Our Team
Get to know our family of directors and associates from across all of our ministries.
Our Directors
Our Staff
Get to know our family of directors and associates from across all of our ministries.
Executive Director / Leadership Development And Discipleship
Director / Center For Biblical Leadership
Bishop Jeffery A. Davis serves as the Executive Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship for the Church of God of Prophecy and is a member of the Corporate Board of Directors. He has served as state bishop of North Carolina and California. Prior to becoming state bishop, he pastored in California for 17 years. For 25 years he worked full time in the multicultural, multi-ethnic communities of Los Angeles, California for the Pacific Asian Consortium of Employment as a Teacher, Parent Education Coordinator, and Family Literacy Director. Bishop Davis is a graduate of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts degree in Religion. He is married to Terry, and they have a daughter, Ja'Nae, a son, Jeffery II and daughter in law, Melissa.
Director / Accredited Ministries Development /
President / Spirit and Life Seminary
Dr. Jeremiah Barker accepted Christ as his Savior on June 25, 2000, at the age of 17. He began his ministry in March 2002 at Christ Tabernacle Church of God of Prophecy in Sheridan, Indiana. In May 2006, he received his ministerial license with the Church of God of Prophecy. He was later ordained as a bishop during the denomination’s 100th International Assembly in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2018.
Dr. Barker began his theological education in 2003 at Calvary Cathedral Bible College in Fort Worth, Texas, where he earned an associate degree in Bible and Theology in 2005. He continued his studies at Lee University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies, followed by a master’s degree in Counseling from Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Although he initially believed his academic journey was complete, he felt the Lord leading him to pursue further studies. He returned to Pentecostal Theological Seminary, where he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in May 2024.
In December 2006, Dr. Barker married his wife, Amanda. Together, they have three children: Rebekah, Malachi, and Ariel. The Barkers served in pastoral ministry for three years in Connersville, Indiana, before relocating to Abingdon, Illinois, where they have faithfully served for the past 16 years. Beyond his pastoral responsibilities, Dr. Barker has participated in international ministry in Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).
Dr. Barker is honored to serve the Church of God of Prophecy as President of Spirit and Life Seminary and Director of Accredited Ministry Development (AMD). In these roles, he looks forward to building meaningful relationships across the nations and expanding opportunities for members to pursue theological education and biblical studies.
He is particularly passionate about inspiring the next generation to embrace God’s call to ministry and equipping them for faithful service through Spirit and Life Seminary and AMD’s educational partnerships. With a heart for leadership development and a commitment to theological education, Dr. Barker looks toward the future with great anticipation and expectation for what God will accomplish through these ministries.
Training Specialist / International Children’s Ministries
At the age of fourteen, Joy said, “Yes!” to God’s call to serve and minister to kids. Since then, she has actively served in churches, camps, and various ministry environments both locally and internationally. Joy is the Associate Pastor of Children at her local church, Spring Place Church. While at Spring Place, she has had the opportunity to remodel and build a children’s ministry that is a safe and sacred place for kids to attend. She believes with her whole heart that children are indeed a blessing from God and that they are mighty arrows being released into the world (Psalm 127).
In July of 2016, Joy completed her Master of Arts degree in Ministry Studies from Lee University. Currently, she also serves part-time at the International Offices as the Training Specialist for International Children’s Ministries. She is most passionate about helping children and adults see the value of theology in ministry to kids. Joy’s idea of fun includes traveling, reading, working out, and laughing with the people she loves.
Director / Youth Ministries International
Instructor / Center For Biblical Leadership
Elias T. Rodriguez was born March 12, 1958, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the second of seven children of Bishop Tulio and Adela Rodriguez. In 1973, Bishop Tulio was appointed as national overseer for the Church of God of Prophecy in Peru, South America. Fifteen-year-old Elias accompanied the family to Lima. He served in ministry alongside his father for three years while finishing high school. In 1976, he returned to the Dominican Republic to continue his university studies and in 1984 graduated from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo with a Doctor of Dentistry degree. He practiced in that field until 1993 when he immigrated to New York where he gained permanent residency status in 1998 and became a naturalized US Citizen in 2003.
While Elias was in Peru (1975), he sensed his call into pastoral ministry. In 1995, he was appointed to a pastorate in Calhoun, Georgia, where he served for 15 years. It was while in this pastorate that he was assigned an additional responsibility, that of overseer for the South East Hispanic Region, one of the three main administrative divisions of the Church’s work in the United States.
He served in this position from 2007 to 2010 when he was appointed to the Leadership Development and Discipleship Center for Biblical Leadership (CBL) as a member of the CBL Faculty (CBL Instructor).
Elias’ academic preparation includes a Doctor of Dentistry degree from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 1984, a Master of Divinity degree from Church of God Theological Seminary (now Pentecostal Theological Seminary) in 2007 and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2014. Elias has traveled and taught extensively throughout Latin America, Western Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, North America, and Africa. He served as a member of the Church’s Assembly Committee for Biblical Doctrine and Polity from 2006 to 2018.
