Leaders
The Church Chosen by Jesus Christ
for the blessings of multitudes
Our Pastor
Bishop W. Michael Fields
W. Michael Fields is a native New Yorker. He is the son of the late Bishop William G. Fields and Mother Bertha L. Fields. He is the eldest of two siblings, Brett and Beth. He is the father of Michael A. Fields and Shekinah M. Fields. He was married for 28 years to the lovely Melissa F. Fields who transitioned from labor to reward in July 2022.
W. Michael Fields’ ministry began at Refuge Temple Annex Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, Bronx, New York under the tutelage of his father, pastor, and diocesan Bishop, the honorable Bishop William G. Fields. He was called to the ministry during his early teen years. Eventually he became the youth pastor and minister of music of Refuge Temple Annex, the president and choir director of the Bronx Diocese. W. Michael Fields became known as an accomplished musician and songwriter.
At the age of 20 he dedicated his life to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He enrolled into the W. L. Bonner Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education. He has also received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from St. Thomas Christian University, Jacksonville, Florida and an honorary Doctor of Ministry from Rowe Bible Institute, Temple Hills, MD. W. Michael Fields is a prolific teacher and preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a perpetual bible student and a highly sought-after itinerant preacher. The anointing on his life to preach is undeniable and has afforded him the opportunity to preach the gospel throughout the world. He is affectionately known as “The Preaching Machine.” Due to his faithfulness, in the Lord’s Church, W. Michael Fields was elevated from Minister to Elder to Bishop and most recently to the Office of Apostle. Bishop Fields was elected and elevated to the Board of Apostles on Sunday July 30th during the 104th Holy Convocation of C.O.O.L.J.C.
In 1993 he was appointed assistant pastor of Greater Refuge Temple, Church of our Lord Jesus Christ in Washington, DC, where the late Chief Apostle of C.O.O.L.J.C., Apostle William L. Bonner, was the pastor. There, Apostle Bonner took Bishop W. Michael Fields under his wing and further cultivated his God given ministry gifts. This would culminate on March 8, 2012 when Apostle Bonner bestowed the honor of being Senior Pastor of Greater Refuge Temple in Washington, DC to Bishop W. Michael Fields.
Bishop Fields is keenly aware of the many challenges facing the 21stcentury family. He is leading the congregations in “The Whole House” concept (Acts 2:39). He encourages the Body of Christ to believe God for the saving of the whole house. As Bishop Fields regularly says, “Can God Do It?” The congregation confidently responds, “Yes He Can!” Bishop Fields has a vision for a word-loving and a word-living church. Bishop Fields’ desire is to disciple believers that will walk with the Lord on a daily basis. He writes a weekly address to the congregation called “From the Pastor’s Desk.” These writings encourage the church to walk with Christ through the daily dilemmas in life.
Because of his talent and gift of administration Bishop Fields wears a diversity of hats. He serves within the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ as:
Pastor: Refuge Temple Annex – Bronx, New York, Greater Refuge Temple D.C., Washington, DC., Jeremiah Temple – Baltimore, MD
Diocesan Bishop: Mid-Atlantic Diocese
Chairman of the Vetting and Ecclesiastical Relations Committee
Chaplain of the Board of Bishops,
Advisor of the International Department of Music & Arts.
Executive Assistant to Apostle Fred Rubin | Region III Apostle
Founder of the Apostolic United Conference – He builds unity and perpetuates the apostolic standard across denominational and reformation lines.
Apostle: Bishop Fields was elected and elevated to the Board of Apostles on Sunday July 30th during the 104th Holy Convocation of C.O.O.L.J.C. and was assigned to Region XII.
His favorite scripture is Psalm 34: 1-3: I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Our First Lady
Lady Melissa F. Fields
“Without controversy great was the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”1 Timothy 3:16 This was the awesome God that First Lady Melissa F. Fields was passionate about serving. She was an ardent lover of the Word of God, an enthusiastic women’s Bible study facilitator, a warrior in intercession, and a devoted worshipper of The King!
Lady Fields was an avid supporter of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., and had taught the women of her Organization on a local, diocese, and international level. She was presented with The President’s Award in 2003 from the International Ministers’ and Deacons’ Wives’ Guild. Lady Fields accepted the assignment to serve as International Junior Missionary Unit Coordinator from 2008 – 2011. Lady Fields compiled an International Junior Missionary Unit Study Guide and Handbook which included twenty-seven lesson outlines, containing spiritual and practical wisdom in missions. In July 2011 Missionary Fields received recognition for exceptional leadership as the Coordinator of the International Junior Missionary Unit. She was a 2011 inductee into the Outstanding Women of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., Volume III.
