Meet The Leaders
1st Lady Barbara J. Prior
Lady Barbara J. Prior was born in a little place called Margaretta, Fla. After completing high school, she moved to Rochester, New York, where she continued her education and was awarded a degree in Blue Printing, Electronic Engineering, and Wiring and Soldering. These skills were used at General Dynamics in Rochester, New York.
Lady Barbara is one of twelve children. Lady Barbara’s mother and father were saved and full of the Holy Ghost. Lady Barbara received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at the age of twelve years old. As a young girl, fourteen through eighteen, she traveled with one of Florida's greatest Evangelists, Evangelist Hughes. Traveling all over the state of Florida, Georgia, and many other places, singing under the anointing and power of the Holy Ghost. Souls were saved, and bodies were healed, as the Lord was working mightily in her life. Not only was she singing, but she also supplied cakes and drinks to the singers after the service had ended. Lady Barbara still loves to sing and to encourage the people of God.
She has been married for fifty-plus years to Superintendent Henry Prior, Pastor of Redeem Bethel C.O.G.I.C. Community Fellowship Center in Williamson, New York. They have four children, two girls and two boys.
Pastor Henry Prior
Superintendent Prior is the visionary and leader of Redeem Bethel COGIC Community Fellowship Center. He is a highly anointed and humble man of God. His leadership style has touched the lives of hundreds simply by sharing Biblical principles that encourage others to succeed even in the face of limitations.
Superintendent Prior founded and pastored Bethel COGIC in 1985. Former General Board member asked him, the late Bishop Leroy R. Anderson, to pastor Redeem after the sudden demise of Superintendent William Jones in 1996. This merger became the first time in the history of the COGIC in the Western New York Jurisdiction that two Church of God in Christ churches came together as one. After the merger, the church was named Redeem Bethel COGIC. Under the leadership of Superintendent Prior, God blessed Redeem Bethel members to build a new church. When that was completed in 2006, God placed upon Superintendent Prior's heart to rename the church to Redeem Bethel COGIC Community Fellowship Center.
Superintendent Prior is a native of Georgetown, South Carolina, and has pastored for 30-plus years. In April of 2007, the Jurisdictional Prelate of Western New York, Bishop James R. Wright, Sr., appointed Superintendent Prior as the Jurisdictional Chairman of the Trustee Board. Bishop Jeffrey Melvin, Jurisdictional Prelate of the Republic of East Rwanda Africa, appointed Superintendent Prior as his Administrative Assistant. Bishop Melvin and Dr. Prior traveled to Rwanda and assisted them in setting up churches, provided them with financial support, and gave them spiritual guidance. In April 2017, the Jurisdictional Prelate of Western New York, Bishop James R. Wright, Sr., appointed Dr. Prior as Superintendent of District #13.
Superintendent Prior graduated from Choppee High School in 1970 and attended Colgate Divinity in 1997. He then graduated from North Carolina College of Theology, where he received his Doctorate in 2008. Superintendent Prior is also a certified marriage counselor. He has been married to Barbara Prior for 50+ years and has four children.
Statement of Faith
OUR BELIEF CONCERNING THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written word of God.
OUR BELIEF CONCERNING GOD
We believe that there is one God eternally existent in three persons, God the
Father, God the son, God the Holy Ghost.
OUR BELIEF CONCERNING THE CHURCH
We believe in the Blessed Hope, which is the rapture of the church of God, which
is in Christ, at His return.
OUR BELIEF CONCERNING SIN
We believe the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and
faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
OUR BELIEF CONCERNING SALVATION
We believe that regeneration by the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential for
personal salvation.
OUR BELIEF CONCERNING CHRIST
We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing for
the human body in answer to believing prayer.
OUR BELIEF CONCERNING THE HOLY GHOST
We believe that the baptism in the Holy Ghost, according to Acts 2:4, is given to
believers who ask for it.
OUR BELIEF CONCERNING SANCTIFICATION
We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling, the
Christian is enabled to live a holy and separated life in this present world.
ALL: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4