Ministry of Bishop Linwood E. Dillard, Jr

WWW.LINWOODDILLARD.COM

Authentic, Compassionate, Organic, and Uniquely Gifted are only a small fraction of words that the dictionary provides as a verbal description of Linwood Elijah Dillard, Jr. This national evangelist, vision engineer, and 21st century ministry leader is changing the world with an impactful message of deliverance, hope, and success. His powerful preaching style, uncanny leadership skills, strategic planning ability, visionary leadership, and business-based background are seamlessly sown together to permit this ministry giant to succeed in any arena of life.

Dillard’s national reach emanates from the sanctuary of the Citadel of Deliverance in Memphis, Tennessee, where he leads and pastors one of the city’s fast-growing churches. Through his evangelistic and pastoral ministries, he has fostered a platform that transcends economical, racial, social, and religious barriers.

Dillard is the author of the inspirational literary gem, “Engineering Your Vision: Seven Principles For Obtaining Ultimate Area Of Your Life.” This book is a necessary life tool that ignites the fire of spiritual purpose, vision, and growth that is sure to change the lives of people and organizations in all areas and aspects of life. As the “Vision passion for leading others along the journey to building a sound life, that will ultimately change their lives and the lives of others, is an attribute that cannot be overlooked. He has an educated, anointed, and accomplished resume of monumental successes that are notable and numerous, past and present:

• Chairman, International COGIC AIM Convention

• Executive Secretary, COGIC International Youth Department

• President, COGIC International Youth Department

• Member, City of Memphis Faith In Action Steering Committee

• Member, Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change Advisory Board

• Recording Artist and Executive Producer – “Pastor Linwood Dillard Presents Churchin’ With The Citadel”

• Chaplain, Shelby County Board of Commissioners

• Chaplain, Memphis City Council

• Assistant Secretary, COGIC Tithing Fund

• Featured in EBONY Magazine as one of “30 Young Leaders Under 30″

• Coordinator, COGIC Founder’s Celebration

• COGIC Planning Coordinator, I AM 2018 (MLK50)

• Former Executive Assistant to the Bishop

• Chairman, Jurisdictional AIM Convention

• President, Jurisdictional Youth Department

• Member, Board of Ordination

• District Superintendent

• And many others

In November 2018, Dillard was consecrated to the Sacred Office of Bishop in the Church Of God In Christ and appointed as Prelate of the newly created Tennessee Metropolitan Jurisdiction by the Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake. Bishop Dillard also has an extensive background in engineering, administration, and management. He has served in local and regional chapter elected leadership roles in various social and community organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICE), and many more. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and also studied at Christian Brothers University pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management. Bishop Dillard has been the recipient of numerous awards, resolutions and proclamations, and citations for his ministerial, social, academic, and community involvement and achievements. Out of all of Bishop Dillard’s accomplishments, the greatest of these is that he is happily married to his wife and best friend, Stephanie Marie Dillard. They are the proud and loving parents of three beautiful children, Faith Marie, Joy Marie, and Linwood, III.

University pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management. Bishop Dillard has been the recipient of numerous awards, resolutions and proclamations, and citations for his ministerial, social, academic, and community involvement and achievements. Out of all of Bishop Dillard’s accomplishments, the greatest of these is that he is happily married to his wife and best friend, Stephanie Marie Dillard. They are the proud and loving parents of three beautiful children, Faith Marie, Joy Marie, and Linwood, III. Out of all of Bishop Dillard’s accomplishments, the greatest of these is that he is happily married to his wife and best friend, Stephanie Marie Dillard. They are the proud and loving parents of three beautiful children, Faith Marie, Joy Marie, and Linwood, III.

Mother Rosetta Watts, D.D., Supervisor Department of Women

Mother Watts is a visionary woman of God who has led the Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Jurisdiction (EMWI) Department of Women since the year of 2000. She served faithfully under the late Mother Saint Carrie Dinwiddie. Her leadership ability and faithfulness was noted by Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten Sr. Prelate, (General Board Member) and she was recommended to serve as Supervisor of the Jurisdictional Department of Women. She was appointed and installed by the General Supervisor of the Department of Women, Mother Willie Mae Rivers. She prayerfully sought God’s direction and immediately implemented plans to motivate and strengthen the department. She developed a structured, comprehensive training program designed to aid and assists those seeking to be licensed as missionaries. She also initiated a Grief and Crisis support group along with many other effective projects that lead to the growth of the EMWI Department of Women.

Mother Watts has been a member of COGIC for over 60 years. Prior experience as a servant Leader in the Jurisdiction included many years of Evangelism, Assistant District Missionary, District Missionary, Planning Committee and Leadership Training Committee Chairperson, Director of Home and Foreign Mission, Executive Board Member of EMWI Dept. of Women, Jurisdictional and National workshop presenter.

She also served as a former member on the Board of Directors of the Jurisdictional C.H. Mason Bible College. She currently serves as a member of the EMWI Jurisdictional Executive Board. On the National level, she was a former member of IDOW Executive Board under the Leadership of Mother Wille Mae Rivers. Currently she serves on the IDOW Executive Board, Special Convention Assistant Committee, Advocacy-Resolution Committee, Caregiver Support Committee and Co-Facilitator of Grief Recovery Prayer-Line. As well as many other subcommittees under the Leadership General Supervisor, Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis.

