Pentacostal leader, college founder Bishop William L. Bonner dies at 93
buzzz worthy. . .
World Renowned Pentecostal Leader, Builder, College Founder – William L. Bonner Dies at 93.
Celebration of Life services to take place in New York and Detroit before Bonner is laid to rest on Saturday, April 25 in the Bronx, NY.
The honorable Chief Apostle William Lee Bonner, a
spiritual leader and book author who built an international
organization, landmark educational institutions and churches, and
reached millions in his ministry, passed away Friday, April 3, 2015.
Celebration of his life services will be held in Detroit, MI and New York, NY.
Final viewing will take place at The Palace Cathedral in New York, NY on
Friday, April 24, 2015. (Please refer to the flyer included in this report for complete service details.)
Bonner
served as Senior Prelate of the General Assembly of the Churches of Our
Lord Jesus Christ (COOLJC) of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. Under his
administration, the assembly grew from one hundred fifty-five (155)
churches in 1961 to over five hundred (500) churches and missions
throughout the world. He faithfully kept the charge of the founder
Bishop Lawson, to "Add Thou to It". Apostle Robert L. Sanders currently
presides over the organization and seeks to “equip every believer to
become true Disciples of Christ.” Currently, there are established
COOLJC churches in the United States, Liberia, West Africa, Barbados,
Canada, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, England, Ghana, Haiti, India,
Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Lee wood Islands, Sierra Leone, St. Croix,
St. Kitts, Trinidad, and West Germany. (www.cooljc.org)
Chief
Apostle Bonner and WLBC served the needs of families, communities,
and congregations, through diverse outreach programs. In addition to a life of servie as a pastor, an educational institutional is also a part of Bonner's legacy.
William
Bonner established the W.L. Bonner College in1995 to prepare all
students of all denominations and to equip and empower students with
Christian values that are reflected in the Holy Scriptures, prepare them
for service to the Church and community through biblical instruction,
ministry and vocational training, and generally educate them in the
context of the Apostolic- Pentecostal tradition.
The
college is the reality of a dream Bishop Bonner envisioned in 1945 and
the college’s board of directors, along with the administrators plan to
continue his legacy. “Bishop Bonner has equipped us with everything we
need to carry out this work,” said Elaine McQueen, who serves as dean
and interim president of WLBC. He was also a mentor and fervent
trailblazer with a unique perspective. Dr. Melvin Bullock, Sr., alumnus
of W.L. Bonner College says, “I will cherish the memories of him and
experiences at the college that help build me as a spiritual leader.”
Bonner’s
love for God and humankind was known by many. He impacted social,
educational and spiritual institutions. Many have characterized Bishop
Bonner as a godly man, a servant leader, a visionary, and a man of great
faith, strength, and passion for the work of the Lord. “As
beneficiaries of the legacy of William Bonner, we gratefully and
prayerfully acknowledge the many blessings that God bestowed on his
life, on his ministry, and on W.L. Bonner College,” says Dr. Celeste
Ashe Johnson, chair of the College’s Board of Directors.
To sustain the mission of WLBC, donation may be made in Apostle Bonner's memory at the following link: https://www.wlbc.edu/product/donations-online .
