Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC
Cincinnati OH
45239
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Who we are
OUR MISSION
To Boldly Proclaim God’s Love for All People and Equip them for Ministry through:
The Preached Word Evangelism Outreach Education & Training Worship Fellowship OUR VISION
To be a fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ who have been radically changed and reconciled through the power of Holy Spirit and who demonstrate God’s unconditional Love to all humanity by utilizing our spiritual gifts in service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Boldly Proclaim God’s Love for All People and Equip them for Ministry through:
The Preached Word Evangelism Outreach Education & Training Worship Fellowship OUR VISION
To be a fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ who have been radically changed and reconciled through the power of Holy Spirit and who demonstrate God’s unconditional Love to all humanity by utilizing our spiritual gifts in service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Location of worship
2645 W North Bend Rd
Cincinnati,
OH
45239
United States
Phone: 513-429-5085
Click here to contact the church
Church Pastor
Pastor
2645 W North Bend Rd
Cincinnati,
OH
45239
United States
Phone: 513-429-5085
Click here to contact Pastor Lesley E. Jones
Denomination
United Church of Christ
Affiliations
Church Website
Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC on Social Media
Facebook Video: Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC Facebook Video
Leadership
Leader Name:
Pastor Lesley E. Jones
Leader Position:
Pastor
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Click here to contact Pastor Lesley E. Jones
Leader Bio:
Pastor Lesley E. Jones, Founder & Senior Pastor
Powerful, Anointed, and Radical all describe Pastor Lesley E. Jones. As founder and senior pastor she is a visionary, servant leader who “keeps it real”. Animated preacher and profound teacher her congregation when polled about her preaching and teaching, responded, “ Pastor can break it down and make it plain.”
Armed with a vision and equipped for the mission she founded Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries Fellowship United Church of Christ in 2003 to be a place of HOPE, HEALING and LOVE for ALL people to come an journey on their spiritual path without being criticized, ostracized or manipulated.
Born in New Bern, North Carolina to teenage parents, she spent her early years being raised by her grandparents who taught her early about “unconditional love”, “uncompromising faith” and encouraged her to “love God, help others and believe in the impossible”.
She was educated in Jones County Schools in North Carolina until she moved to Middletown, Ohio with her mother and step-father where she attended Taft Elementary, John XXIII Catholic School and graduated from Middletown High School in 1985. Her academic career continued at Kentucky State University and she is a 1990 graduate of Miami University holding a B.S. in Social Science Education. She also holds certificates in Ministry and Pastoral Counseling and Organizational Leadership. She is completing her seminary education at Lexington Theological Seminary.
Pastor Lesley, as she is affectionately called is friend to and advocate for many in the social justice and human relations communities. She is a strong supporter of human rights, fairness and equality for ALL people. She has served as the Executive Director for Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, Board member of Citizens for Civic Renewal, Churches Active in Northside(CAIN), as well as, Board member and Executive Director of Equality Cincinnati. She has also worked with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and was the Faith Organizer for the Fairness Campaign to Repeal-Article 12, Cincinnati’s anti-gay law.
Confident that she is called by God and equipped to do ministry she lives her mission daily “to help others to identify their God-given talents, gifts and abilities so they may become their best selves and live out life more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
An avid reader, besides the Bible, she enjoys novels, leadership books and books on culture and history. She loves to laugh, travel, spend time with her life-partner, children, extended family and church family.
Powerful, Anointed, and Radical all describe Pastor Lesley E. Jones. As founder and senior pastor she is a visionary, servant leader who “keeps it real”. Animated preacher and profound teacher her congregation when polled about her preaching and teaching, responded, “ Pastor can break it down and make it plain.”
Armed with a vision and equipped for the mission she founded Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries Fellowship United Church of Christ in 2003 to be a place of HOPE, HEALING and LOVE for ALL people to come an journey on their spiritual path without being criticized, ostracized or manipulated.
Born in New Bern, North Carolina to teenage parents, she spent her early years being raised by her grandparents who taught her early about “unconditional love”, “uncompromising faith” and encouraged her to “love God, help others and believe in the impossible”.