When not directly engaged in his teaching and writing ministry, Elias enjoys being outdoors and reading. He married the former Maria E. Vargas in 1983. They have three children: Laramie (wife, Melissa) who has given Elias and Maria their first grandchildren, Abisai and Isaac and Elyssa; another son, Mederic (wife Cinthya), and daughter, Genevieve (husband Chris Simmons). Dr. Rodriguez and his wife live in Calhoun, Georgia.
Registrar and Student Services Coordinator / Spirit & Life Seminary / Accredited Ministries Development
Debbie served as an academic advisor, music instructor, and music department chairperson at Tomlinson College from 1987 to 1992. She then taught music in Bradley County Schools for 6 years before marrying her husband Dennis and moving to Huntsville, Alabama, where she served as an academic advisor at Calhoun Community College.
Debbie later moved to metro-Atlanta where she taught music and special education students in Gwinnett County Public Schools for nearly 20 years. She loves to play piano and has enjoyed working with several church choirs on her journey back to Cleveland, Tennessee. She is very excited to serve in a new role as registrar and student services coordinator at Spirit and Life Seminary.
AS in Music, Tomlinson College
BME (Bachelors in Music Education), Lee University
MS in Music, Radford University
LDD Administrative Assistant
LDD Project Manager
Alejandra Guajardo Hodge serves as Project Manager for Leadership Development and Discipleship (LDD), where she has served for five years in various capacities. In her current role, she oversees and coordinates projects that advance leadership training, theological education, discipleship resources, and global ministry initiatives. Her work focuses on strengthening collaboration, improving organizational processes, and supporting the effective implementation of LDD’s strategic priorities.
Alejandra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies and a Master of Arts in Theological Ethics from Lee University. In 2019, she received the Zeno C. Tharp Award, recognizing her promise to make a significant contribution to the Church.
Her academic and professional experience includes serving as an adjunct instructor with the Center for Latino Studies at Pentecostal Theological Seminary, contributing to collaborative theological publications, and working as a translator and editor. She is a member of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and the Association for Hispanic Theological Education and serves on the boards of two nonprofit organizations.
Beyond her professional work, Alejandra is actively involved in local church ministry. She and her husband, Steven Hodge, serve as Youth Pastors and Directors of Service and Social Impact at Casa de Refugio Church of God of Prophecy in Cleveland, Tennessee. She also serves as Chair of the Leadership Development and Discipleship Commission.
Alejandra is passionate about theological education, leadership development, discipleship formation, and cultivating communities of hospitality and belonging.
Admissions and Marketing Manager / Spirit & Life Seminary / Accredited Ministry Development
Carimet lives in Cleveland, TN, but she grew up in the Dominican Republic. She is the youngest of four kids and is bilingual. She has been a part of the Church of God of Prophecy her entire life and is a member of the Spanish COGOP in Cleveland. She serves as the Assistant Youth Director for her church and as the drummer for the church worship team. Carimet is currently majoring in social work with the hope of helping her community. She enjoys soccer, music, and serving others. Her goal in this position is to grow in the knowledge of God and help others do the same. Carimet currently serves as the Admission and Marketing Manager for Spirit and Life Seminary and Accredited Ministry Development.
Academic Dean & Endorsement Liaison / Spirit & Life Seminary / Accredited Ministries Development
Albert Murza is Endorsement Liaison for Accredited Ministry Development & Academic Dean for Spirit & Life Seminary. Albert grew up in Moscow, Russia, and is the oldest of five siblings. Albert’s father is the national overseer of Russia for the Church of God of Prophecy. At the age of 16, his mother passed away from cancer. He reports that it was a tough time for his family, but “it made us stronger, and we became even closer”.
He attended European Theological Seminary in Kniebis, Germany where he majored in Church Ministry with an emphasis in Christian Education and a minor in Counseling. During his time in Germany, he met his wife Kristen and they were married in 2016. After getting married, they moved to Cleveland, TN where they became members of Peerless Road Church. Albert has been serving in local church youth ministries since the age of 17. At this time, they are the memeber of Hickory Valley COGOP in Chattanooga, TN.
Albert and Kristen graduated from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary where Albert pursued a Master of Divinity degree. Albert likes to watch movies, build Legos and travel with his wife Kristen.
Certificate, Church Ministry, European Theological Seminary, 2017
M.Div., Pentecostal Theological Seminary, 2022
Ed.S. in Higher Education Administration, Liberty University, In Progress
Child Discipleship and Faith Formation Specialist / International Children’s Ministries
Jonathan has lived in New Jersey his entire life, with familial roots in African American and Puerto Rican cultures. His greatest joys are being a husband and a father.
At the young age of ten, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Since then, Pastor Jonathan has devoted himself to serving children and youth across various local, regional, and international ministries.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History Education and advanced degrees in educational leadership and Christian ministry. With around 15 years of experience in urban public education, he has taken on roles as a teacher and school administrator, specializing in Social Studies, Special Education, and Bilingual/ESL Education for grades Pre-K through 12.
He is the Child Discipleship and Faith Formation Specialist and Pastor of The Hub Church in Jersey City, NJ. He and his wife planted this ministry in 2016 under the Church of God of Prophecy.
