Bishop Bennie Shepard - Founder

In the late 1950’s, God gave a young man a vision to build a house of Worship and Praise for God. In August of 1959, Bishop Bennie Shepard started what is now known as the St. John’s Pentecostal Holiness Church, Inc. in his own home. The first members included relatives of his family (wife and children) and Mother Myrtle Jenkins, who remains with us today. From Bishop’s home, the church moved and opened a storefront on Fulton Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant and then moved to 1177 Bedford Avenue.

Through his inspiring preaching and leadership, the church grew to include a ministerial staff, Deacons, Trustees, Missionary Board, Ushers, and three choirs (Senior, Volunteer and Bennie Shepard Choirs) the last being a youth choir that bares his name to this day.

At 1177 Bedford Avenue, St. John’s Pentecostal Holy Church became known as the “Holy Ghost Headquarters.” In 1972, the church moved to its current location at 143 Rogers Avenue at the corner of Sterling Place. Not only did the church become an active place for worship, but Bishop Shepard became an active community leader, social advocate and partner with various church denominations throughout New York City and the United States. He was a member of the Metropolitan Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, which is now headed by Dr. Thomas Moore. Bishop Shepard and the St. John’s congregation traveled throughout the United States, carrying the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ as a church body. Bishop Shepard ordained and licensed multiple missionaries, deacons, preachers, pastors, ushers and church officials throughout his time with us. Many former members have gone on to develop their own ministries and churches, guided by the basic values instilled in them by Bishop Shepard's teaching and preaching. Four generations of the St. John’s family members have become well-educated productive men and women of society and have taken on diverse roles as pastors, lawyers, social workers, civic leaders, singers, civil workers, including actors, actresses and entrepreneurs. As evidenced by the lives of its many members, the seed of the word that Bishop preached was planted in good ground and has indeed reaped a fruitful harvest of great people who are located in various parts of the United States.

Before Bishop Shepard’s passing in March of 1992, he installed Pastor Burrell Sumpter as the Senior Pastor. Pastor Sumpter led St. John’s for the next 15 years and continued many of the programs and fellowships with other churches which are still in place today. Pastor Sumpter became a strong advocate for Bible Study and Corporate Prayer at St. John’s. The church also grew under his leadership until he became ill and could no longer continue his role as Senior Pastor. The pastorate was then turned over to Pastor Rosemary Sumpter for a brief period of time. She still remains a vital part of the St. John’s membership and the church body is also grateful for her leadership.

Now heading into its 50th year of ministry, Pastor Andre Eaton seeks to take St. John's to its next level in the 21st century through the preaching/teaching ministry of the Gospel, a strong outreach ministry, and through personal and community development. With Pastor Eaton's recent installation, St. John's is moving towards what God intended its family to be; "A City Set on a Hill and A Light that Cannot Be Hid".  In the very near future St. John's will be developing its Christian Discipleship and Leadership Training Institute that will be open to all who want to grow in the teachings of Jesus Christ and who want to become real men and women of God serving in ministry. It is an exciting time to be a part of St. John's in one of the best cities in the world. St. John's is becoming one of the fastest growing churches in Brooklyn.

ELDER BURRELL SUMPTER

Elder Burrell Sumpter joined Southern Baptist Church in 1972, under the leadership of Rev. Clarence Williams. He became a Sunday School teacher and was later ordained a Deacon. 

In 1981, he left Southern Baptist to join his wife, Pastor Rosemary, at St. Paul's Pentecostal Church where she was pastor. He worked diligently as a Sunday School teacher, member of the Deacon Board and was later ordained a Minister.

Bishop Shepard saw his potential and requested that he assist in the ministry at St. John’s. Pastor Sumpter would soon be appointed as the Assistant Pastor. Elder Sumpter later became the pastor of St. John’s in 1992 after the passing of Bishop Shepard. He worked fervently adding new souls to the kingdom and organizing the church.  In 2002 Pastor Sumpter took ill and was unable to continue with his duties. The leadership was then turned over to his wife, Pastor Rosemary Sumpter.

Pastor Burrell Sumpter made his transition to his heavenly home on Saturday, September 26, 2009. He will be greatly missed. We will forever remember his great contribution and work at St. John's Pentecostal Church as our second Senior Pastor.

PASTOR ROSEMARY SUMPTER

Pastor Rosemary Sumpter became a member of St. John’s Pentecostal Church on Sunday, September 11, 1964, under the leadership of the late Rev. Bennie Shepard. There she worked on the Missionary Board where she eventually became the president.

In 1970 Pastor Sumpter took a sabbatical from St. John's to work in the missionary field. For two years she worked in the field and was elevated to the position of evangelist as she diligently taught and worked with new converts at various churches.

She then returned to St. John where she taught the Bible Class and became an associcate minister under the late Bishop Shepard. The Lord would late call her to preach the gospel and become a pastor. On Sunday, October 19, 1980, the doors of St. John's Pentecostal Church #2, in, Brooklyn, New York, were opened. There, Pastor Sumpter nourished the members the Lord sent in and new converts were added to the Body of Christ. After four years the doors of St. John #2 were closed.

In 1982 Pastor Sumpter joined St. Paul to worship and work. Within two years Elder Burroughs retired and turned the leadership over to Pastor Sumpter. As pastor she worked diligently ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the disciples and the community until the building was sold.

The Lord had opened another door for her. Elder Barnfield of Deliverance Holy Temple at 64 Lott Avenue, asked Pastor Sumpter to pastor Delieverance Temple. She pastored there for two years. She then returned to her home church, St. John’s Pentecostal Church where she has remained. At the time of her return, she served under her husband, Pastor Burrell Sumpter.

After her husband had taken ill, she took over the pastorate of St. John’s briefly only to resign to take care of her husband. However, she remains an active member of the ministerial staff at St. John’s.