BETHESDA APOSTOLIC HOUSE OF PRAYER

OUR PASTOR

 

Elder Donald R. Jones is a life-long resident of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. A product of the Jefferson Parish public school system, he attended Live Oak Elementary School in Waggaman, Henry Ford Middle School in Westwego, and West Jefferson High School in Harvey, Louisiana. Mr. Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 1987 from Xavier University of Louisiana.

 

Mr. Jones received his Bachelor of Theology in May of 1998 and went on to receive his Master of Theology in May 1999. On May 23, 2004 Pastor Jones was conferred his Doctor of Theology. Mr. Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of Jones Insurance Agency, which he formed in 1986 and CEO/President of Jefferson Construction Services, LLC and STEP Construction, LLC. Mr. Jones is the son of the late Thomas and Celestine Jones, the husband of Gwendolyn Jarrell-Jones and the proud father of Chante' Rene' Jones and Donald Ray “Jared” Jones, Jr. Pastor Jones was ordained on March 24, 2004 as a minister of the gospel.

 

In September 1989, Donald R. Jones became the first African-American to be appointed to the Jefferson Parish School Board, appointed by Federal District Judge Fredrick Heebe. Throughout his tenure on the school board, he was committed to ensuring that all Jefferson Parish children receive a quality education, and that administrators and teachers were held accountable to the students and their parents. He also sponsored legislation allocating funding for schools that he identified had suffered from benign neglect, and used his position to ensure equitable hiring and promotion policies of school personnel. He was the original author of the Pass and Play Bill, which required students to have a 2.0 Grade Point Average in order to participate in extracurricular activities.

 

In November 1991, Donald R. Jones marked another momentous moment in the history of Jefferson Parish when he became the first African-American to be elected to the Jefferson Parish Council. Once elected, Councilman Jones championed change. He immediately worked to create a political environment that allowed his constituents to receive a fair share of the goods and services available in Jefferson Parish.Mr. Jones faced a unique challenge as the only African-American on the council; he was not only called upon to represent the interest of his district constituents, but also the many minorities throughout the region who seek his guidance and leadership. Nevertheless, he has aggressively faced the challenge. Re-elected by an overwhelming majority in 1995 and 1999, Mr. Jones continued to provide bold and innovative leadership as he addressed the diverse needs of his constituents and the needs of the Parish at large.

 

Mr. Jones has been featured in a number of publications, including the Times-Picayune, New Orleans Magazine, City Business, Westbank Network News and the Fellowship Journal. He has appeared on the "Alan Katz Show", "Star Over the East" Television Show hosted by Councilperson Cynthia Willard-Lewis and was the host of the "Jefferson Review Show," a Cox Cable production featuring high-profile people, places and events significant to Jefferson Parish.

 

Donald R. Jones is a Businessman:

Founding Pastor of the Bethesda House of Prayer

President & CEO of JIA Group

President & CEO of Jefferson Construction Services, LLC

President & CEO of STEP Construction, LLC

Member of Metro Vision Economic Development Partnership-Executive Committee

 

Honors and Awards

Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force Man of the Decade, 2000

Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force Outstanding Leadership for 1994 & 1996 

Peace of the Past Foundation: Torch Bearer Award for 1999

Spearheaded the Trailblazers Award and Scholarship Fund, 1992 to 2003

 

Donald R. Jones is presently a member of the following organizations:

Chairman Emeritus of the Coalition for Leadership and Development

Member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Nu Alpha Lambda Chapter)

Member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

Member of the Pride of Marrero Masonic Lodge

Member of NABCO (National Association of Black County Officials)

Member of NABPA (National Association of Black Public Administrators)

 

Mr. Jones enjoys the work he does for the community. He is an avid reader of history, philosophy & economics. He is the founder and Senior Pastor of Bethesda House of Prayer, Marrero, Louisiana.