She was educated in Jones County Schools in North Carolina until she moved to Middletown, Ohio with her mother and step-father where she attended Taft Elementary, John XXIII Catholic School and graduated from Middletown High School in 1985. Her academic career continued at Kentucky State University and she is a 1990 graduate of Miami University holding a B.S. in Social Science Education. She also holds certificates in Ministry and Pastoral Counseling and Organizational Leadership. She is completing her seminary education at Lexington Theological Seminary.
Pastor Lesley, as she is affectionately called is friend to and advocate for many in the social justice and human relations communities. She is a strong supporter of human rights, fairness and equality for ALL people. She has served as the Executive Director for Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, Board member of Citizens for Civic Renewal, Churches Active in Northside(CAIN), as well as, Board member and Executive Director of Equality Cincinnati. She has also worked with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and was the Faith Organizer for the Fairness Campaign to Repeal-Article 12, Cincinnati’s anti-gay law.
Confident that she is called by God and equipped to do ministry she lives her mission daily “to help others to identify their God-given talents, gifts and abilities so they may become their best selves and live out life more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
An avid reader, besides the Bible, she enjoys novels, leadership books and books on culture and history. She loves to laugh, travel, spend time with her life-partner, children, extended family and church family.
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Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC Service Times
Sundays
11:30am Worship Service
It's been more than 4 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
11:30am Worship Service
It's been more than 4 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC History
Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries started as the vision of Pastor Lesley E. Jones to see a Christ-centered, spirit-filled, teaching and equipping church that ministered to ALL people (regardless of their race, ethnicity, culture, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, education level, religious experience or spiritual practice, physical or mental ability, past or present condition) with unconditional, radically-inclusive love. Her ultimate hope was to blend the Gospel of Jesus Christ with modern day social justice ministry while teaching and preaching a message of liberation, reconciliation, and sanctification.
A dozen or so friends were invited to an evening meal where the foundation was laid for what would become Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries becoming known as Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries Fellowship United Church of Christ in 2011. The dinner conversation began with “what is a church”, comments were slow in coming and commitments were even slower, eventually the group warmed up and the conversation flowed with ideas such as, “teach the Word”, “be a family place”, “good music”, and “good fellowships”.
After several months of prayer and Bible studies, the first worship service was held on Sunday, January 12, 2003. The service was held in donated space that doubled as a yoga studio at the Matri Center on Hamilton Avenue in the Northside neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. More than a dozen people including current members: Deacon Diane Edwards, Sister Shelia “D” Davis, Sister Marilyn Matthews attended this first service.
In the first year, Truth & Destiny named its first Board of Directors (Rosa Bentley, Jakima Greathouse, Ricci Michel) and was incorporated as an Ohio non-profit. The following year, 2004, Pastor Lesley was formally charged and installed, as Pastor by Rev. Darlene Franklin in a service held at the Fourpoints Sheraton – Kenwood in Cincinnati, Ohio.
During the first year the church grew to 30 members often as many as 50 attended worship services in the space shared with a yoga group creating the “battle of chairs and mats”. Thus the move to 1730 Blue Rock Avenue, “the Bar”, it was an old bar turned hair salon, then a church on one of the most drug infested corner’s in the City. The church was instrumental in decreasing the drug activity and cleaning up the neighborhood and starting the “Back to School Block Party”.
Many new programs and activities began on Blue Rock, including participating in the “Great American Clean-Up”, the Usher Board, Youth Ministry, and Praise & Worship Teams, the Witler Street Block Party, and the 45223 Block Watch. With worship leader and many others beginning their journeys to becoming licensed ministers and ordained deacons membership grew to 50.
Experiencing more growth and with a vision to own a building the church moved on New Year’s Eve 2005 to our present location, 4663 Kirby Road.
For the congregation and Senior Pastor, 2006, was year of “action”. Pastor Lesley left full-time employment to devote more time to the church and social justice ministry. Taking a lead role in the “Campaign to Restore Fairness”, she and several members canvassed Cincinnati neighborhoods talking with citizens about “repealing”, Article 12, Cincinnati’s anti-gay law. Truth & Destiny became a gathering site for campaign workers and volunteers. The commitment to social justice continued with participation in marches, meetings and letter writing campaigns in support of our members and others employed in the hospitality and grocery industry’s right to “unionize”, be paid fair wages, and receive health benefits. We expanded our reach into the community, by joining CAIN (Churches Active in Northside) to help families and individuals in need of food, clothing, shelter, and crisis assistance; became a sponsoring church of a monthly dinner for anyone who needs a hot, nutritious meal; hosted after school tutoring for K-12 students; and hosted the First Annual Family & Friends Picnic to encourage ”healthy” relationships and reconciliation.
From the beginning, we made children and youth ministry a top priority which led to the establishment of the Youth Council in 2007 with a special prayer and laying of hands by the Pastor for its officers.
Now it was time for “expansion” three ministers were licensed and four deacons were ordained during TDCM’s 5th Year Anniversary celebration officiated by Bishop Yvette Flunder.
At the 2008 Annual Convocation of the Fellowship, Bishop Yvette Flunder assisted by Bishop Carlton Pearson, Bishop Wyatt Greenlee and supported by clergy representing the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), Pastor Lesley was ordained a Fellowship “pastor” and Truth & Destiny was welcomed as a Fellowship church.
NOTE: The Fellowship is an association of more than 100+ clergy and churches that represent various faith traditions and denominations, who preach, teach and practice “radical inclusion”. Founded by Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and Senior Pastor of City of Refuge UCC in San Francisco, CA, the Fellowship is also home to many UCC congregations.
In October 2008, Truth & Destiny participated in its first “Coping Sunday” service to raise awareness about mental illness. In 2012, Pastor Lesley assumed the reigns of leadership for this event co-sponsored by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) and NAMI-Urban Greater Cincinnati Chapter.
In spring 2009, Pastor Lesley after prayerful consideration and in consultation with the Truth & Destiny Leadership Team, began exploring affiliation with the United Church of Christ. She was introduced by friend and ministry colleague, Rev. Dan Weyand-Geise to Rev. Ruth Brandon, Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky, Association Minister who invited her to share the story of Truth & Destiny with the SONKA Church Relations Team which led to: Rev. Jim Korpik becoming the committee’s liaison to TDCM, and our study of the UCC Manual on Church with focused conversation on “covenant”, and to Washington UCC serving as our sponsoring church.
Our leaders and members shared ministry opportunities with neighboring First UCC, attended the 2009 Fall Annual Meeting of SONKA and welcomed several UCC clergy and members who visited during the 7th Year Anniversary Celebration week in April 2010. Truth & Destiny requested “acceptance” to the United Church of Christ at the September 2010 meeting of the Church Relations Team of SONKA.
November 2010, Truth & Destiny again made history and was admitted into the Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association of the United Church of Christ.
August 1, 2009 – Truth & Destiny was blessed with a wonderful “first lady” after Pastor Lesley & Pastor Noni were married in San Fransico, CA in a ceremony officiated by Bishop Yvette Flunder.
August 18, 2010 – Bishop Flunder elevated Pastor Lesley to Sr. Pastor and assisted in the installation of Pastor Noni as Associate Pastor, and both Pastor Melody Wolder and Pastor Terry Hocker as Assistant Pastors.
June 24 – July 6, 2011, we supported our first mission trip to Rubate, Kenya. Pastor Lesley along with two youth brothers Christopher Simmons (17) and Alex “AJ” Tillman (15) traveled with a delegation from SONKA to Rubate Teachers College where they ministered, dialogued with students, shared cultural traditions, visited with villagers and broke ground for the morgue at the Rubate Clinic.
April 2012, friends Joel Ngatari and Evelyn from Rubate, Kenya visited Truth & Destiny where we raised an offering of $500 to support the building of water well at the college.
June 10, 2012 – Truth & Destiny held a “Mortgage Burning” service to celebrate the pay off of the building at 4663 Kirby Road.
2013 – Marks 10 Years of ministry and service for Truth & Destiny
August 11, 2013 – Bound By Truth & Love Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Terry Hocker became the first church plant. The planting team included: Min. Gay Simmons, Deacon Georgia Drummond, Sis. Lakysha Drummond, Sis. Essence Drummond, Sis. Mahagony Drummond, and Bro. Tyrone Drummond.
We have come this far by faith, is more than a song for Truth & Destiny, but a testimony, today after 10 years, Truth & Destiny is continually experiencing growth (spiritually, theologically and numerically). A Sr. Pastor and Associate Pastor andtwenty lay leaders serve a membership of 175 and 40 regular attendees (persons who have not formally joined church but attend and participate in ¾’s of church activities) average Sunday worship attendance is 125; 30 weekly Bible Study students, 45 youth and young adults; and several auxiliary and outreach ministries.
We have outgrown the current building and we believe God for a great miracle and many blessings, as we “ENLARGE OUR TERRITORY”. The vision and dream will come to pass… The BEST is YET to COME!
A dozen or so friends were invited to an evening meal where the foundation was laid for what would become Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries becoming known as Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries Fellowship United Church of Christ in 2011. The dinner conversation began with “what is a church”, comments were slow in coming and commitments were even slower, eventually the group warmed up and the conversation flowed with ideas such as, “teach the Word”, “be a family place”, “good music”, and “good fellowships”.
In the first year, Truth & Destiny named its first Board of Directors (Rosa Bentley, Jakima Greathouse, Ricci Michel) and was incorporated as an Ohio non-profit. The following year, 2004, Pastor Lesley was formally charged and installed, as Pastor by Rev. Darlene Franklin in a service held at the Fourpoints Sheraton – Kenwood in Cincinnati, Ohio.
During the first year the church grew to 30 members often as many as 50 attended worship services in the space shared with a yoga group creating the “battle of chairs and mats”. Thus the move to 1730 Blue Rock Avenue, “the Bar”, it was an old bar turned hair salon, then a church on one of the most drug infested corner’s in the City. The church was instrumental in decreasing the drug activity and cleaning up the neighborhood and starting the “Back to School Block Party”.
Experiencing more growth and with a vision to own a building the church moved on New Year’s Eve 2005 to our present location, 4663 Kirby Road.
For the congregation and Senior Pastor, 2006, was year of “action”. Pastor Lesley left full-time employment to devote more time to the church and social justice ministry. Taking a lead role in the “Campaign to Restore Fairness”, she and several members canvassed Cincinnati neighborhoods talking with citizens about “repealing”, Article 12, Cincinnati’s anti-gay law. Truth & Destiny became a gathering site for campaign workers and volunteers. The commitment to social justice continued with participation in marches, meetings and letter writing campaigns in support of our members and others employed in the hospitality and grocery industry’s right to “unionize”, be paid fair wages, and receive health benefits. We expanded our reach into the community, by joining CAIN (Churches Active in Northside) to help families and individuals in need of food, clothing, shelter, and crisis assistance; became a sponsoring church of a monthly dinner for anyone who needs a hot, nutritious meal; hosted after school tutoring for K-12 students; and hosted the First Annual Family & Friends Picnic to encourage ”healthy” relationships and reconciliation.
Now it was time for “expansion” three ministers were licensed and four deacons were ordained during TDCM’s 5th Year Anniversary celebration officiated by Bishop Yvette Flunder.
At the 2008 Annual Convocation of the Fellowship, Bishop Yvette Flunder assisted by Bishop Carlton Pearson, Bishop Wyatt Greenlee and supported by clergy representing the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), Pastor Lesley was ordained a Fellowship “pastor” and Truth & Destiny was welcomed as a Fellowship church.
NOTE: The Fellowship is an association of more than 100+ clergy and churches that represent various faith traditions and denominations, who preach, teach and practice “radical inclusion”. Founded by Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and Senior Pastor of City of Refuge UCC in San Francisco, CA, the Fellowship is also home to many UCC congregations.
