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Presiding Prelate & Senior Pastor
Bishop Glen A. Staples – known around the world for his oratorical gifting and anointed ability to teach the Word of God in such a profound, provocative, and prophetic manner serves as Senior Pastor of The Temple of Praise (formerly known as Anna Johenning Baptist Church). Located in Washington, DC – the Temple of Praise and its more than 14,000 members is known across the world for invoking the call to high praise and worship. Bishop Staples also serves as Presiding Prelate of the Temple of Praise International Fellowship of Churches, Inc., and oversees more than 400 churches worldwide. Covering more than fifty covenant Pastors including Apostles and Bishops in the D.C. Metropolitan area, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, Atlanta, and Ohio, as well as two hundred churches in India, three in Nigeria and the Bahamas.
Bishop Staples has licensed, ordained and installed more than 125 active in-house Pastors, Elders and Ministers. His love for nurturing Pastors in church development and sustainability, has lovingly earned him the title of the “Pastor’s Pastor.”
Bishop Staples answered the call to preach in 1981, was licensed on April 14, 1982, and ordained on December 6, 1986. His love for uplifting God’s people led him through his journey of ministry beginning from 1982 to 1986 where he served as Associate Minister at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Beckley, West Virginia. He also served as interim Pastor at both Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church and First Missionary Baptist Church located also in Beckley, West Virginia. From 1986 to 1990, he served as the Pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in West Virginia. After nine years in ministry, God called Bishop Staples to the Washington, DC Metropolitan area where he served as an Associate Minister at the Tenth Street Baptist Church under the spiritual guidance of Pastor A.C. Durant. One year later, he was appointed as the third Pastor of the former Anna Johenning Baptist Church. But God, in His infinite wisdom, was not done with Rev. Dr. Staples’ journey; on November 6, 2005, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Senior Pastor of the Potter’s House International, consecrated Rev. Dr. Staples as Bishop and Presiding Prelate.
Through his liberation theology teachings and with a strong stance on higher education, lives have been transformed, miracles of healing have taken place, hundreds of congregants are currently enrolled in higher learning institutions and many have moved from a life of dependency to self sufficiency. Through a partnership with the University of the District of Columbia, the Temple of Praise members who were DC residents and rendered volunteer hours to local high school after school programs were given free college tuition. In fact, more than 45% of the Temple of Praise members are now homeowners with viable jobs compared to less than 10% seven years ago.
Known for his strong business acumen in the area of economic development and empowerment and a proponent for quality education, healthcare, and affordable housing, Bishop Staples established the Way of the Word Community Development Corporation in an effort to better service the needs of the community.
Through the CDC, Bishop Staples is currently undergoing three major multi-million dollar projects in the Southeast DC community, in an effort to revitalize and bring back pride to this forgotten area east of the Anacostia River.
To address the dire healthcare needs of the community, he is currently working to develop partnerships with local hospitals to build a state-of-the-art medical healthcare facility. In December 2007, Bishop Staples opened the doors of the “New Day” Women’s Transitional Home for homeless women and their children. This 18 month program provides women with life and job skills, access to GED certification and college degrees, as well as job placement. This facility is the largest women’s transition home of its kind in the District of Columbia. In addition, Bishop Staples is currently blueprinting a real estate development project to build multi-dwelling units for low-to-moderate income and senior citizens in the community.
A native of Beckley, West Virginia, Bishop Staples holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Social Studies and History and Government. He also holds a Masters Degree of Education in Behavioral Disorders, a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and most recently received a Theological Doctorate from Phoenix University of Theology. Bishop Staples studied in the doctoral program at Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburg, Indiana and later received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the Gospel Ministry Outreach Theological Institute, Houston, Texas. In October 2005, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Saint Thomas Christian College, Jacksonville, Florida. Formerly a special education teacher, Bishop Staples has taught in Raleigh County West Virginia and in the Prince George’s County Public School system in Maryland. He currently serves as Chancellor Emeritus of Phoenix University of Theology and serves on the Board of Advisors at Nyack University.
Bishop Staples was appointed and selected as the Washington, DC nominee for inclusion in the 2006-07 Honors Edition publication of the Empire “Who’s Who among Empowering Executives and Professionals” registry. He was also selected and recognized in the “Outstanding Men of America”; the National Register of “Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals”, and the “International Who’s Who of Professionals”. In 2008, the American Biographical Institute Board of International Research nominated Bishop Staples as “Man of the Year”, and he was also selected for the “Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century” First Edition by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge.
To add to the accolades of his many accomplishments, on September 1, 2012, Bishop Glen A. Staples released his first book. “Preventing the Miscarriage of Destiny” published by Destiny Image.
In an effort to continue to spread the Gospel to all nations, Bishop Staples has availed his ministry to various media networks. You can tune in live via the Internet on Sundays at 8:00am, 10:00am and 12noon and on Wednesday nights for bible study at 7:30p.m. at www.thetempleofpraise.org.
