About us
Church History
Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” This verse resonates with our unwavering commitment to bringing the Gospel message to the lost. It inspires us to continue this mission, no matter the challenges we face.
• 2000: A significant milestone in our history, on 12 November 2000, Word of Life Ministries was established, using Bishop Johnnie M. Washington's edifice, Full Gospel Evangelistic Fellowship Church, as its home. This marked the beginning of our journey.
• 2001: In January 2001, God blessed our church with a 2000-square-foot storefront at 9611 McComb Street. Bishop Juan O. Lawson, Prelate of the Texas Western Jurisdiction, officiated the installation service. As new members arrived and the church grew, God provided armor bearers; He birthed the Pastor’s Aide and the Outreach Charity Ministry, a clear sign of our growth and expansion.
• 2002-2007: Elder Howlett Wayne Strayhorn and family joined our church family in 2004. Elder Strayhorn's passion for the work of the Lord and the ministry led him on a crusade to find a larger facility for our church home. He worked diligently in the church and served as the Associate Pastor until his passing in July 2006. Continuing the search for a new facility, in October 2007, Sister Vicki Scott was led to 9925 Alcan Street.
• 2008: A significant milestone in our journey was purchasing and renovating the facilities at 9925 Alcan Street, a testament to our growth and commitment. We held our Grand Opening/Consecration Service on Sunday, April 13, officiated by Bishop Juan O. Lawson; it was a momentous occasion.
• 2011: We thank God for his blessings on the ministry. Sister Deseriann Strayhorn, daughter of the Late Elder Strayhorn, established and presided over our Young Adult Ministry (YAM) until her passing on 28 October 2011.
• 2014: Upon the recommendation from Bishop Juan O. Lawson, Prelate of the Texas Western Jurisdiction, Pastor Mays was consecrated as an auxiliary Bishop in the Church of God in Christ at the 107th Holy Convocation in St. Louis, MO.
• 2015: Being led by the Holy Spirit in 2014 to burn the church mortgage in seven years, Word of Life Ministries conducted a mortgage-burning ceremony on March 22, 2015. Bishop Juan O. Lawson was the keynote speaker; his subject was “A New Thing."
• 2017: The Lord continued to bless us once again. At our Annual Spring Revival, led by our Young Adult Ministry, we witnessed a strong move of God's hand. Many received their healing and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
• 2018: Bishop Mays received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from St. Thomas Christian University.
• 2019: The Lord blessed the ministry with rezoning, which enabled us to purchase and erect the LED sign.
• 2020~2021: The pandemic presented unprecedented challenges, but we persevered through God's grace. We could not conduct many in-house activities, but found new ways to connect and worship. We thank God for enabling us to keep the church doors open every Sunday with limited staff for Sunday morning services. We established an online presence through Zoom with 6:15 apprentice ministers’ training, 7 pm Wednesday night bible study, and 9 am Saturday intercessory prayer.
• This period was a testament to our resilience and faith in God's plan. We thank God for keeping us through the pandemic and for the lessons we learned during this time.
• 2021: Through God's eminence blessings and keeping his eye upon Word of Life Ministries, God gave us favor in purchasing the building and land at 9924 Alcan Street, now the Word of Life Community Center.
• 2022: On March 11, 2022, the Lord called Mother Shirley Ann Jemison home. The Word of Life Family will never forget her life and legacy. A memorial service was held in her honor on June 12, 2022. Our prayer room was redesigned and dedicated in her honor. The Evangelist Shirley Ann Jemison Prayer Room is a beautiful reminder of a faithful prayer warrior and intercessor! Her legacy and impact upon the Word of Life Ministries are ones we cherish and hold dear to our hearts.
• 2022: We thank God for enabling us to resume our church anniversary observation. Sunday, November 20th, we celebrated our 22nd church anniversary; our theme, “Bring Back the Glory,” was inspired by John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Our keynote guest speaker was Pastor Wilson Tademy, Pastor, New Jerusalem, COGIC.
• 2023: On Sunday, November 19, we celebrated our 23rd church anniversary. Our theme was “Seeking the Kingdom of God,” inspired by Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Superintendent David Moreno, Holy Ghost Tabernacle, was our keynote speaker.
• 2024: This year, we continue to be blessed by God. We thank Him for 24 years of ministry in the community of El Paso. We are grateful for the growth and success we have experienced over the years and look forward to many more years of serving our community.
Meet our Pastor:
BISHOP ALBERT J. MAYS, JR.
Bishop Albert James Mays, Jr. is originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He retired from active duty as a U.S. Army Sergeants Major, with 24 years of active-duty military service. He currently serves as a Department of the Army Civilian, Instructional Systems Specialist, Quality Assurance Office, NCO Leadership Center of Excellence, Fort Bliss, Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Park University in Social Psychology, a Master of Arts in Instructional Systems, and a Master of Arts in Education from TUI University with a concentration in Teaching and Instruction. Bishop Mays attended Northcentral University, Doctorate of Education from 2009-2015, with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. On August 25, 2018, Bishop Mays was conferred a Doctor of Divinity degree from St. Thomas University.
He serves as an Associate Professor who teaches Business and Technology Graduate and Undergraduate classes at Excelsior College. Bishop Mays accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in June 1976 and was filled with the Holy Ghost in August 1979.
In November 2000, he founded Word of Life Ministries, Inc., in El Paso, Texas. He currently serves as the Executive Administrative Assistant of the Texas Western Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ (TWJ COGIC), El Paso, Texas, Superintendent of the Zion District, TWJ COGIC, Assistant Secretary of Finance, College of Bishops, COGIC, and President of the Martin Luther King Jr., Committee of El Paso, TX. In April 2014, he was honored by being chosen by the Church Of God In Christ, The Whole Truth Magazine, and the Church Of God In Christ Publishing House to be recognized as one of COGIC’S 100 Influential Pastors. Auxiliary Bishop Mays was consecrated on November 9, 2014, during the Sunday evening service at the 107th COGIC Holy Convocation in St. Louis, MO.
Bishop Mays resides in El Paso, Texas, with his wife, District Missionary Willie Mae Collins Mays, originally from Avon Park, Florida. They have one son, Reverend Albert James Mays, III, daughter-in-law Theresa Mays, and granddaughter Brooke Reagan Mays.
Meet our First Lady:
First Lady Evangelist Willie M. Mays
Evangelist Willie M. Mays was raised in Avon Park, Florida. She graduated from Avon Park High School and continued her educational endeavors by enrolling at South Florida Junior College with a Major in Early Childhood Education. Evangelist Mays was conferred her Child Development Association Associate's Degree from Boston University. Evangelist Mays served as the Assistant Director and Preschool Teacher at Little Angels Daycare from 2000 through 2006.
Evangelist Mays was licensed as an Evangelist in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) in 1989. In 1995, Women's Supervisor Stella Watson, of the Germany Jurisdiction, licensed Evangelist Mays as Evangelist Missionary in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). In 2002, Women's Supervisor Dorothy Marbury, Texas Western Jurisdiction, appointed Evangelist Mays as District Missionary of the Zion District.
In 2021, Women's Supervisor D. Lynnette Riddick appointed Evangelist Willie Mays as Chairperson of District Missionaries of the Texas Western Jurisdiction.
Evangelist Mays resides in El Paso, Texas, with her husband, Bishop Albert J. Mays, Jr. Evangelist Mays has one son, Albert J. Mays III, a lovely daughter-in-love, Theresa, and granddaughter Baby Brooke R. Mays.
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