Bishop Lewis Williams
At the age of 29, Bishop Lewis Williams made a life-changing commitment to follow Jesus Christ. On March 16, 1984, his spiritual conversion marked a transformation that touched every corner of his life—personally, professionally, and spiritually.
At the time, Bishop Williams was employed at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville as a WG6 packer. From behind the wheel of a forklift—supplying uniforms, chairs, and equipment—he found himself on a different kind of mission. A co-worker named Wayne Jones shared the Gospel with him, and soon others began to speak to him about Christ. Their faith and encouragement resonated deeply, planting the seeds of his own journey to salvation.
Born on January 1, 1955, Bishop Williams is a native son of Jacksonville and the youngest of four children born to Joe and Camilla Williams. After graduating from Andrew Jackson High School, he stepped straight into the workforce—first at the Navy Exchange at Cecil Field, then at the Naval Air Station in the Navy Supply Center. His strong work ethic and character were molded by the steady influence of his father, who laid asphalt for the city, and his mother, who supported the family as a homemaker and domestic worker. Their examples taught him the values of discipline, structure, and humility.
Bishop Williams’ faith walk officially began at Mt. Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Lewis Namon Yarber. He describes his decision to serve God as a pursuit of peace, a desire to break free from the emptiness and illusion his life had become. By his early 30s, he appeared to be living the American dream, but hidden struggles were beginning to take a toll.
After nine years of marriage to his wife Bernadette, a series of affairs culminated in the birth of a child outside their union. Together they had two children, and in 1984 a third child was born. Facing the consequences of his actions, working to repair his marriage, and restoring his reputation amidst very public challenges required a strength he says only Jesus Christ could provide.
Alone one night in his bedroom, Bishop Williams prayed the sinner’s prayer. That moment became the turning point—a commitment to a new direction, fueled by grace, mercy, and an earnest desire for change. He began serving as a deacon at Mt. Lebanon, working across ministry programs and building a close relationship with his pastor and mentor, Dr. Yarber.
In time, Bishop Williams felt the call to lead. Inspired by God and supported by his family, he founded Household of Faith Church. On December 2, 1989, in a small gathering with just five people—his daughter Kim, son Chavez, niece Mashawnda, and a faithful attendee named Mr. Gelsey—he held the church’s first Wednesday night service.
Though the beginnings were humble, Bishop Williams was unwavering. His mission was clear: lead souls to Christ, serve the community with purpose, and empower believers to take their salvation beyond the walls of Sunday worship.
As the early 1990s unfolded, Bishop Lewis Williams stepped into a new chapter, enrolling at North Florida Baptist Theological Seminary. He pursued his studies with zeal, earning a Bachelor’s in Christian Education and a Master’s in Theology—all while shepherding a rapidly growing house church that he and his wife Bernadette had pioneered. Within just three months, their intimate living room gatherings swelled from 5 to 27 members.
Life was full and fast-paced. Bishop Williams continued his full-time position at the Naval Air Station, led his growing congregation, juggled seminary studies, and worked daily at being a committed husband and father to his three children. He and Bernadette weren’t just life partners—they were ministry co-laborers, community leaders, and spiritual trailblazers.
By 1994, after 19 years of service at the Navy base, Bishop Williams answered the call to full-time ministry. He now devoted himself completely to the church—counseling, leading, managing operations, and deepening connections within the community. As Household of Faith expanded, it outgrew location after location, until a major milestone forever reshaped its future.
In 1998, with 350 active members and a thriving array of ministries—from youth programs to men’s and women’s fellowships—Bishop Williams made a bold move. He purchased a long-abandoned 26,000-square-foot Winn-Dixie grocery store on Jacksonville’s northside. At the time, no local pastor had reimagined a space of that scale for the church. But Bishop Williams saw potential where others saw ruin. Isaiah 61:4 echoed in his heart: “They will rebuild the ancient ruins…”
He walked the empty aisles of that building and envisioned transformation. Within 45 days, after negotiating with banks and casting vision, he secured the space. He called it the Household of Faith Ministry Center—a center for worship, education, and recreation. Renovated in three phases with the help of skilled volunteers and dedicated contractors, the building became a physical embodiment of his belief in restoration and purpose.
