Our Leaders
Apostle Annie L. & Elvis Wayne Woody
Annie Lynn Johnson Woody, the youngest of five children, was born to Willie and Erma Neitha Harris Johnson on January 19 in Lewiston, NC. She graduated from Bertie Senior High School and North Carolina Central University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Mathematics. She also attended Shaw Divinity School Master’s program. In 1991 Pastor Woody Founded Jesus’ Word Church under the leadership of Bishop Mary Black. In 1995 Alma Williams was pleased to give Pastor Woody her 1st Anniversary serivce. Bishop Elvis Wayne Woody and Pastor Annie Lynn Woody were married June 2, 1996 and they now have 1 daughter, Promise Blessings Woody. Bishop and Pastor Woody received their Bachelor’s and Master’s of Divinity from Safe Haven Interdenominational Bible Institute where they graduated with Honors. They received their Doctorate of Divinity from Breath of Life Deliverance Apostolic and Prophetic University in Hampton, VA on April 14,2018. They serve as real estate professionals, owning numerous properties within the Durham area. Bishop Woody is an automotive technician teacher at Northern High School. He repairs all of Jesus’ Word Church members’ cars at no expense, laboring faithfully. They have often said and exercised the principle that “it is better to give than to receive.” They have given away cars and money to people in need. In addition to their generous hearts, they offer words of wisdom and spiritual counseling. They always have a hand in helping someone in any way and every way possible. Pastor’s vision of our own Christian school also began in 2010 entitled the School of Wisdom and Knowledge, consisting of an after-school tutoring program for children K-12, and adult courses such as language arts and computer skills. Pastor’s active vision is the church store named “The Promised Land Cafe” and Spanish learning class for the House of God. At any service, Bishop and Pastor Woody lay hands on people, that they may receive the gift of the precious Holy Ghost and healing. As of this glorious day in the Lord, Bishop and Pastor are still dedicated to serving the Lord and providing hearers with the roadmap to life which is the Word of God. They continue to carry on birthing spiritual blessings including serving as headquarters for 3 local churches: Temple of Light, Hillsborough,NC, Look Up and Live Ministries,Atlanta ,GA, Saint James, Greensboro, NC and Bethel Blessing Church, India. They are delighted to pastor a wonderful group of people. Please continue to pray and lift up our pastors as they continue working for the Lord. For we know God is not unfaithful to forget their work and labor of love!
Assistant Pastor Promise Blessings Woody
Promise Blessings Woody was born on October 29, 1997 to Apostle Dr. Wayne and Pastor, Dr. Annie Woody. She was always looked at as a proper child (Hebrews 11:23) “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.” by her parents as they accredit the conception and birth of her to the Lord honoring them for keeping his Sabbath to fulfill his Promise and bless them with a child. Her name was given to her mom Promise Blessings when God said that his people would be able to go to the Promise Land.
Born a very peculiar baby who rarely ate until she was 4 years old. Nevertheless, she would grow up in God's house eating the bread of life which is the Word of God where she would grow mightily in the spirit. On her third day of life she was given her first bath by her grandmother in the gospel, Apostle Dr. Mary G. Black, who informed her mother that she would be coming from Roxboro to give Promise her first at home bath. As she was bathing Promise the spirit of the Lord showed Dr. Black the anointing of music upon her. As she held Promise up in the air naked her exact words were: "I see music all over this baby!" She began playing the drums before 3 years old. She was always asking to play the drums in every service. At 3 years old Promise began walking more in the anointing Dr. Black had seen that day as she began singing, also practicing and playing the drums and piano.
As she grew and continued playing and practicing, one day she felt The Lord lift her hands and fingers and take control of them while she was playing. She didn't know what was happening. All she knew is that it wasn't her playing. This would be the spirit of God anointing her hands as she grew and learned to play just about any instrument she touched from the keyboard, piano, organ, guitar, drums, flute, and even the oboe. She has been told she couldn't play by her male constituents. In 2009 Pastor Annie Woody founded The Woody Specials where Assistant Pastor is the Director, lead singer, and keyboard player, she also sings background in the group simultaneously. She and the group have taken the Church to many new places across american, such as Orlando, FL, Harlem, NY, Atlanta, GA, Desoto, TX, Danville, VA, Charlotte, NC and many other cities.
Stop! Listen! Before she accepted the call to become Assistant Pastor she had already won souls to the ministry. School mates had come to join the church and the enemy became very angry because of that. Satan used people in her close knit environment to stick their feet out to try to overthrow her in the ministry and the call that God had given her, and yes she became very weary, but the scripture says in Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Another trial that came in her life was while sitting in the procession at her College graduation she noticed her name was not in the program. Afterwards she went to get her diploma and they wouldn't give it to her, they openly embarrassed her in front of everyone saying that she owed money which was not true. The person that did the program later admitted that it was his error. August 4, 2019 Minister Promise Woody accepted the call to become Assistant Pastor of Jesus Word Church. In November 2020 the Lord laid it on the heart of Overseer Janice Medlyn to have an Anniversary service for her which started on zoom during the pandemic. Since then her preaching has become even more powerful, preaching messages of Deliverance to the captives. Her main focus is to win souls to the Lord. She continues to minister through music, song, praying for others, and being a generous giver. The scripture says whom can I send and who will go? Assistant Pastor said here am I Lord send me. Today she is still going into the hedges and highways to cry aloud and spare not that whosoever will, let them come. Amen. She is also a graduate of Durham School of the Arts and the illustrious NCCU with a Bachelor’s of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences.