Bishop Leroy Jones, Sr.
After working twenty-five years for the Chicago Transit Authority, he responded to the call of God, took an early retirement in 1992, and began full time ministry. Known for his energetic, anointed preaching and humorous yet stern persona, his membership has grown from one family (the Pastor, his wife, four sons and one daughter) to over 100 families. He can be heard every Sunday morning at 8:30 am on WBGX 1570 AM Chicago and previously on WWHN 1510 AM Chicago, WYCA 92.3 FM Chicago and WJYS TV 62.
Bishop Jones served under Bishops H. W. Goldsberry and William H. Bonner, prelates of the Sixth Jurisdiction of Illinois, for twenty-three years. He worked honorably and dutifully in several capacities. He functioned, for example, as Assistant Jurisdictional Sunday School Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of the H. W. Goldsberry District, and Superintendent of the Mason District, among other activities. In 2001 he felt led by the Lord to work with Bishop Willie J. Chambliss of the Illinois Midwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction (IMEJ) of COGIC. Since that time, he has been one of the most loyal and trustworthy pastors in the jurisdiction. Initially, Bishop Chambliss appointed him as the Superintendent of the Fellowship District. Impressed by his professionalism and diligence, he appointed him in 2005 to serve as his First Administrative Assistant. Shortly after Bishop Darrell L. Hines, Sr. assumed leadership of IMEJ, Pastor Jones was consecrated as an Auxiliary Bishop in the COGIC and served as Senior Advisor to Bishop Hines before returning to his home Jurisdiction, the Sixth Jurisdiction of Illinois COGIC, in 2024.
Bishop Jones fervently supports the ministry of social service pertaining to home & foreign mission. His passion for missions were largely influenced by missionary trips abroad. He assisted Bishop Goldsberry in establishing several churches in Ghana, West Africa in the 1970’s, and more recently accompanied four pastors from the Northern Illinois Jurisdiction of the COGIC to Haiti to dig and inspect wells and teach ministerial seminars. As a result of these experiences, he has led his church in local, national, and international giving programs for missions; invited visiting missionaries to speak to his congregation on Sunday mornings and in Bible class; and sent bibles and care packages to address human suffering and alienation in home and foreign countries.
A recognized community activist, Bishop Jones has been instrumental in providing support to neighborhood vitalization programs. He is Chaplain for Harvey City Council, a member of the South Suburban Minister Alliance, and Founder of the Life Enrichment and Development Center (LEAD), a not-for-profit 501(c)3 ministry of the New Life Pentecostal Church. The LEAD Center promotes wholeness in Harvey and surrounding communities by providing support services for family members of all ages.
A devoted and caring family man, Bishop Jones has been married to his wife, Shirley, for fifty-six years. They are the proud parents of seven children: LeRoy II (Lolita), Daryl (Gina), Rondal (Leslie), Kenya, Reginald (Shekelia), Kendal and Derrick (Lena); the grandparents of seventeen: Kaiita, Kyerra, LeRoy III, Daryl Jr., Micah, Gavin, Anna, Emily, Rondal Jr., Averi, Reginald Jr., Sian, Amina, Kendal Jr., Zion, Derrick Jr and Greyson; and the great grandparents of Nayari.
Pastor LeRoy Jones, II
Dr. LeRoy Jones, II, was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 19, 1969, to Bishop Leroy and Mother Shirley Jones, Sr. The oldest of seven children, he holds a B.S. degree in chemistry with a minor in religious studies from Bradley University, a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of South Carolina at Columbia, and served as a Postdoctoral Scholar in organometallic chemistry at Caltech. He is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity Degree at the Assembly of God Theological Seminary.
Dr. Jones accepted the call to the gospel ministry and was licensed and ordained to preach under the late Bishop Willie J. Chambliss, founding prelate of the Illinois Midwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction (IMEJ) of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in 2005. He was later named Pastor of the New Life Pentecostal Church of God in Christ in 2020 by his father, Bishop Leroy Jones, Sr., Senior Pastor.
Dr. Jones served under Bishops Willie J. Chambliss and Darrell L. Hines, Sr., prelates of IMEJ, for twenty-three years as Jurisdictional Secretary. He currently serves as the Coordinator for COGIC Urban Initiatives under the tutelage of Bishop Clowdell Williams, Sr., Prelate of the Sixth Jurisdiction of the COGIC.
A recognized thought leader in broadening participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and education, Dr. Jones is a Program Director for the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation and Historically Black Colleges and Universities programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Alexandria, VA, carrying out the Agency’s overall mission to capitalize on new concepts in science and engineering and provide support for innovative and merit-reviewed projects advancing research and education.
Prior to joining the NSF, Dr. Jones served at Chicago State University for 21 years, holding positions including Professor of Chemistry, Executive Director of the Center for STEM Education & Research, and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and completed an American Council on Education Fellowship at Hampton University (Class of 2010-11). He was also a Research Scientist at BP Amoco Chemicals in Naperville, IL prior to joining CSU, and received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army Reserves after eight years of service.
Dr. Jones and his wife, Lolita Julia, of 33 years reside in Highland, Indiana, and have three adult children – Kaiita Marquee, Kyerra Monique, LeRoy Timothy, and one grandchild – Nayari Savannah.