In spring 2009, Pastor Lesley after prayerful consideration and in consultation with the Truth & Destiny Leadership Team, began exploring affiliation with the United Church of Christ. She was introduced by friend and ministry colleague, Rev. Dan Weyand-Geise to Rev. Ruth Brandon, Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky, Association Minister who invited her to share the story of Truth & Destiny with the SONKA Church Relations Team which led to: Rev. Jim Korpik becoming the committee’s liaison to TDCM, and our study of the UCC Manual on Church with focused conversation on “covenant”, and to Washington UCC serving as our sponsoring church.
Our leaders and members shared ministry opportunities with neighboring First UCC, attended the 2009 Fall Annual Meeting of SONKA and welcomed several UCC clergy and members who visited during the 7th Year Anniversary Celebration week in April 2010. Truth & Destiny requested “acceptance” to the United Church of Christ at the September 2010 meeting of the Church Relations Team of SONKA.
August 1, 2009 – Truth & Destiny was blessed with a wonderful “first lady” after Pastor Lesley & Pastor Noni were married in San Fransico, CA in a ceremony officiated by Bishop Yvette Flunder.
August 18, 2010 – Bishop Flunder elevated Pastor Lesley to Sr. Pastor and assisted in the installation of Pastor Noni as Associate Pastor, and both Pastor Melody Wolder and Pastor Terry Hocker as Assistant Pastors.
June 24 – July 6, 2011, we supported our first mission trip to Rubate, Kenya. Pastor Lesley along with two youth brothers Christopher Simmons (17) and Alex “AJ” Tillman (15) traveled with a delegation from SONKA to Rubate Teachers College where they ministered, dialogued with students, shared cultural traditions, visited with villagers and broke ground for the morgue at the Rubate Clinic.
April 2012, friends Joel Ngatari and Evelyn from Rubate, Kenya visited Truth & Destiny where we raised an offering of $500 to support the building of water well at the college.
June 10, 2012 – Truth & Destiny held a “Mortgage Burning” service to celebrate the pay off of the building at 4663 Kirby Road.
August 11, 2013 – Bound By Truth & Love Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Terry Hocker became the first church plant. The planting team included: Min. Gay Simmons, Deacon Georgia Drummond, Sis. Lakysha Drummond, Sis. Essence Drummond, Sis. Mahagony Drummond, and Bro. Tyrone Drummond.
We have come this far by faith, is more than a song for Truth & Destiny, but a testimony, today after 10 years, Truth & Destiny is continually experiencing growth (spiritually, theologically and numerically). A Sr. Pastor and Associate Pastor andtwenty lay leaders serve a membership of 175 and 40 regular attendees (persons who have not formally joined church but attend and participate in ¾’s of church activities) average Sunday worship attendance is 125; 30 weekly Bible Study students, 45 youth and young adults; and several auxiliary and outreach ministries.
We have outgrown the current building and we believe God for a great miracle and many blessings, as we “ENLARGE OUR TERRITORY”. The vision and dream will come to pass… The BEST is YET to COME!
Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC FAQs
Question: Where is Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC located?
Answer: Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC is located at 2645 W North Bend Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Question: Who is Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC's pastor?
Answer: Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC's pastor is Pastor Lesley E. Jones.
Question: What time is service at Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC?
Answer: Sundays 11:30am Worship Service
Question: What is Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC's Facebook page?
Answer: https://www.facebook.com/truthdestinychurch.org/
Question: What is Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC's website?
Answer: https://gcmsclients.wixsite.com/truthdestinychurch
Question: What denominaiton is Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC?
Answer: Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC belongs to United Church of Christ denomination.
Answer: Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC is located at 2645 W North Bend Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Question: Who is Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC's pastor?
Answer: Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC's pastor is Pastor Lesley E. Jones.
Question: What time is service at Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC?
Answer: Sundays 11:30am Worship Service
Question: What is Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC's Facebook page?
Answer: https://www.facebook.com/truthdestinychurch.org/
Question: What is Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC's website?
Answer: https://gcmsclients.wixsite.com/truthdestinychurch
Question: What denominaiton is Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC?
Answer: Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC belongs to United Church of Christ denomination.
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow."Benjamin Franklin
Truth and Destiny Covenant Ministries UCC listing was last updated on the 24th of November, 2019
