Bishop EMERITUS Ronlald J. Hoston, FOUNDING FATHER

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Bishop R. J. Hoston began his ministry under the late Bishop C. E. Bennett in South Bend, Indiana. In 1968, he relocated to Rochester, New York, with his wife, Jennifer Hoston. Upon arriving in Rochester, he served at Powerhouse Church of God in Christ under the guidance of Pastor H. M. Newkirk, where he initiated jail, street, and migrant camp ministries. He also led an evangelistic team that traveled nationally for two years.

In 1981, after a one-year interim pastorate, Bishop Hoston founded the Bethesda Church of God in Christ at 120 St. Bridget’s Drive in Rochester. Known as “A Church with a Mission and a Plan that Works,” Bethesda became a vibrant spiritual community offering jubilant worship and a Word-centered atmosphere of love and acceptance. The church embraced urban ministry challenges, launching programs such as drug abuse counseling, family life ministries, a food pantry, and the Christmas Love Box program, supporting over 150 families annually.

Bishop Hoston also founded Bethesda Charities Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on community development, housing, job placement, and other social outreach programs. A significant accomplishment of the organization was the creation of the 15,000-square-foot Bethesda Child Development Center. This $2 million project served 200 children annually, supporting their educational and social development while generating nearly $1 million in annual revenue. Bishop Hoston envisioned the $50 million “Bethesda Village” project, a revitalization plan targeting a 10-square-block area in Rochester. The initiative began with the Child Development Center and aimed to include a worship center, housing, family and health centers, and businesses, with plans to replicate the model in other cities under his leadership.

Bishop Hoston held numerous leadership roles within the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), including Chairman of the Pastors and Elders Council and the Ordination Board, and was a standing member of the Bishop’s Executive Staff for the Western New York First Jurisdiction. On a national level, he served on the COGIC National Doctrinal Review Committee, Judiciary Screening Committee, and as a commissioner for the Constitutional Convention. In 2008, he was consecrated as Prelate of the Central New York Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.

Before transitioning to full-time ministry in 1990, Bishop Hoston worked for Xerox Corporation for 20 years as an engineer and technical writer. He earned a certificate in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible College, an AAS from Monroe Community College, a BA from Brockport State University, and a Master of Science from the University of Rochester.

Bishop Hoston is married to Jennifer Hoston, affectionately known as “Lady Jennifer.” Together, they raised a son, Erike, and are proud grandparents to three grandsons, Erike Jr., Damani, and Izaiah, as well as a granddaughter, Taylor. Bishop Hoston is known for his visionary leadership and anointed message, impacting countless lives.

In 2021, Bishop Hoston, the founding Bishop of New York Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, received emeritus status as a bishop of the Church of God in Christ.