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Leadership Development and Discipleship offers a path that engages, equips, and enriches the ministries of those who lead.
Engaging, equipping, and enriching those who lead.
Equipping ministry leaders to serve with spiritual fervor, personal integrity, and authentic leadership.
Create a culture of excellence in leadership.
Engagement, excellence, continuous learning, accountability, service, accessibility.
Leadership Development and Discipleship serves Church of God of Prophecy ministry and laity. Our ministries encompass Accredited Ministry Development (higher education), Spirit & Life Seminary, the Center for Biblical Leadership (ministerial training), International Children’s Ministries, and Youth Ministries International.
Church of God of Prophecy International Offices
Leadership Development and Discipleship
PO Box 2910
Cleveland, TN 37320-2910
423-559-5100
ldd@cogop.org
Church of God of Prophecy International Offices
Leadership Development and Discipleship
P O Box 2910
Cleveland TN 37320-2910
423-559-5100
ldd@cogop.org
Accreditation Coordinator / Spirit & Life Seminary
Dr. Michael Plumley joined the Leadership Development and Discipleship ministries in the fall of 2017 working in Accredited Ministry Development in the area of Assessment and Accreditation after more than forty years as a veteran educator. In addition to his years in the public schools of Georgia and Tennessee, he has also served as adjunct instructor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Director of Planning and Accountability in the School of Education at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), and for a short time was Assistant Professor of Education at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Dr. Plumley has served as consultant for accreditation at Ole Miss, West Texas A & M University, and at William Carey University. He has served on the Accreditation Council for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and on the Accreditation Council for the Council for Accreditation of Professional Educators (CAEP) in Washington, D. C.
He holds an Associate Degree in Elementary Education from Tomlinson College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Lee University, a Masters of Education in Administration / Supervision from Trevecca Nazarene University, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dr. Plumley has been a member of the Church of God of Prophecy for over fifty years and currently serves the Peerless Road Church on the Finance and Administrative committee. He has acknowledged a call to ministry and received his minister’s certificate in 2019.
Business Office Manager / Accredited Ministries Development / Spirit & Life Seminary
Katherine first came to work at the International Offices while attending Tomlinson and Lee Colleges. She returned, almost 30 years later in 2009, to work as a bilingual secretary for the Center for Biblical Leadership. Her focus on the partnership between the Church of God of Prophecy and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary prepared her for her current responsibilities as Business Office Manager for Accredited Ministry Development and Spirit and Life Seminary.
She has been passionate about education and training since becoming a Christian at the age of 15. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education in Oregon. In 2008, Katherine made the leap of faith to go back to school to work on her Master’s Degree in Religion with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and graduated magna cum laude in 2016. She is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry Degree with Western Theological Seminary. (Don’t know how you want to update it here; I have successfully completed my doctoral defense and am set to graduate April 30, 2022.)
Katherine has worked as a public-school teacher, substitute teacher, and adult educator. Before coming to Cleveland, she was an administrator at a small Christian school in Texas for 10 years.
Her desire is to see God’s people equipped for service in His kingdom.
Project Manager / Leadership Development And Discipleship
At the age of 15 years old, Antonio Orona was called by God at a teen camp into ministry. Serving in multiple areas helped him realized that he had a passionate heart for people Antonio desire is to help others know who Jesus is and so that they can be committed to living a life with Him.
Antonio has a B.S degree from California State University of Los Angeles in Fire Protection Administration and a Master degree in Leadership and Community Development from California Baptist University. He is also currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, TN.
He has had the privilege to serve as the Youth Pastor at the COGOP Riverside Church in Riverside, CA from 2014 to 2019. He has helped served the youth ministry in the state of California from various areas such as teaching, preaching, and serving as a camp counselor at teen camps for 6 years. Currently he is pursuing his minister license with the Church of God of Prophecy.
He is married to his lovely wife Lilly Orona and together they have a one year old son named Isaiah Orona.
Currently Antonio is a project manager for the Leadership Development and Discipleship department, managing and organizing various projects in different platforms. He is also a volunteer firefighter for Tri-Community Fire Department in Ooltewah, TN.
Accredited Ministries Development / Spirit And Life Seminary
Albert Murza serves as the Registrar and Media Manager for Accredited Ministry Development.
He was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, and his father is Misha Murza, overseer of Russia COGOP. At 18, he moved to Germany to study at European Theological Seminary.
In 2016, he married Kristen Murza and moved to Cleveland, TN, serving as youth leaders at Peerless Road church and as youth pastors at Spring Place COGOP. Since March 2022, Albert and Kristen have been serving as youth pastors at Hickory Valley Community Church.
Albert Murza received his ministry license with the Church of God of Prophecy in 2019.
He is currently enrolled at Pentecostal Theological Seminary pursuing the Master of Divinity degree with the Biblical Studies concentration and will graduate in May of 2022.
