Bible Class

Elder Leonard Fennell was baptized on November 11, 1984 at Refuge Church of Our Lord in San Antonio TX.  In 1986, Elder Fennell completed satisfactorily the requirements of Preliminary Certificate Program and was awarded the Preliminary Teachers Certificate, therefore becoming an approved Sunday School Teacher through the Evangelical Teacher Training Association.  Having been chosen as a man of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of Wisdom; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience and capable of performing Diaconate duties in the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Elder Fennell was ordained to the office of a Deacon in Toronto, Canada on August 16, 1989.  Three years later, on August 12, 1992, Elder Fennell received his license as an Exhorter of the gospel of Jesus Christ by the Apostles, Bishops, and Elders of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc.  He was commissioned to exhort and develop himself in the Christian Ministry in accordance with the word of God, the law of the church and ordinances of the State.  On December 18, 1996, recommended by the late Bishop J.P. Steadman, Elder Fennell was licensed a Local Minister of the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ by the Apostles, Bishops and Elders of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc.  He was commissioned to preach and to exercise himself in the Christian Ministry in accordance with the Word of God, the law of the church and the ordinances of the State.  The Lord continued to work through Elder Fennell and a year later, on August 19, 1997, he received his Ministry Ordination Certificate, hence naming him an Elder and ordained to the work of The Gospel Ministry. Genesis 12:2 states, "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."  Elder Fennell's vision of a new church came to pass and on June 25, 2007 when Refuge III COOLJC was recognized as a Charter of The Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith with him as presiding Pastor.  Elder Fennell's dedication to serving the Lord and the people of God was recognized by the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. and on May 18, 2011, he was appointed to the Office of District Elder.

On Sunday mornings, it is not uncommon to hear Elder Fennell singing "In the Name of Jesus", this happens to be one of his favorite hymns.   It is also not uncommon to hear laughter from the congregation during one of his sermons because Elder Fennell has mastered the art of being jovial while interjecting seriousness about how to live according to God's holy plan.  One might even hear Elder Fennell quote Acts 4:12, "nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved", which happens to be one of his favorite scriptures.  Elder Fennell loves the Lord, his family, friends, and congregation with all his heart, mind, and soul.  It is his daily prayer that we all be blessed and saved.