Leaders
Bishop Raphael V. Gibbs Sr. was born in New Hampshire, Grenada, West Indies. From 1977–1978, he was an Assistant Pastor at Wallace Memorial Assembly of God. During the period of 1979–1981, he was sent as Missionary Pastor to the Lodge Village New Testament Church of God and served as Director of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Bible College. In the summer of 1981, Reverend Gibbs migrated to New Rochelle, New York and became a member of The Church of God of New Rochelle.
In 1983, he was appointed pastor of the Church of God of New Rochelle and in 1985 he became an Ordained Bishop. Bishop Gibbs has served on various committees and boards in the Church of God, including Chairman of New York State Ministerial Examination Board, member of the New York State Council, and District Pastor, a position he has held since 1993. Bishop Gibbs is also a former lecturer of the New York State Ministerial Internship Program.
Rev. Janett Gibbs, Associate Minister
In 1981, Rev. Janett Gibbs along with her husband, Bishop Gibbs became members of the Church of God of New Rochelle. In 1983, she was witness to her husband's appointment as pastor of the Church of God of New Rochelle. Since then she has played many important roles including New Believers Sunday School teacher and Girls Club Counselor. She has been and still is the driving force behind many social events of the church. Rev. Gibbs recently spearheaded COGNR Dorcas Ministries, a food, funds and services pantry. She continues to be a faithful member of the Church of God of New Rochelle and currently serves as the Local and District Women's Ministry President and is a member of the NY State Women’s Board.
Rev. Rita Nwabueze, Associate Minister
Rev. Rita Nwabueze was born in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. She is the fifth of eight children. As a teenager she enjoyed reading, traveling, volleyball and netball. Rev. Nwabueze graduated from Waulgrove College, briefly worked with The Post and Telegraphs Department and then went to England to study nursing. Since becoming a member she has served as an usher, FTH President, Sunday School teacher and coordinator of our outreach team, the Challengers.
Rev. Lascelle Wellington, Associate Minister
Born in Jamaica West Indies, Rev. Lascelle Wellington grew up in the United Church of Jamacia and the Cayman Islands. Having heeded the call of the Lord, he became a member of the Bethel United Church beginning in his teens. As a member of the church, he was instrumental in his duties of keeping the church clean as was active in the role of an usher. His first experience to the pulpit came while he was in secondary school. During his teenage years, he was also a member of teh Boys Brigade, Jamaica Fifty Eight Company.
He began attending the Church of God of New Rochelle, in 1993 and became a member shortly thereafter. Having received his Exhorter's License in March twenty fifteen, he was installed as an Associte Minister in February twenty sixteen. He has served in outreach minirties particularly the raido ministry and currently coordinates the media outreach ministry.
