Assistant Pastor
Elder Francis is a native Texan. He is the son of the late Elder Marcellas and Mother Narvella Thomas-Francis. He was baptized as a child at the age of 8 years old and received the Holy Ghost at age 15. He served in the Texas State and local A.B.Y.P.U. Dept. Elder Francis is a humble man of God who believes in prayer and the word of God. He ministers to the hearts and souls of the broken, weak, feeble and downtrodden. He is anointed to “break the chains of bondage”. Elder Melvin Francis embraces his spiritual calling and is committed to fulfilling the purpose God has for his life and the work that he has been called to do.
He relocated to Columbus, Ohio in 1973; and joined Rehoboth Temple. Francis became an ordained Elder in the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ (C.O.O.L.J.C) in New York City in 1974. He is a member of the Board of Presbyters. Elder Francis taught Sunday School for many years and worked in the prison ministry. He was appointed Assistant Pastor by Bishop Kenneth Bligen. He continues to serve in this capacity under the leadership of Apostle Bradford Berry. Elder Francis met and married the lovely Catherine Ford. Elder and Sister Francis was in the first graduating class of the Rehoboth Temple Bible Institute founded by the late Dean Kenneth L. Bligen.
Sister Catherine Francis is a native of Selma, Alabama. She is the sixth child of the late Mr. O.T. and Olilian Cook-Ford. She was educated in the Alabama school system and eventually moved to Ohio in 1968, where she became a member of Rehoboth Temple. She received the gift of the Holy Ghost January 1969, during a revival conducted by Bishop L. Johnson. She sang in the Temple Teen and Templeaire choirs, taught vacation bible school and served as secretary for the local Minister’s and Deacon’s Wives Guild (M.D.W.G). She is currently the President of the Missionary Department and teaches the Primary Junior Sunday School Class. She worked for J.C. Penney for 25 years and retired January 2012. One of her favorite scriptures is Psalm 27.
The Francis’ have been married over 40 + years. The couple is the proud parents of four children: Charles, Camille, Cameron and Corey. They have two grandchildren Faith and Christian. Elder & Sister Francis takes great pride in their family. Having a strong and loving family is one of the foundational pillars of their lives.