The Right Reverend Bishop Emanuel Holland

Installed-September 22, 2001

Bishop John Emanuel Holland, son of the late brother Dave Holland and Elder Murtis Holland Green, was born December 24, 1927 in the city of Asheboro, North Carolina, located in Randolph County.  He is the son of a preacher and the seventh child of eight children.  His mother prophesied, when he was yet very young that, “This is my little preacher”.  She was aware of the scripture in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee … I ordained thee a prophet”.  Neither his father nor mother lived to see the fulfillment of that prophecy, but it truly came to pass.  Bishop Holland resides in Asheboro with his lovely wife of more than 54 years, Elder Evelyn Holland.  This union was blessed with six children and added blessings of twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

He was educated in the North Carolina public school system of Asheboro, Pittsboro and Mt. Airy.  He also attended school in Welch, West Virginia.  While attending school in these communities, Bishop never thought that his ministry would impact these communities.  He proudly takes pleasure in the fact that he has established missions, preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, pastored in Pittsboro, North Carolina, High Point, North Carolina, Covington and Madison, Kentucky, as well as in Cincinnati, Ohio and Welch, West Virginia.

In 1947, he was converted and accepted Christ as his personal savior and became a member of Mt. Zion Holy Church, in Asheboro, North Carolina, under the pastorate of the late Elder Laura C. Kearns.  He had a genuine love for the church and enjoyed singing in quartets.  He fulfilled many duties in the church and was found to be faithful in the work of the Lord.

In 1960, Bishop Holland answered the call to the ministry.  He yielded to God’s call and preached his initial sermon.  His pastor at that time was the late Bishop Charles Stevens.  He was ordained an Elder in 1962. One year later, Bishop Holland was appointed pastor of Mt. Zion Holy Church and served as pastor until 1998.  He was consecrated to the Bishopric in 1984.

He served the Asheboro community as Clergy Council member. He received the Community Service Recognition Award.  Bishop Holland retired from the Union Carbide Company after 30 years of service.  His life has been spent in the work of the church.  Because of his love for the body of Christ, willingness to serve, integrity, wisdom ad faithfulness, he has been placed in positions to serve the Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America in the following capacities:

•      Member of the Board of Directors since 1972

•      Presiding Elder of the Southern District since 1991

•      Appointed Prelate of the Lower South in 1991

•      Member of the Bishop’s Council

•      Member of the Executive Council

•      Member of the Constitution & Policy Committees

The Right Reverend Bishop Kenneth R. Coward, D. Min.

Installed-September 22, 2001

Bishop Kenneth R. Coward was born the second of twelve children to John L. and Rosa L. Coward, July 1, 1948. He was educated in the Richmond, Virginia public school system, completing this phase of his education with a Diploma from Armstrong High School in 1966. He received a full scholarship in Art and attended the Virginia State College in Petersburg, VA. After a year and a half of study, he felt that he had a greater inclination for the sciences and transferred to Virginia Union University where he graduated with top honors with a B.S. in Chemistry. Upon graduating from College he took on a job with Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation where he became the first African American to be hired as a Quality Control Engineer in Nuclear Power Plant Construction. It was while employed here that he was led to continue his education in engineering and completed his engineering degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (V.P.I.). Feeling a particular tug on his life to work with people, he took a job teaching chemistry and mathematics at the Bowling Green Junior and Senior High Schools. He is formerly married to Francine Gray from which union he fathered one daughter, Colette Coward, an accomplished musician presently residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

Bishop Coward was fortunate to have been raised in a Christian home where all of his life he was introduced to God and was very active in his home church, Jerusalem Holy Church, Richmond, VA. It was there that he received his mentoring and spiritual guidance under the watchful eye of his grandmother and pastor, the late Bishop Annie Chamblin, who challenged him to “stir up the gifts”, which were in him. 

It was through this inspiration that his musical talent was revealed and he continued to expand his musical interest to playing saxophone, drums, tuba, trombone, trumpet, and clarinet. 

