Zion Deacon Ordination 2023 (DRAFT)

DEACON ORDINATION SERVICE

SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2023

The Call to Worship.....................................................................................Pastor Kevin Wright

The Processional...........................................................................................................The Deacons

The Ministry of Music Praise and Worship

Introduction of the Guest Preacher.........................................Deacon William Hulley

Sermonic Song.................................................................................................Deacon Leah Leach

The Message Pastor Larry Paige

Senior Pastor, Greenbelt Campus

ORDINATION SERVICE COMPONENTS

The Prayer and Laying of Hands.................................................Pastor Patrice Wooten

The Charge to The Deacons..............................................................................Pastor Joe Lee

The Bible to The Deacons Pastor Shaun Mason

The Challenge to The Deacons...................................................Pastor Joy Oguntimein

The Purpose of Prayer to The Deacons.................................Pastor Shamon Smalls

Presentation of the Certificates Pastor Eric & Susan Kellum

Invitation to Discipleship Pastor Dondrae McGee

Closing Remarks............................................................................Chairman & Vice Chairman

SENIOR PASTOR

Keith Battle is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Zion Church, which he started in the Summer of 2000 and now has five campuses around the Washington, DC Metropolitan-area.

Since its inception, Zion Church has grown to over 14,000 regular attendees and 70 full-time and part-time employees.

In addition to his role as Senior Pastor of Zion Church, he serves as the Chaplain for the Washington Wizards, and the President of Sagacity, LLC the company through which he provides executive coaching for business owners, entrepreneurs, and other church leaders.

His insight and humor as a communicator make him a favorite of audiences from all walks of life. He has a popular radio broadcast called “Weekly Wisdom” that airs on WPGC FM 95.5, as well as on Majic 102.3 every Sunday morning. He is also the creator, writer, and producer of the radio sports minute, “When Sports Meets Life.” Ever passionate about keeping families together and seeing marriages thrive, he also provides counseling to married couples and is the author of two books, Side Chickology: Why Men & Women Cheat and A Second Chance: Grace for the Broken.

Keith Battle has devoted his adult life to service not only as a Pastor and a Chaplain, but as a schoolteacher in both Christian and Alternative Public Schools, a mentor for the youth, a counselor for married couples, and a consultant and trainer for church and business leaders. Above all, he serves as a husband to his best friend, Vicki, father to Asha, Asa, and Kendall, and grandfather to Carsen.

Keith Battle

Senior Pastor, Zion Church

LEADERSHIP

Bill’s spiritual growth began at an early age with the Baptist doctrine in Youngstown, OH. He was a member of Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Washington, DC for thirty years where he served as an ordained Deacon and Chairman of the Joint Board of Deacons and Trustees that was responsible for over thirty ministries and eight rental properties.

Bill matriculated at the University of Texas where he played football and ran track. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communications. His professional career centered on Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Operations. At DHL, an eighty-billion-dollar global supply chain logistics firm, with over three hundred thousand employees, Bill was Head of Operations for the Global Air Network, responsible for over seven hundred daily domestic and global flights. In 2011, Bill was named employee of the year for recording company best EBITA results.

After retiring from DHL in 2015, Bill became Chief Operating Officer of Hofmann Brands, an iconic family-owned meat manufacturer with over five hundred customers in Syracuse, NY. Under Bill’s leadership, Hofmann recorded three consecutive years of record EBITA results. The business attracted the attention of investors and was sold in 2018.

In 2018 Bill was named the Chief Operating Officer of Ben’s Chili Bowl Enterprises in Washington, DC. With Bill’s leadership, the family business added new multi-million-dollar retail channel sales division, a catering and an e-commerce division that generated increased market share during the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon retirement in April 2021, Bill was elected Chairman of Ben’s Board of Directors.

Bill and his loving wife, Angela, enjoy their puppy Dallas, daily devotion time together, sports, Dallas Cowboys, music, and travel.