As the church grew, so did Bishop Williams. He earned a Doctorate in Christian Psychology from Jacksonville Theological Seminary and became a certified marital adviser for the city. He taught Homiletics at Truth for Living Bible College and began authoring discipleship materials. His guiding principle came from Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...”—a conviction that believers should not only be saved but understand their faith deeply.
This led to the development of MOEC (Ministry of Excellence Class), a leadership training program shaped by the quiet wisdom and high standards instilled by his father. In MOEC, Bishop Williams equips volunteers to lead with diligence and integrity, setting a tone that reflects God's excellence in every act of service.
He also personally teaches the New Member’s Class, using a manual he wrote to walk new congregants through the mission, culture, leadership, and 40+ ministry programs available to them.
For Bishop Williams, ministry doesn’t end on Sunday—it starts there. His vision stretches into weekday routines, reaching every corner of the community through initiatives like homework help, food and clothing drives, and outreach to prisons, shelters, nursing homes, and juvenile detention centers.
In 2018, he deepened his outreach by partnering with Teen Challenge of Northeast Florida, leading monthly Bible studies for men from diverse racial and social backgrounds working through recovery.
Through every season, Bishop Williams’ journey reflects consistent growth—spiritually, personally, and as a servant-leader. What began in a modest house gathering now lives on in a legacy of compassion, transformation, and unwavering faith.
After years of mentoring pastors and walking with a heart full of compassion, Bishop Lewis Williams was consecrated into the office of bishop on December 18, 2017—a milestone that reflected a lifetime of faithful service. In preparation, he humbly submitted to the tutelage of Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin. Their relationship, rooted in brotherhood long before Bishop Williams launched his church, matured into a deeply personal, father-son bond that endures to this day.
With a commitment to excellence, Bishop Williams attended the Joint College of Bishops and completed its required course of study at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Today, through Covenant Faith Fellowship, he provides spiritual covering and leadership support to pastors and ministries around the world. From Pastor Elpito De Santos in Brazil to Pastor Titlos Dios Dados in the Philippines, Bishop Williams and his ministerial staff offer financial support, mentorship, and heartfelt partnership in ministry.
A trailblazer in every sense, Bishop Williams embodies the transformative power of Christ. His life testifies that when the Spirit of God touches a soul, the mind, body, and heart are never the same. As he nears four decades in ministry, he continues to pour himself out—preaching salvation, nurturing believers, and serving the community with unwavering love and dedication.
Household of Faith Church, the ministry he and his wife pioneered together, blends the richness of the traditional Black worship experience with the vibrant pulse of contemporary gospel. Built on the solid foundation of faith, the church is a living declaration that God, through Jesus Christ, still heals the brokenhearted and sets the captive free. Bishop Williams draws continual inspiration from Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the Household of Faith.”
The impact of Bishop Williams and Household of Faith Church has not gone unnoticed. Local and state agencies have recognized their consistency and excellence in outreach. On multiple occasions, Bishop Williams has been invited to open sessions in prayer before the Florida legislature—a profound honor and testament to the respect he’s earned statewide. Every chapter of his life, every hard-earned lesson, has fueled the calling he faithfully lives out: to serve God's people with truth, passion, and grace.
A skillful and anointed preacher, Bishop Williams is known for his methodical, verse-by-verse delivery of the Word—always profound, always practical. His “down-to-earth” teaching resonates deeply with the Northside Jacksonville community, many of whom have walked this journey of faith with him since his earliest sermons. He’s also widely credited with the phrase “No towel, no title”—a powerful reminder that servant leadership is the only kind of leadership that lasts.
With the digital age came new opportunities for impact. Bishop Williams expanded his reach through digital webcasts via Holy Connection then later YouTube and Facebook Live, touching lives locally, nationally, and internationally. Souls continue to come to Christ through the ministry he and his wife labor in together, building it stone by stone, prayer by prayer.
His legacy is rooted in family as well. The children he shares with his wife serve faithfully alongside him at the Household of Faith Church. His third child, born of a different chapter in his life, is also an ordained pastor with a church of his own. Together, they represent a living testimony of God’s restorative power across generations.
After 50 years of marriage, Bishop Williams and First Lady Bernadette remain devoted to each other and to the call of God. They continue to love boldly, serve tirelessly, and lead with faith forged through time, trial, and triumph