Elect Lady Fields was an author; she authored a women’s prayer journal, “In The Secret Place.” Lady Fields had also written a book entitled, “A Woman’s Guidebook To Basic Ministry Affairs.” This guidebook provides God’s women with a road map with directions to discover new territory in ministry. The survival guide includes guidance on: being an exceptional mistress of ceremonies, making hospital visitations, conducting bereavement calls, public speaking, developing a biographical sketch, and more.
God has given her creativity and an attention to detail that helps her organize stellar worship services and conferences. She was the leading lady to the Apostolics United Conference. In 2018, Lady Fields was presented with the Apostolic Anchor Award by Revival Fire Fellowship for the impact that she has made on the apostolic church at large through standard, consistency and faith in God. Lady Fields hosted women’s ministry fellowships under the ministry name, “Elisabeth’s Tent,” taken from Luke chapter 1. First Lady Fields’ love for the Word has propelled her to read the entire Bible from the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation. She had received certification in General Bible studies from Liberty Bible College. She was an honors graduate of the God’s Leading Ladies Life Enrichment Program from the Potter’s House, Dallas, TX. Missionary Fields was affiliated with the Network of Biblical Storytellers, International. Her 2010 travel to the Holy Land had deepened her connection to the Word and this renewed zeal was evident in her teachings and her praise. Lady Fields has a love for baking and caking decorating. She was passionate about living the sweet life and had a baking and lifestyle brand, “The Lady’s Patisserie.” She also hosted an online women’s ministry, “Fearless In High Heels.” Lady Fields dabbles with writing modern calligraphy. She was voted, “One of The Top 20 First Ladies in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area” in 2014. Her love the English language merited her the tagline, “She’s a bit of a word smith.”
Lady Fields received the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as a pre-teen. She grew in the house of God holding a diversity of spiritual offices. The plan of God included oneness in matrimony with Bishop W. Michael Fields. She and her companion served the Lord as one at Greater Refuge Temple Church, Washington, DC. She wore diversity of hats in her Church to include First Lady, Women’s Ministry Oversight, Women’s Ministry Teacher, General Program Coordinator, New Members’ Teacher and Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Liaison.
Lady Fields was a mother, personal supporter, adviser, mentor, spiritual sister, and spiritual mother figure to many. She was spiritually proud to be a servant in the Kingdom of God and was excited to serve “the only wise God our Saviour … [to Him be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever”. – Jude 1:25
Auxiliaries and Leadership
Brotherhood Department – Elder Lemane Williams
Deacons’ Board – Deacon Brian Basil
Hospitality Team –
Youth Pastor – Minister Tre Smith
Ministerial Board – Elder Ronald Young, Sr., Assistant Pastor
Missionary Department – Mother Edith Basil
Mothers’ Board – Mother Jettie Brown
Multimedia Ministry – Brother James R. Johnson III
The Chairperson for the Music & Fine Arts Department
Minister Samuel Tatum (Minister of Music)
Music & Fine Arts Department
-Apostolic Youth Chorale – Sister Donnette Williams
-United Voice of Refuge – Sister Beth Chism
Pastor’s Aide – Sister Teresa Bryant
Sunday School Department – Deacon Anthony Robinson
Nurses’ Unit – Sister Brittney Williams
Ushers’ Department – Sister Belinda McGill
Ministers’ & Deacons’ Wives’ Guild – Sister Mishawn Robinson
Brotherhood Department – Elder Lemane Williams
Deacons’ Board – Deacon Brian Basil
Hospitality Team –
Youth Pastor – Minister Tre Smith
Ministerial Board – Elder Ronald Young, Sr., Assistant Pastor
Missionary Department – Mother Edith Basil
Mothers’ Board – Mother Jettie Brown
Multimedia Ministry – Brother James R. Johnson III
The Chairperson for the Music & Fine Arts Department
Minister Samuel Tatum (Minister of Music)
Music & Fine Arts Department
-Apostolic Youth Chorale – Sister Donnette Williams
-United Voice of Refuge – Sister Beth Chism
Pastor’s Aide – Sister Teresa Bryant
Sunday School Department – Deacon Anthony Robinson
Nurses’ Unit – Sister Brittney Williams
Ushers’ Department – Sister Belinda McGill
Ministers’ & Deacons’ Wives’ Guild – Sister Mishawn Robinson