Mother Watts was married to Administrative Assistant (Pastor, Superintendent, Jurisdictional Secretary)

Nelson Watts Sr. for over 43 years. She is the mother of six children; four ordained elders and two licensed missionaries. She is the Co-Founder of El-Bethel COGIC where her youngest son, Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. is the Pastor

Mother Watts is a retired Licensed Health-Care Professional. She studied nursing at Bryan Institute, Florissant Valley College, (BJC, Shriners Hospitals); studied Religious Counseling at Lael Bible College and Graduate School; completed studies from Word of Prophecy Bible College; holds a Doctorate of Divinity from Malachai Bible College and also studied Theology from Midwest Bible College where she received a “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

Mother Watts has received many other local, state and civic awards including being honored as the 2018 “Mother of the Year” from the “Top Ladies of Distinction Inc.” St. Louis Chapter.

She is a woman of Faith and Prayer, and continues to serve the holistic needs of God’s people. Her motto; “Living to Serve”

Mother Watts is the Area Representative of Region 11 overseeing: (3) States; Missouri, Kansas, and Virginia & (2) Country's; Spain & Zambia, and includes the Continent of Africa.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. has served in Ministry for over 35 years and has reached 43 years of Salvation. He was born and raised at Shiloh Temple Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Bishop W. Wesley Sanders. He believes this is where he received his foundation of Holiness. He was saved at the age of 8, preaching at the age of 16, at Williams Temple Church of God in Christ under, now 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop & Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, and was later ordained as the youngest elder to be ordained in Eastern Missouri Western Illinois.

On November 12, 2017 he was consecrated to the sacred office of Bishop with the Episcopal Designation of Auxiliary by the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Charles E. Blake.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. is the youngest of 6 children born to the Late Administrative Assistant Nelson Watts Sr., and to Mother Rosetta Watts who serves on the Executive Board of the Women’s Department of the Churches of God in Christ Inc. and as Jurisdictional Supervisor of Eastern Missouri Western Illinois & Area Representative of Region 11. All of his siblings are in ministry.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. graduated from Berkley High School in the top 15 of his class and attended college at the same time in the Dual Enrollment Program. He attended Florissant Valley College after graduating from High School majored in Secondary Education and minored in counseling. He was a Student Teacher and Student at C. H. Mason Bible Institute in Eastern Missouri & Western Illinois He was also a Student teacher and Student at Malachi Bible College, majoring in Christian Counseling. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in 2005. He also attendant, Liberty University, and Midwest Bible College, majoring in Systematic Theology. He worked in Management and Hospitality during his career for over 25 years.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. has served in many roles in the Church of God in Christ. He has served as the Youth/YPWW President for EMWI and the AIM Chairman. He was honored nationally for his loyalty and dedication to the Church and as AIM President by, now Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard and National Aim Chairman, Bishop Linwood Dillard. He has taught classes in the National Conventions through Sunday School Department. He is also sought after across the world, for his knowledge of the history of the Church of God in Christ. He has served on many committees. He presently serves as one of the Assistant General Secretary in the area Episcopal Relations appointed by General Secretary of the Church of God in Christ by Bishop J. H. Lyles and approved by Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard and the General Board. He was a Member of the Constitution Committee of the Church of God in Christ appointed by Auxiliary Bishop Solomon Williams and also served under, Now General Board Member, Bishop David Hall. He is a member of the National Standard & Extensions Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ. This committee gives recommends all New Jurisdictions and Churches that want to become a part of the Church of God in Christ, in the April ,2023 Session of the General Assembly, he was recently appointed by Chairman L. F Thurston as the Secretary of this Committee. He works hard and faithfully serves as Jurisdictional Secretary of Eastern Missouri Western Illinois.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. is the Pastor of the El Bethel Church of God in Christ. He is the Superintendent of the great Nelson Watts Senior District. He is the founder of the Last Days Deliverance Outreach. He has been honored by the Senate and the House of Representatives for His Service. Bishop Watts Jr. has received many awards and recognition for Outreach Services and Community involvement. He is the founder of the Prayer for Peace with the Police, Politicians, and the People He is also the Founder and CEO of the Adopt A Family Program. These Community Programs has caught the attention of the Governor, the Mayor, and a lot of the Community leaders in the St Louis Metropolitan Area. This vision has received a lot of support because of the work and the results that has occurred to help the Families and the Community. Bishop Watts and El Bethel Church are the Founder & Host of The Anointed Prayer Line Ministry, which consist of daily prayer, Monday through Friday, 4:45am & 11:45 and a Monthly All-Night Prayer and a Monthly, Christian Prayer of Unity which this ministry faithfully has prayer warriors from nearly 27 states from different Christ centered denominations around the country

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. is married to the beautiful, supportive, and intuitive Lady Greta Vaughn- Watts that works right by his side. He has 3 handsome sons, that he calls his Levites: Nelson III, Elder Samuel Lawrence, and Timothy. His family wholeheartedly assists in Ministry! He is an anointed Prayer Warrior, Prophet, Preacher, Teacher, Pastor and Leader.