Admissions And Marketing Manager / Accredited Ministries Development / Spirit And Life Seminary
Steven Hodge is the Admissions and Marketing Manager for Spirit & Life Seminary and the department of Accredited Ministry Development. Steven oversees the admissions process for all new applicants seeking higher education. Steven also heads the promotion and marketing initiatives for partnered schools, global cohorts, and various degree programs.
Steven grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and moved to Cleveland, TN, to begin working at the International Offices in 2021. Steven is bilingual and served as a lay minister at the Elizabeth Spanish Church of God of Prophecy. While serving in Elizabeth, Steven took on the role of youth pastor, event coordinator, and instructor for his region’s bible institute. Steven also served the Spanish Northeast Region as the assistant chief of operations for the Spanish Northeast Region Children’s Camp from 2012 to 2018.
Steven earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Seton Hall University and is currently enrolled at Pentecostal Theological Seminary pursuing a Master of Theological Studies in Pentecostal Theology. Steven enjoys music and has played in orchestras and jazz bands. He states that his personal motto is “Always be learning – God has given me the ability to learn, and I plan on using it.”
In 2021, Steven was sent forth by Pastor Collazo and his local congregation at Peerless Road Church ‘Casa de Refugio’ and is currently pursuing licensure in the Church of God of Prophecy. In 2022, Steven married the intelligent, beautiful, and kind love of his life, Alejandra Guajardo.
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.
Executive Administrative Assistant / Leadership Development And Discipleship
At 22, a year after Alejandra became a Christian, she felt God calling her to pursue theological studies. In response to this call, she transferred from Texas A&M International University to Lee University in Cleveland, TN, to follow God’s vision for her.
Alejandra earned a B. A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Lee University and an M. A in Theological Ethics from the same Institution. In 2019, she received the Zeno C. Tharp award, which is given annually to the Lee University senior who shows the greatest promise of making a significant contribution to the Church.
Alejandra has served as the translator and editor of several publications, including the quarterly newsletter El Camino produced by His Fullness Ministries and the Ministerial Development Department at Lee University. She worked at Lee University’s School of Religion as a teaching and research assistant for Christian ethics courses and at Lee University’s Squires library during her graduate education.
In the past, Alejandra has been involved in several ministries such as Bridge Ministries, Hunger Rescue, and Church at the Park in Laredo, Texas. Alejandra loves to participate in the local church. She functions as a mentor at NCCOG Collegiate Group and as a music minister at New Covenant Church of God. Alejandra is also a member of the Society of Pentecostal Studies, the Latin American Theological Fraternity (FTL), and Theta Alpha Kappa National Honors Society.
She has a passion for education, the practice of hospitality toward immigrant communities, and peace and reconciliation studies. Alejandra also served as a Church of God missionary in the Balkans after completing her undergraduate degree and has remained in partnership with that field since.
Alejandra has been married to Steven Hodge since January of 2022.
Project Coordinator / International Children’s Ministries
Leslie Green began ministering at her local church and summer youth camps before she was 12 years old. Since then, God has blessed her with opportunities to minister as a children’s ministry director and youth ministry coordinator as well as serving in various roles in camping ministry, conventions and ministry training in North America. She’s also travelled internationally on mission teams and as a trainer for children’s ministry conferences.
Leslie is thrilled to work alongside a few of the most passionate leaders in children’s ministry. She currently serves as children’s pastor at Keith Street Ministries in Cleveland, Tennessee. Her heart is full as she watches the children grow in their relationship with Christ and knowledge of His Word.
Registrar and Student Services Coordinator / Spirit and Life Seminary
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
Executive Director / Leadership Development And Discipleship Director / Center For Biblical Leadership
Kathryn H. Creasy served the Church of God of Prophecy for more than 26 years as International Children’s Ministry director. She brought to that assignment considerable children’s ministry experience at both the local church and regional level.
Her passion for developing leaders was birthed out of her call to serve children. In her first ministry role as regional children’s ministry director, Kathy saw the need for children’s ministers to be skilled in ministry and leadership, prompting her to organize her first children’s ministry conference at the age of 21. During her tenure as international children’s ministry director, Kathy developed effective ministry and leadership training resources and built strong mentoring relationships with leaders in more than 50 nations. Recognition by international leadership of Kathy’s passion, experience, and skill led to her appointment as Executive Director of Leadership Development and Discipleship.
She earned a Master of Science degree from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She taught in public schools in Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia. She is a licensed minister with the Church of God of Prophecy.
Kathy and her husband Rick live in Cleveland, TN. Their older son Lee has two young daughters, Elodie and Amelia and resides in Denver, Colorado. Their younger son Clint and his wife Charis have two young children, Callum Decker and Florence. They reside in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Kathy’s joy is working with continental, national, and regional leadership to develop and implement strategies that will identify, equip, and release developing leaders.