Jonathan enjoys reading, traveling, beach-hopping, and cherishing moments with family and friends in his free time.
Business Office Manager / Accredited Ministries Development / Spirit & Life Seminary
Jacob currently serves as the Business Office Manager for Spirit & Life Seminary and the Department of Accredited Ministry Development.
Jacob graduated in 2018 from Lee University in Cleveland, TN, with a B.S. in Music Business. Jacob returned to Lee University in the fall of 2018 to attain his master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), graduating in 2020. He used this time to increase his musical versatility and excellence, studying classical/jazz/commercial/worship piano, commercial and jazz bass, vocal and instrumental accompaniment, and commercial arranging/recording/production. Before graduation, Jacob was elected as a member of the Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business in recognition of his high educational attainment.
In 2018, Jacob had the opportunity to complete an internship with the Michael W. Smith Management Group. Immediately following the completion of the position, he worked for LifeCare Centers of America as an Audio Engineering Assistant until December 2018. Jacob began working in the Communications Department at the COGOP International Offices in January 2019. He served as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Communications, Web Developer, and Project Manager between 2019-2023 before transitioning to SLS/AMD into his current role.
Jacob has had the opportunity to serve as a lead pianist for Peerless Road COGOP since 2012. Following his calling for music and worship, he accepted the Music and Media Director position for PRC in July 2022. Jacob is married to Julie Coleman, who coordinates worship for the Children’s Ministry at PRC. They consider it a blessing to work together as a team and serve in those capacities.
Director of Library Services / Spirit & Life Seminary
Mrs. Brewer serves as Director of Library Services for the Spirit and Life Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee. In addition, she serves as Director of Library Services for the Chattanooga College: Medical, Dental, & Technical Careers. Her career spans over 30 years and includes the roles of faculty member, instructor, consultant, director of technical services library division, assistant director, director of library services at three colleges (located in Cleveland, TN; Charlotte, N.C.; & Chattanooga, TN), head of circulation department, Interlibrary loan librarian, reference librarian, original cataloger, resource room coordinator, branch manager of rural county public library, community development librarian and branch services librarian.
Mrs. Brewer received her Bachelor’s degree from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1985) with a major in Psychology and minor in Library; her Master’s degree from University of Tennessee at Knoxville (1988) in Library Science; and her 6th Year Specialist degree from the Florida State University (2006) in Library and Information Studies.
She has held membership in numerous local, state and national organizations including Optimist Club; Kiwanis; Civitan; Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, Inc.; the Dade County (Georgia) Chamber of Commerce, board of directors and ambassador; the Walker County (Georgia) Chamber of Commerce member and Leadership Institute graduate; American Library Association; Association of College and Research Libraries; Tennessee Library Association; Tenn-Share; Chattanooga Area Library Association; Georgia Library Association, Georgia OCLC/SOLINET Users Group, Public Library Association, Family Connections, Adult Literacy committees in Dade County (Georgia) and Walker County (Georgia). She served as volunteer librarian for the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park – CHCH Library from August 2011 to June 2018.
Mrs. Brewer has written several successful grants for the Chattanooga College Medical, Dental & Technical Careers, Inc. in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Cherokee Regional Library System in La Fayette, Georgia. The grants were awarded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund HEERF I, HEERF II, HEERF III – American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, American Library Association/National Endowment for the Humanities Big Read; Joshua’s Law Grant (Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety); Mini-Grants to Support Summer Reading Club Programs; Lois Lenski Covey Foundation; Millennium Project for Public Libraries We the People Bookshelf (NEH), Awarded 2003 Walker County Alliance for Literacy / Certified Literate Community Program grant to purchase Accelerated Reader materials for three public libraries.
Mrs. Brewer attributes her success to her Christian faith, life-long learning, mentors, motivation, drive, and vision of a desired path. She recognizes that prayer and support from family and friends make anything possible.
Mrs. Brewer is married to Ray N. Brewer of Chattanooga, Tennessee and is primary caregiver to her mother Martha Cassidy.
Specialist in Library and Information Science, from Florida State University in 2006
M.S in Library Science, from University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1988
B.S. in Psychology, from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1985
Spanish Langauge Training Specialist / International Children’s Ministries
Abigahil Ávila accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at seven years of age, and her life was forever changed. When she was a teenager, God called her to serve the children of her local church for 9 years, during which she found her calling. Years later, she became the children’s ministries regional director of the central zone of Honduras where she launched a national training program and other projects such as: Kids Camp, Vacation Bible School, community outreach projects, etc.
Currently, Abigahil Ávila is the National Children’s Ministries Director in Honduras and the Spanish Training Specialist for International Children’s Ministries, she has a degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and one in Christian Education and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management. She works with Evangelism Explosion International Organization coordinating children’s ministry efforts in the areas of leadership development and discipleship.
“There is a desire in my heart to continue to do God’s will. He called me to minister to the smallest of His children, but they are His greatest treasures. I pray that we raise an army of willing, teachable, passionate, and equipped workers in the Church of God of Prophecy to serve God and minister to children and change their lives through Jesus Christ. Our vision is ‘Developing Leaders, Impacting Kids.’”