Bishop Staples is the proud father of three sons; Glen, Walter-Lamar (Pastor), and Rodney; and two daughters, Jamie and Micah. He is a great leader, loving father, phenomenal teacher, and a Holy Ghost filled Pastor…but most importantly, he is truly a SAVED MAN OF GOD!
1st Lady & Co-Pastor
Dr. Sharon Staples is the first lady of the Temple of Praise church and the Temple of Praise Fellowship of Churches International where she serves in ministry under the leadership of her husband, Bishop Glen A. Staples in Southeast, Washington, D.C. She is a faithful servant leader, having served the people of God for many years in various assignments to include executive pastor, director of women’s ministry, music ministry advisor, and in the diaconate as an ordained deaconess. Dr. Staples is a licensed minister, ordained elder, and currently serves as an associate pastor at the Temple of Praise.
Dr. Staples is a gifted organizational visionary with vast professional experience and advanced education in organizational design, leadership development, change management, and strategic planning. For over 30 years, she has held several positions as a public servant in the United States Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. Currently, Dr. Staples is appointed as the senior executive for dual positions as the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and the Equal Opportunity Director in the Department of Defense.
Dr. Staples is a lifelong student and holds multiple degrees including a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly the University of Maryland University College), a Master of Science in Information Management from American University, a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling from Andersonville Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.
Her published dissertation focus is on organizational change in megachurches throughout the United States. Dr. Staples is also a professional leadership coach certified by the Georgetown University Institute of Transformational Leadership and subsequently credentialed by the International Coaching Federation as an Associate Certified Coach. Dr. Staples infuses her depth of strategic leadership experience, business acumen, and knowledge of ministry operations to provide organizational consulting and coaching services to church executives and ministry leaders, with a focus on ecclesiastical excellence. She has a penchant for advancing women in leadership for dual assignments in ministry and in the workplace where she mentors, coaches, and equips aspiring and existing leaders with strategies for both personal and professional transformation. Bishop and Dr. Staples are the proud parents of six adult children (spouses), a host of grandchildren, Godchildren, and spiritual sons and daughters. Above all, Dr. Staples is a saved woman of God and firmly proclaims, “For in Him, I live, move and have my being.” (Acts 17:28)
We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
We believe the Scriptures teach that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, whose name is Jehovah, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
We believe the Scriptures teach that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
We believe the Scriptures teach that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God.
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)
We believe the Scriptures teach that sanctification is the process by which according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; that it is carried on in the hearts of believers, by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe the Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate, being born of the Spirit, will not utterly fall away and finally perish, but will endure unto the end.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government; that is holy, just, and good and is one great end of the Gospel.
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
We believe the Scriptures teach that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel observing the ordinances of Christ by his word.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The Temple of Praise is a living testament to Gods bountiful grace and mercy. With the Holy Bible as a spiritual guide, and manual for daily living, a chapel became a church, a church became an interdenominational house of praise and worship, where dreams have been realized and faith has endured and the journey has just begun. The Temple of Praise, for decades known as Johenning Baptist Church, was founded in 1916. The legacy began when the Southern Baptist Convention established a training and missionary center to meet the varied needs in a very racially segregated section of southeast, currently known as Washington Highlands/Bellevue. Anna Johenning, a community resident and thrift store owner, initiated many of the missionary activities and the missionary center was ultimately named in her honor. In 1960, as the missionary activities expanded in the growing community, and in response to a call for a more spiritual base for the outreach work, the Baptist Convention built an addition to the missionary center to house church worship services for the predominately white community.
As the African American population of Southeast Washington grew, the two congregations separated and the Wayside Chapel was established to sponsor afternoon services for African Americans. In 1969, the chapel was organized as a church, adopting the name Johenning Baptist Church. The church was named for the Baptist Center because of the spiritual support and guidance the congregation received from the Center’s support. Sunday, September 2, 1991, Bishop Glen A. Staples, of Beckley, West Virginia, was installed as the third pastor. With the anointing on the life of the new spiritual leader, the former Johenning Baptist Church was a simply a spiritual flower waiting to bloom. In 1993, Bishop Staples revealed a spiritual vision for Johenning that included a new sanctuary and a myriad of community development projects. To that end, Bishop Staples started a mortgage retirement program/building fund. The burning of the church mortgage in October 1998 signaled a commitment to the new vision, a spiritually inspired quest. In November 1998 Johenning purchased the land for a new church home, located just three blocks away. The Johenning Baptist Church changed to an interdenominational worship format and thereby changed its name to the Johenning Temple of Praise. On Easter Sunday, 2004, the first services were held at the new 2,500 seat sanctuary at 700 Southern Avenue, SE. With a new building, and thus a new Christian identity, Johenning became simply the Temple of Praise Church, named for the congregation’s high praise services and commitment to worship God in spirit and in truth. Bishop Staples, a great visionary, true shepherd, anointed preacher, teacher, and prophet has increased the flock of the church seventy-five fold. Membership has grown from two hundred, in 1991, to over fifteen thousand currently.
(202) 561-0100
Info@thetempleofpraise.org
700 Southern Avenue SE Washington, D.C. 20032
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