PASTORAL GREETINGS
To God be the glory for “ALL” of the things that He has done for us!
It is my most humble prayer that each member and family of New Hope Church would be blessed of the Lord. It gives me the greatest pleasure to serve and greet you as well as commend you for your faithfulness to God and this ministry. For as you know, if you are faithful to God and His call, He will be faithful to you. Therefore, do all in your power to please the Lord and serve him whole heartedly. If you are good and obedient to Him, you shall eat the good of the Land. Let us continue to be faithful to God in attendance of the Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday Services as well as the auxiliaries of your choice.
To our visitors and friends, thank you for fellowshipping with us and I trust that you will come again!
Pastor Leo Bonner
Bishop Willie Lee Bonner, Jr., is a native of Cowan, Tennessee and the son of the late Willie Lee Bonner, Sr. and Lillie Ruth Bonner. He is a graduate of Townsend High School, Winchester, TN. During his ministerial career, he has received additional training from Liberty Bible College and Seminary, Moody Bible College and the University of the South, Sewanee, TN. He is a retiree from the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Bishop Bonner was saved and filled with the precious Holy Ghost in 1973. In 1976, he accepted his call to the ministry and in 1977, he was ordained as an Elder in the Church of God in Christ, Inc. by the late Bishop Audley King.
“Watchman on the Wall for Christ”, in 1981, Bishop Bonner founded and Pastored the New Hope COGIC ministry located in Cowan, TN. A Gospel Preacher and multi-talented champion for the cause of Christ, Bishop Bonner has facilitated the saving, healing and deliverance of many souls. To his credit, his accomplishments include the following: 45 years’ Ordained Pastoral Elder; 40 years’ Pastoral Leadership; 36 years’ District Superintendent; 30 years’ Bonner’s Recycling and Trucking Company, Owner and Operator; 21 years’ Financial Treasurer; Twelve years’ Church of God in Christ National Resolution Committee; Five years’ Associate Pastor; Two years’ Administrative Assistant to the Jurisdictional Bishop; Acquisition of numerous properties and facilities; and Outreach & Benevolent Mission Projects.
In November 2021, Bishop Bonner was elevated and then consecrated to the Office of the Jurisdictional Bishop for Tennessee Eastern Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. As one of God’s soldiers, a chosen vessel, Bishop Bonner is determined to be ever faithful and always in prayer for the multitude.
In his capacity as the Bishop of Tennessee Eastern Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Senior Pastor of New Hope COGIC, the ministry focus is the teaching and preaching of the gospel, while educating men, women, and our youth that God’s desire is that they live and maintain a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle by following the direction found in God’s Word. Through his tireless efforts, souls are being saved and revived, hearts are inspired, and minds are being spiritually enlightened. A “Man of God” and a true believer, Bishop Bonner, allows God to be the cornerstone in his life as he leads God’s people spiritually through His word.
In 2023, Bishop Bonner installed his eldest son, Elder Leo Bryant Bonner, as the Pastor of New Hope Church of God in Christ. To his delight, he is well-pleased to pass the baton to a humble servant who is moving the ministry forward in God!
Bishop Willie Lee Bonner, Jr. is married to Mrs. Verna M. Bonner and in this union, they were blessed with three children: Elder Leo (Trina) Bonner, Tina D. Bonner, and Ivan (Diane) Bonner; three granddaughters and two great grandsons & two great granddaughters.
A Virtuous Woman of God
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:29-31 KJV
Mother Verna M. Bonner, is a resident of Cowan, TN, was born in Franklin County, Decherd, TN. She is the fourth of eighteen children born to the late Elder John L. and Mother Louvernia Brown. She received her formal education through the Franklin County School System and continued her studies through Moody Bible and Christian Training Institutes.
Mother Bonner is a daughter of the Church of God in Christ, third generation. In 1956 she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was filled with the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost. She began her life’s work in the Church of God in Christ, under the tutelage of the late Elder C. C. Bright. Her expertise in the ministry of music has been noted throughout Franklin County and surrounding counties within the state of Tennessee. Her diverse Christian talents allowed her to serve as a District Fieldworker, District YWCC, District Chairlady for the Youth Department, Sunday School Teacher, Pastor’s Aide President, Choir President, National Hospitality, and State Temple Building Committee member.
Her love for God’s people, outstanding leadership, patience, spiritual guidance, and 60 years of faithfulness to the Church, has earned her a reputation of being a courageous, dedicated, hardworking, God fearing Woman of God.
In July 1996, Bishop James M. Scott Sr., selected Mother Verna Bonner to the office of Jurisdictional Supervisor for the Department of Women, Tennessee Eastern Second Jurisdiction (TESJ), Church of God in Christ. She received her appointment and was installed in Memphis, Tennessee on Friday, November 8, 1996 at the 89th Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ, by the late Emma F. Crouch, International Supervisor for the Department of Women. Since that time Supervisor Bonner has been appointed and yet remains the National “COGIC” Chairperson for the Sacred Heart. Also, she served as a Co-Regional Supervisor for more many years. During Mother Bonner’s tenure (25 years) as the Supervisor for the Department of Women, she built a firm foundation for the women’s work within the jurisdiction and through her great leadership, the women’s work was/is an exemplary world-class model for the Church of God in Christ.
Upon Mother Bonner’s husband, Bishop Willie L. Bonner, Jr., elevation and consecration to the Office of the Bishop for the Tennessee Eastern Second Jurisdiction (November 2021), Mother Bonner relinquished her duties as the Supervisor. However, her commitment to excellence and loyal support for the women’s work, remains the same. As First Lady of Tennessee Eastern Second Jurisdiction, she is a role model for both young and old and her infectious smile, warmth and love for God and his people are exemplified in her daily walk with God. Her moto is “If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living will not be in vain”.
Mother Bonner is an active citizen in her community and bespeaks funds on behalf of the kidney and diabetes foundations. She has served as a local coordinator for many civic functions within her community, assisted with the Adult Literacy Program, aided many battered/abused adults and children, and provided financial support to Educational Scholarship Programs.
Mother Verna M. Bonner is married to Bishop Willie L. Bonner, Jr., the Founder and Senior Pastor of New Hope Church of God in Christ (Cowan, TN). They are the proud parents of three God-fearing children: two sons, Pastor Leo (First Lady Trina) and Minister Ivan (Missionary Diane), and one daughter Assistant Supervisor Tina; all of which serve faithfully in ministry. She also has three granddaughters and two great grandsons & two great granddaughters.