Bishop Melvin L. Jones

Bishop Melvin Lewis Jones was born on March 22, 1925 in Clinton, South Carolina to Lavella Johnson. And as Jeremiah 1:4-5 declares, "He was chosen, sanctified and set apart from birth." In his youth Melvin L. Jones joined Zion Hill Holiness Church in Clinton, South Carolina, where he was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and received the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of the speaking in other tongues.

One of the major defining experiences that shaped and gave revelation and insight to the undeniable call of Bishop Jones occurred early on in his life. His mother, Lavella Johnson, a powerful visionary and anointed woman of God with keen prophetic insight, had a vision in which she saw an angel. The Angel appeared to her with a Bible in his hand. When she reached for the Bible, the Angel declared "this book is reserved for Melvin Jones." The Angel then set the book on fire and the book began to burn but was not consumed. Its powerful words were yet readable. The Angel then declared, “This is that which has been tried in the fire and has come forth as pure gold." This would be a testament to the calling on Bishop Jones’ life and his gifted and anointed ability to deliver the Word of God with both fire and compassion.

The late Bishop J.C. Richardson, as pastor of Mt. Sinai Apostle Church, would introduce Bishop Jones to his future wife and lifelong partner Birdie Mae Jones. Bishop Jones was anointed to preach the gospel. He was ordained by Bishop J.C. Richardson, Sr. and faithfully served in leadership in the Apostle Church of Christ in God (A.C.C.G.) Organization for over 65 years, serving as Senior Bishop of the organization for over twenty years. Bishop Jones studied Bible Theology at Zion Hill Bible School and also attended the New York School of Psychology where he majored in medical arts. He graduated Cum Laude and served at the Doctor’s Hospital in New York City in 1962.

Bishop Jones founded Mt. Zion Tabernacle where he served as pastor for over 65 years. Under his pastoral leadership many souls were won for Christ and countless ministries were birthed. Bishop Jones’ pastoral care was not only present in the church but was graciously extended to his home. He often welcomed to his home the saints, traveling visitors and the community, providing a safe haven and a place of refuge to those who needed it. As a loving pastor he provided shelter, food, financial assistance, job placement and counseling, helping countless people in transition to get on their feet. The sign over his home reflected this truth for it read, “No night too dark, no hour too late, call me if you need me."

Bishop Jones built bridges and tore down many denominational divides as a pioneer to bring unity to the Body of Christ as well as to other religions in the community. Through this ministry of reconciliation, many came to experience and observe the unconditional love of Christ in action. Some of his early colleagues included Bishop Robert Clarence Lawson, who founded Refuge Temple, and Bishop Smallwood Edmond Williams, who founded Bible Way Churches.

Bishop Melvin L. Jones was a powerful speaker and a prolific preacher who rose in the heights of Christendom. He became a spiritual giant in the Kingdom of God and a national public figure who impacted both the political and social arenas. He had the distinction of having attended the funeral of former Secretary of State John F. Dulles, as well as the unparalleled honor of being the only black clergyman to attend and sit at the funeral of the late President John F. Kennedy.

Bishop Melvin L. Jones went home to be with the Lord on October 11, 2015. He was preceded in death by his wife, Missionary Birdie Mae Jones, his mother Lavella Johnson, brothers Robert Jones, Thomasie Jones, Osalee Jones, and Nathaniel Johnson, and son, Roland Sands.

Left to cherish his memory are his sister, District Elder Emeritus Bernice Flemming, five sons, Dwain Jones (Victoria), John Jones (Patrice), Thelonius Jones, Michael Cox (Fern) and Phillip Sands, three daughters, Delores Fuller (Robert), Naomi Schofield (Sandy), and Michelle Sands, 16 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, a devoted caregiver, Laguardia Kim Mcgee Burch, and a host of other loving relatives, spiritual colleagues and friends.

Bishop Melvin Lewis Jones has surely lived up to this Heavenly Mandate and has fulfilled his divine assignment. He was a true servant of the Almighty God. A Living Epistle read by all men. He was a bold and fearless promoter of the gospel, and both a contender and Patriarch of the Faith. He was the greatest among us because He was servant to all of us. We celebrate the life of Bishop Melvin Lewis Jones. We salute you and we honor you. Well done thy good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord!