Our Pastor
Cornita Leonard Jones, Pastor
District Superintendent Cornita Leonard Jones, is the daughter of Presiding Bishop
Henry Leonard and General Overseer Phyllis Leonard and was born in Orlando,
Florida. She graduated from Jones High School in 1976 and furthered her
education at University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal
Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She also received an Associates
Degree from Valencia Community College.
District Superintendent Cornita Leonard Jones has two daughters, Dr. Elder
Ranita Brown and Sister Candace Ferrell and is the wife of Brother Ira Lee Jones.
District Superintendent Cornita Leonard Jones has worked as a History Teacher at
Orange County Public Schools for 22 years. She was selected as Teacher of the
Year for the 2015 – 2016 school year at Meadowbrook Middle School.
She accepted the call of God and preached when the Lord provided an
opportunity. She was ordained as an Elder and later elevated to the position of
District Superintendent.
District Superintendent Cornita Leonard Jones has actively ministered in various
outreach programs. She served as a volunteer Chaplain with the Orange County
Corrections Department for over three years and as a prayer mentor and bible
study teacher at the Miracle of Love Outreach Program. She also participated in
the prayer ministry radio broadcast on WOKB.
The Lord has gifted District Superintendent Cornita Leonard Jones with the
ministry of prophecy and a love for winning souls.
Our Founders
Presiding Bishop Henry Leonard, Founder
Bishop Henry Leonard was born in Fort Gaines, Georgia. He is the son of a Minister and the third child in a family of five children. He moved to Orlando, Florida, at an early age and attended Jones High School. Upon Graduation he entered the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1961.
He received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at his father's church, the New Jerusalem Church of God in Zellwood, Florida.
Pastor Leonard married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Bradshaw and God blessed that union with two children: a son, Dereck, and daughter, Cornita.
He entered Bethune-Cookman College in 1967 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Major in Religion and Philosophy, which certified him to teach History and Bible. Upon graduation from Bethune-Cookman College, Pastor continued his studies at Atlanta Interdenominational Theological Seminary, ITC.
His teaching career in the Orange County Public Schools began in 1971.
Pastor Leonard served under Bishop R.B. Hemingway for twenty-five years in the New Jerusalem Church of God in Otter Creek, Gainesville and Orlando.
On November 17, 1985, he was anointed for the work of a Bishop, making him Bishop, Founder of the Tabernacle of the Enlightened Church of God.
General Overseer Phyllis Leonard, Co-Founder
General Overseer Phyllis Leonard was born in Orlando, Florida, May 8, 1940.
She is the daughter of the late Herbert Leroy and Eloise Bowden Bradshaw, the second child in a family of four children.
She attended Jones High School. Upon graduation she entered Cosmetology School and upon successfully completing the requirements graduated and became a cosmetologist.
She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at the New Jerusalem Church of God in Zellwood, Florida; Pastor, Presiding Elder Josh Leonard, Sr.
Mother Leonard married her sweetheart, Bishop Henry Leonard and God blessed that union with two children: a daughter, District Superintendent Cornita L. Jones and a son, Bishop Dereck L. Leonard.
She entered Johnson Junior College in 1963 and graduated with an Associate of Science Degree with a major in Elementary Education. She continued her education and graduated from Bethune-Cookman College in 1967with a Bachelor of Science degree. Later on she attended University of Central Florida ( at the time Florida Technological University) and graduated with a Masters of Education degree.
Her teaching career in the Orange County Public Schools began in 1972 and she retired from teaching to assist her husband in the ministry.
In December, 1985 she was ordained an Elder of the Tabernacle of the Enlightened Church of God by Bishop Henry Leonard and in 1989 she was appointed Executive Director of Business Administration and in 1992 she was assigned the work of a District Superintendent of Orange, Lake, and Alachua Counties. She was later ordained and consecrated as the General Overseer of the Tabernacle of the Enlightened Churches of God, Inc.