Deacon Bill Hulley

Chief Ministry and Business Officer, Zion Church

LEADERSHIP

Dr. Madye Henson serves as the Principal for CentricIMPACT (CI), providing innovative, mission-centered consulting and support services to nonprofit, corporate, government, and educational organizations. Previously, Dr. Henson served as the President and CEO of Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, the leading regional network of foundations, corporate giving, and philanthropic institutions in Greater Washington. In the region, she has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Covenant House Greater Washington, Deputy Superintendent for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) in Alexandria, Va., President and CEO of HandsOn Greater DC Cares, and Vice President, Community Impact Development with United Way of America. Before moving to the nonprofit sector, she held leadership positions in several major corporations and founded a consulting firm, Strategic Vision, where she served business, nonprofit, government, and educational clients focused on organizational and individual development, with expertise in diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Dr. Henson has an earned Doctor of Management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree from Webster University; her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business was from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She completed her doctoral research on the “Competencies, Characteristics, and Conditions of Highly Effective Urban School Leaders’’ and was elected and served six years on the St. Louis Public School Board. She also monitored African American student achievement in the 25 surrounding school districts. Recently, she was selected as a 2017 Washington Business Journal CEO of the Year/ C- Suite Awardee, 2016 Washington SmartCEO Brava Awardee. She is featured as one of 25 leaders in the Extra Mile America: Stories of Inspiration, Possibility, and Purpose by Shawn Anderson.

She currently also serves Zion Church as their Chief External Engagements and Impact Officer.

Dr. Madye Henson Chief External Engagements and Impact Officer

LEADERSHIP

Lloyd Bramble is the Chairman of the Deacon Board that serves five campuses and was recently appointed as Senior Business Operations Analyst at Zion Church. He has been a member of Zion since it was launched in 2000.

A native New Yorker, Deacon Bramble has always sought to understand the big picture and how this influence successful outcomes. Inspired by his first position as a Database Analyst more than four decades ago, Deacon Bramble quickly developed a deep passion for helping organizations achieve their goals by using data-driven approaches. This resolve led to the launching of his own IT company, Micah Systems Technology, Inc. Over a five-year period, he served as President, focusing on business intelligence reporting for a range of federal and private sector clients, such as the US Corps of Engineers. He was recognized by the US Corps of Engineers for his outstanding work in the development and maintenance of the Civil Automated Reporting System. Additionally, their Finance and Accounting division recognized the outstanding quality of his financial software development and management work. Prior to leading Micah Systems Technology, Inc., Deacon Bramble held several Systems Analyst and Project Management positions at Boeing Computer Support Services, Edge Systems, McClendon Automation and other IT companies.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from George Washington University and a Certificate of Computer Systems Applications from the University of Southern California, he completed additional Business Intelligence and IT applications and administration training.

Years later, Deacon Bramble decided to redirect his expertise and passion to serve Zion Church. His many activities have included providing support to the Outreach and Missions department and participating in global missions in Africa, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Deacon Bramble has been married for 44 years, is the proud father of three adult children and grandfather of four grandchildren. He has always believed in the importance of family and is dedicated to keeping proper balance between family and work. And what he does for church, is not work but his second love.

Deacon

Lloyd Bramble Chairman of the Deacon Board

Deacon

LEADERSHIP

Gregory J. Toatley, Jr. joined Zion Church in the fall of 2007. He currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Zion Deacon Board. In addition to serving as the Vice-Chairman, he serves as the Lead- coordinator for the Landover online experience, CoAdministrator for the Thomas Jefferson Simmons Institute, and Lead team member for the Zion Creative arts department. He served as a Youth Advisor at First Baptist Church of Glenarden and a Math Tutor for Prince George’s County Schools. He has developed several mentoring and career coach programs for youth and adults, helping them discover their best selves.

Greg taught Physics at Central High School for two years. He is currently employed at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where he has worked for 27 years. During his time at the USPTO, he has worked his way up the ranks, starting as a patent examiner approving electrical and optical patent applications. For the 17 years, he served as a Supervisory Patent Examiner and Senior Advisor to the executives within the agency. He currently serves as a Technology Center Director. He also has worked for Zion Church as an audio technician and Stage manager for the last 12 years, first as a contractor and now as a part-time employee.

Greg gave his life to Christ at an early age and has had a heart to serve throughout. His favorite scriptures are Matthew 8:35 where he counts himself a “loser” for the gospel, Isaiah 40:28-31 reminding him that his strength lies with his relationship with the Lord, & Proverbs 27:17 affirming the importance of friends. This call to serve was acknowledged and affirmed with his ordination as a Deacon in the fall of 2016.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, and raised in South Jersey, Gregory received a B.S. in Physics from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1993. He currently resides in Upper Marlboro, MD, with his wife Kysha and has four wonderful grown children, Tia, Jayln, Jarel, and Jordan.

Greg Toatley Vice-Chairman of the Zion Deacon Board

ZION CAMPUS PASTORS

Pastor Larry Paige (Zion Greenbelt)

Pastor Larry Paige has been serving as part of the Zion pastoral team since April of 2012. He is a graduate of Liberty University with a Masters of Divinity and a focus in Pastoral Leadership. Pastor Paige currently serves as the Lead Pastor at Zion Greenbelt Campus and as the Director of the Equipping Department

(Thomas Jefferson Simmons Institute) for Zion Church. Pastor Paige is a Gallup certified strengths consultant who enjoys helping people discover their talent, develop strengths, and deploy their God-given abilities to the fullest. Pastor Paige resides in Lanham, Maryland, with his wife, Sherry, two children (Asa and Amanya), and a spoiled Bishon Poodle named Teddy.

Pastor Kevin Wright (Zion Greenbelt)

Pastor Kevin Wright, son of W. Donald Wright & Dr. Arnette Wright, was born and raised in the “DMV” – Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia area. A graduate of Largo High School, he attended Bowie State University majoring in Computer Information systems for 4 years. His love for the DMV stretches toward the professional hometown football and baseball teams.

His unquestioned love for Zion and his fellow Zionites stretches out for the last 15+ years. From Mercantile Lane to Brightseat Road, to Allentown Rd and now Greenbelt Rd. Serving the people of God, side-by-side with his fellow Zionites, has been one of his most rewarding experiences.

After 20 years in corporate America, Kevin now serves as Director of Ministries at Zion’s newest campus, located in Greenbelt, MD. He is passionate about serving God, his family & helping wounded souls be restored.

ZION CAMPUS PASTORS

Pastor Joe Lee (Zion Landover)

Pastor Joe Lee (A.K.A. PJ) has been a part of the Zion Pastoral Staff since August 2003. Upon arrival PJ helped launch Zion’s very first youth ministry called Remnant. Remnant became known as a youth ministry family with a cutting edge style and a God focused heart. From there he became the Executive Director of a collaborative youth effort with the First Baptist Church of Glenarden called Merge. Currently, PJ serves as the Lead Pastor of the Landover Campus. His responsibility is to ensure that all campus ministries, departments, and teams are healthy and thriving! PJ has a passion for team building, leadership development, and organizational growth, but he most enjoys making people of all ages feel valued and loved. He is an adventure seeking, joke telling, hill charging ball of energy!

PJ currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland with his wife Claresta (Claire), their two daughters (Jasmyn and Josselyn), and their only begotten son (Josiah).

Pastor Dondrae McGee (Zion Landover)

Pastor Dondrae L. McGee (aka Pastor Drae) was born and raised in Prince George’s County Maryland. He is married to his wife, Veronica and he is humbled by the adoration of their three daughters; Riley, Skylar, and Gracyn.

Pastor Drae joined Zion Church in July 2014. Currently, he is the Assistant Campus Lead Pastor of Zion Landover. He loves communicating God’s word to youth, young adults, and a host of other ministries at churches in the DC Metropolitan area and abroad while reaching the masses through social media and dondraemcgee.com. At the end of it all, Dondrae just has a zeal for seeing people come to know Christ. Aside from ministry, Pastor Drae loves vacations with his family, basketball and football, going to the movies, hiking, and is also the Owner and Principal Stylist of his Men’s Fashion Consulting and Stylist brand.

