Nathaniel Simmons
Bishop N, Simmons
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Bishop Nathaniel Simmons, son the late Reverend Mose and Mother Eva Adams Simmons was born on June 6, 1937, in Summerville (Jedburg), South Carolina.? He graduated from Alston High School then moved to New York City to continue his education.? He was called into the ministry in December 1962.? He received a Baccalaureate degree in Theology and a Masters in Pastoral Excellence from the Manhattan Bible Institute in New York City.? He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Fuller Normal Industrial Institute in Greenville, South Carolina.
Bishop Simmons was relocated to St. Paul FBH Church in Newark, NJ.? Seizing the opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to utilize his God-given skills and utilizing his family’s commitment to service, he believed God for the seemingly impossible. St. Paul grew from a membership of eleven to twelve hundred during his administration.
He served as Presiding Elder of the California District for three years in the FBH Church, and in 1985, was appointed to the office of Presiding Elder of the New Jersey District.?? Over a span of eight years, the district grew from nine churches to approximately twenty churches.
In the early stage of his ministry, Bishop Simmons fell in love and married the beautiful and charming, Johnnie Mae Keesley.? To this union four children were born.? Glenn Nathaniel,? Bishop Wayne Andre', Stacie, and Natalie.? This core group worked untiringly in ministry and faced together the obstacles and challenges to overcome, through Christ, with victory.
In October 1994, under the leading of the almighty God and the scripture Isaiah 43:19 in his heart, he founded the Sounds of Praise Pentecostal Fellowship Ministries, Inc.? On November 26, 1994, along with Bishop-elects Allen H. Simmons, Charles W. Williams and Henry A. Tindal, Joseph W. Parks, John Bland and Walter B. Medlock, they were consecrated and installed into the Bishopric, by the Presiding Bishop of the Churches of God in Christ, His Holiness, Bishop Chand
