History · IBW.

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Our History

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First Vice Presider
Second Vice Presider
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In September 1957, Apostle Smallwood Edmond Williams organized the Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Apostle Williams, a preacher’s preacher, became one of the most popular national preachers of his time. A very influential social figure, he spoke extensively on racial and social injustice and used his pastoral clout to fight for integration in the Nation’s Capital. His sons in the gospel have inherited his preaching dynamo, and the name ‘Bible Way’ has become associated with contemporary Apostolic Pentecostalism with 1st century power and 21st century relevancy.

At the side of then Bishop Williams was a young man named Elder Lawrence G. Campbell. Although there were notable signs of his ability and talents, no one could have ever imagined the magnitude of the leader he would become. In the line of succession to Apostle Williams the Bible Way Church has been enormously blessed with the divine leadership of Apostle Lawrence G. Campbell.

Through God’s help, he led Bible Way World Wide for twelve consecutive successful years to a level that was not witnessed before. The organization is now known as International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ, Inc., USA.

During the 90’s, Bible Way experienced unprecedented growth, seeing its member churches flourish from a group of 125 churches to more than 350 in the United States alone.

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As a testament to its global reach, Bible Way boasts now more than 250 additional churches in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. An ever-evolving organization.

Bible Way now recognizes and ordains women as deaconesses, ministers, elders, district elders, prophetesses, pastors, and bishops.

After 12 years of leadership in the Bible Way World Wide organization, Apostle Campbell’s leadership as Chief Apostle and Presiding Bishop culminated on July 21, 2006.

In March 2006, Apostle Cornelius Showell, son of one of Bible Way’s Founding Fathers, Bishop Winfield Showell, was elected as Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of The International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ, Inc. Alongside him in leadership were First Vice Presider, Apostle Floyd E. Nelson, Sr. and

Second Vice Presider, Apostle Caleb McIntosh. They served for two terms 2006 – 2014.

On March 27, 2014, Apostle Floyd E. Nelson Sr. was elected as Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ, Inc. Alongside him in leadership are First Vice Presider, Apostle N. Darnell Dixon Sr., and Second Vice Presider, Apostle Willie E. Rookard.

On March 7, 2018, Apostle Floyd E. Nelson Sr. was elected as Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ, Inc. Alongside him in leadership are First Vice Presider, Apostle Willie E. Rookard, and Second Vice Presider, Apostle John Gray.

On July 5, 2019, Apostle Willie E. Rookard was Consecrated as Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ, Inc. Alongside him in leadership are First Vice Presider, Apostle John Gray and Second Vice Presider, Apostle Vincent L. Greaves Sr.

On March 16, 2022, Apostle Willie E. Rookard. was elected as Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ, Inc. Alongside him in leadership are First Vice Presider, Apostle Vincent L. Greaves Sr., and Second Vice Presider, Apostle James Herron.