Pastor Patrice Wooten (Zion Landover)

Patrice Wooten has been a member of Zion Church since 2010. She is an active participant of the Zion Church Landover campus; served on the Advisory Board to Senior Pastor Keith Battle, member of the Offering Team for 9 years, participated in the Zion Leadership Academy, ministers through preaching and teaching, leader of the Bereavement Ministry Team and was ordained as Pastor of Discipleship November 14, 2021. Pastor Patrice became a full time employee of Zion Church on June 1, 2021. Her top 5 Clifton Strengths theme is Executing.

ZION CAMPUS PASTORS

Pastor Shaun Mason (Zion Ft. Washington)

Shaun Mason is the full-time Lead Pastor of Zion Fort Washington. Shaun leads the campus Under The Hood class, where potential members are able to learn more about Zion Fort Washington and Zion Church as a whole. He also oversees the Ministerial Staff and the campus Small Groups ministry. He became a licensed minister of the Gospel in December 2004 and was ordained in October 2006. He was later ordained as a Pastor at Zion Church in 2019. He received his Certification in Biblical Studies at World Harvest Bible College in 2005 and has continued his education at Dallas Theological Seminary, DC Campus. One of Shaun’s greatest joys, outside of his relationship with Christ and his marriage to his wife, Carla, are his daughters Jada and Shayla.

Pastor Joy Oguntimien (Zion Ft. Washington)

Joy Oguntimein was born in Washington, D.C., and lives in the DMV. For some reason, that is still unknown, the Lord has been using Joy to spread His love and joy and preach His gospel to people. She currently serves as the Assistant Lead Pastor at Zion Fort Washington.

Joy Oguntimein is a Nigerian-American who calls the Washington Metropolitan area home. Since 2011, she has served on various teams at Zion Church including the Praise and Worship team and Volunteer Operations team. She is honored to serve as the Assistant Lead Pastor at Zion Church Fort Washington. She is a positivity spreader who seeks opportunities to stir up the gifts and treasures within others to help them confidently and joyfully fulfill God’s purpose for their life. She has B.A. in Education Studies and a Master of Public Health. Joy is also a writer, worship leader, learning and development consultant, and public speaker.

Pastor Shamon Smalls (Zion Woodbridge)

Shamon Smalls serves as the Assistant Lead Pastor for Zion Church’s Woodbridge campus. He leads and supports several activities across the campus, including Life Groups, Family Life, and the Campus’ guest and member connection experiences. He continually develops and refines his spiritual gifts of teaching, administration, and wisdom to engage and motivate people to meet the purpose God has for their life. Pastor Shamon and his wife Nijiama live in Prince William County, Virginia with their daughter, Bliss, and son, Jace.

ZION CAMPUS PASTORS

Pastor Eric Kellum (Zion Woodbridge & Anywhere)

Pastor Eric Kellum is the Lead Pastor of the Zion Anywhere (Internet) and Woodbridge Campuses . He is an unorthodox, transparent, authentic creative-who loves God, and attempts to follow God’s lead in most decisions in life.

He is the husband of Susan Kellum. They’ve been married for 20 years, and the longer they are married the more he appreciates the gift that she is to his life. Pastor Eric is a father to 5 incredible kids. Fatherhood is big for him because his biological mom abandoned him at a Greyhound bus station when he was 5 years old. He never met his biological father. So to have a family of his own, after starting life with such a jacked- up depiction of family…it’s a blessing and a miracle (please believe).

Eric lives with two core values: 1) He wants his wife to be his girlfriend when they are old and wrinkled. 2) Eric never wants his children to feel that he neglected them for ministry. He lives his life with these two values as his daily motivation. Eric’s testimony drives him to promote family and family values to all who will listen.

Pastor Susan Kellum (Zion Woodbridge & Anywhere)

Pastor Susan Kellum is a native of the DMV. Born in Washington DC, and raised in Prince George’s County, Susan graduated from Bowie High School. She is a graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Music degree with concentrations in both Music Education and Music Therapy. Susan is a worshiper and has been walking with Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord for 37 years. Susan has over 20 years of ministry experience and has been in full-time ministry for over 5 years. She has been blessed throughout her journey to combine the multi-facets of her passion for God with her love for the arts, her value for academia and her compassion for people. Susan has served as a preacher, teacher, worship leader, children’s ministry leader, youth ministry leader and counselor. She has also served in several roles including but not limited to administration, operations, logistics and creative design. Susan presently serves as Assistant Pastor of the Zion Church Internet (Zion Anywhere) and Woodbridge Campuses.

She currently resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and best friend of 22 years, Pastor Eric Kellum (Zion Church Anywhere Lead Pastor) and her amazing gifts that she affectionately refers

NEW DEACONS

Charine Adams

Darryl Burrell

Jan Dickson

Wandatte Hattley

Eugene Burrell

Lewis Forrest

Adesuwa Izevbigie

Morris Bussie

Jackie Jackson

Clarinda Carter

Kamilah Goodrich

Vernon Bundick

Photo not provided

Clarise Cook-Ward

Photo not provided

Leslie Harris

Ken Alozie

Barry Brown

NEW DEACONS

Denise Smith

Donnell Wiggins

Rodney K. Martin

Ilah Wiggins

Wesley Miller

Crystal Thrower

Candle Pope

Brent Travers

Danyel Riley

Erin Travers

Toni Jones

Peter A. Smith

CURRENT DEACONS

Donovan Anderson

Robin Burts

Donnell Emerson

Tamra Goodman

Ketia Ingram

Debra Bell

Justin Campbell

Sunny Fulton

Paul Goodwin

DeOnna Jack

Nathaniel Benjamin

Quentin Gore

Victor Johnson

Abiona Burrell

Thelma Carnegie

Kathy Gaines-Still

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George Gay

Michael Griffin

Caroline Kenely

Ray Burts

Chris Edwards

Curtis Gilmore

Ronald Hackett

CURRENT DEACONS

Henry Kenely

Chris Leach

Shannon Moore

Michelle Ransom

Nichole Ruffin

Haydn Sr. Smith

Leah Leach

Ronald Nelson

LaTonya Reed-Lamb

Jubner Severe

Andrea Stafford

April Martin

Olawale Ojumu

Renaire Rivers

Larry Sims

Anthony Stafford

Tony McClure

Toyin Ojumu

Calvin Rodgers

Rose Sims

Jeffrey Stewart Jr.

Tashena Middleton

Dwight Porter

Marion Rodgers

Desiree Smith

CURRENT DEACONS

Demetria Sutton

Gregory Toatley Jeff Tonic Deirdia Ward

John Wood

Tiffany Wood

Chris Wood

Cherisse Willis-Proctor

Aaron Wilson

S. L. Witherspoon

Damon White

Edwin Surprin

DEACONS BIBLICAL HISTORY

Traditionally, the beginning of the order of deacons is traced back to the story in Acts of the Apostles, Acts 6:1-6. Whether this pertains to the history of the ordained order of deacons as they developed in the early centuries of the church is in dispute, but it is very much in the spirit in which the diaconate was and has been understood ever since. Very early in the history of the church, deacons were understood to hold a special place in the community, along with bishops and presbyters. The role of all ordained ministries is to be modeled on the life of Christ, and that of deacons especially was and still is, that of Christ the servant. Perhaps the earliest reference to deacons in this sense (ca. 53 A.D.?) occurs in St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians in which he addresses “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons”.

However, it would be a mistake to interpret the servant role too literally as one of “waiting on tables”. One of the seven first deacons, Stephen, was stoned to death because of his bold preaching of the Gospel, Acts 6: 8-15, 7: 54-60 . He is the first recognized martyr of the church, and his feast day is celebrated on December 26.

Of the remaining seven, those of whom we have historical knowledge, it is clear that their ministry also quickly broadened to preaching and spreading the Gospel message. In addition, in Romans 16:1-2 (NIV) Paul commended Phoebe as a Deacon for the church in Cenchreae stating that she had been “the benefactor of many people, including me.”

The qualifications of a deacon are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-12:”In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.”