In 1975 he received a “higher calling” upon his life to enter into the ministry. Reentering College, he finished the Masters of Divinity program at Virginia Union University School of Theology. Later, he enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at Union Theological Seminary of Virginia, where he received his Doctorate. For over twenty-five years, Bishop Coward has dedicated his life to serving God through the church. He was pastor of the First Pentecostal Church in Asheboro, North Carolina for seventeen years. Currently, he is the pastor of St. Paul Holy Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Bishop Coward began a life of dedicated leadership in the Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America in 1975. He was consecrated to the office of Bishop in September 1993.  He has served and still serves on numerous boards and committees for the Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America, namely: The Board of Directors, The Council of Bishops, The Board of Presbyters, The Executive Committee, The Education Committee, The Betterment Committee, The Budget and Finance Committee, The Constitution Committee, The Membership Committee, and The Policy Committee. Bishop Coward also served as the Business Administrator for Mt. Sinai from 1991 to present until he was elected as Corporate Secretary for four years. A visionary, Bishop Coward was the Founder and Chief Architect for the Mt. Sinai Training Institute, of which he was also the Director and a Teacher from 1986 to 1991. 

Bishop Coward also enjoys a well-rounded secular life, as he has served as Chair/President on numerous boards, among them: the Board of Mental Health, United Way and Prison Chaplaincy of North Carolina. He also served as architect of the largest Adult Education programs housed in a non-traditional facility in Richmond, VA. He enjoys the privilege of having private pilots license and motorcycle riding.

The Right Reverend Bishop Thomas J. Martin, Jr.

Installed-September 22, 2001

“Attempt to do great things for God, and he will do great things for you.”

Bishop Thomas J. Martin, Jr. began his life in Mt. Olive at the age of 6, in the home of Bishop Agnes Ziegler.  It was through her strict parental training that he learned to love the Lord and the church.  His early training began as a member of the Sunday School, Y.P.H.A., Junior Choir and Usher Board.  At the age of eleven, the Lord spoke to him while drying the dishes “Seek Ye The Lord”.

It was then, after seeking the Lord, that he began a more positive role, growing and working in Mt. Olive.  Step by step he grew in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  He was appointed a Junior Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and President of the Young People’s Union.  In these capacities he served both faithfully and untiringly.  After being called to the ministry, the late Bishop Jeffries, his Pastor, was so impressed with the leadership qualities exemplified by this young man, that he was ordained an Elder.

Under the pastorate of the late Bishop Ziegler, he became Junior Pastor of Mt. Olive, at which time, the Junior church made great strides for the Lord.  Elder Martin then went on to become President of the National Youth Convention, serving in this capacity for four (4) years.

It was during the administration of the late Bishop Mary E. Jackson, who foresaw the need for him to take more of a leadership role in Mt. Sinai, appointed him to the Board of Presbyters and later appointed him as Treasurer of Mt. Sinai.  He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America Inc.  He serves as the Bishop of Missions, both Home and Foreign.

In 1973, under the direction of Bishop Jackson, Bethel Holy Temple was established and Elder Martin was named Pastor.  God has truly given him a vision for this church and he worked faithfully believing God for fulfillment. One of the greatest desires of Bishop Jackson was to see Elder Martin become a Bishop.  She lived to see her desires fulfilled. During the Convocation of 1980, Elder Thomas Martin was consecrated a Bishop.

Bethel has been blessed for 25 years to have Bishop Thomas J. Martin as our pastor and by his side, his beautiful wife Carolyn, both of whom are committed to the cause of Christ.  Bishop Martin is noted for his community outreach program, which he spearheads at Bethel.

As a pastor of 25 years, Bishop Martin is a very humble man and he is characterized as being a man of the people.  He loves God, his family and his church.  He lives by and teaches his favorite motto, “Attempt to do great things for God, and He will do great things for you.”