Dr. Jerome Shepherd is the immediate past president of the ICEA. His six-year term of office was preceded by his outstanding work as a presenter and the creator/editor of the ICEA Communicator. This publication gathered information regarding sister churches and Christian education programs across the country to share with conventioneers. Dr. Shepherd has served the Christian education community of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World as a national workshop leader and innovator. Member churches have been blessed through the years by his outstanding and creative ability to teach and encourage God’s people through God’s word.
In addition, Dr. Shepherd is credited with having been at the helm when the ICEA and the PAW underwent serious re-organization in the 1990s. It was during this administration that the PAW went from a two-week to a one-week convention. Dr. Shepherd’s leadership helped the organization survive that critical change. In addition, Dr. Shepherd’s administration revamped the regional program and made changes that have helped our six U. S. regions to grow as centers for Christian education and learning.
Dr. Shepherd is retired from the Cleveland Plain Dealer Newspaper and resides in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. Yvonne Ector has had the distinction of serving the ICEA in almost every possible elected office. Her outstanding ability to manage the details while encouraging hearts is responsible for her having received the confident votes of ICEA members for well over 25 years. Dr. Ector has been Assistant Secretary, Secretary, Second Vice-President and First Vice-President of this organization. She served well in each capacity, always making sure that she adhered to the standard of excellence in ministry that has become her trademark. In addition, Dr. Ector’s caring spirit enabled her to equip others for ministry leaving a legacy of not only her work but the work she has inspired in so many.
Currently Dr. Ector serves as the Parliamentarian for the ICEA, a post she is more than equipped to administer. She is a member of a parliamentary society and extremely well-versed in constitution protocols. She continues to spearhead the ICEA Constitution Revision Committee.
Dr. Yvonne Ector is retired from a government post and lives in Dayton, Ohio.
Dr. Alfred Ector served the treasury of the ICEA for over 25 years. His offices of Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer benefited from his outstanding ability to manage funds and create budgets that assisted the ICEA in developing programs in the US and abroad. Dr. Alfred Ector is a quiet giant whose clear-headed approach to business brought a sense of decorum to our organization’s work in Christian education. In addition to his elected offices, Dr. Ector served the ICEA through committees and as an advisor to several ICEA Presidents.
Dr. Alfred Ector remains faithful to the organization and a supporter of the ICEA. He resides in Dayton, Ohio and remains a giant among servants in Christian Education.
Dr. Johnnie Brown is the past International Director of Christian Education for the ICEA. During her tenure of more than 20 years, she served as advisor to five ICEA presidents and was responsible for developing the regional meeting concept. Under her leadership, regions were created to cover the entire USA and leaders were identified to spearhead each. Dr. Brown was responsible for helping develop and train Christian education workers across the country. She also spearheaded the ICEA Manual Project which assembled several writers to create a Christian education “how-to” book for our constituents. During the Annual Convention, she held meetings and training sessions for Regional leaders, state presidents, and Christian educator directors. In addition to mentoring this specific group of over 100 people, she was always “apt to teach.” Her wit and humor have made lasting impressions on thousands at the Annual Convention as well as regional meetings.
Dr. Brown’s influence went far beyond the ICEA. As an educator in Detroit and a teacher and superintendent in her home assembly she made a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of young people. At a recent dinner honoring her work in Detroit, accolades abounded as stories were told of how Dr. Brown won a soul for Christ and engaged a heart in humor in order to make a difference in that life.
Dr. Johnnie Brown is retired and lives in Louisiana where she continues to teach Sunday school in her local church. She also has continued teaching in national sessions for the ICEA.
Dr. Georgiana Stewart is the immediate past International Director of Christian Education. The post she inherited from Dr. Johnnie Brown was greatly enriched by her expertise and experience in education. Dr. Stewart served as the Regional Director of Region 2, the largest region in the ICEA. Under her leadership the conference was an outstanding success in attendance and in the caliber of presentations. She gave to that region a structure for operation that has sustained it over the years. In addition, Dr. Stewart was successful in developing other leaders in order to keep the region strong even when she left the post to serve as the International Director for the ICEA.
In addition to her administrative duties, Dr. Stewart has been known by ICEA convention delegates as an outstanding teacher and committee worker. Her national workshops as well as the sessions she conducted locally and throughout the regions have been inspired and inspiring. Her outstanding personality and engaging spirit have made her a marvelous worker and mentor for many in the Christian education arena today. During her six-year tenure as International Director, Dr. Stewart revised the regional program and added new leadership and life to several regions. Under her direction, transitions were made that engaged vital changes across our ICEA community.
Dr. Stewart continues to be a strong supporter of the ICEA, always attending sessions and teaching during the conventions.
District Elder Harold Sawyer served the ICEA in a number of capacities for over 25 years. His first elected offices were in the area of the treasury where he served as both Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. His tenure as Second Vice-President and First Vice-President brought great stability and structure to the organization. When he was elected President of the ICEA, it was because of the great confidence the delegates had in his administrative ability and vision. Under his presidency, District Elder Sawyer took the ICEA into fields beyond the U. S. borders. His annual visits to the Caribbean areas and, in particular, his work in Togo, West Africa made a huge difference in the vision of the ICEA for missions work.
Under District Elder Sawyer’s leadership the ICEA developed a Christian Education Manual that was eventually translated so that the saints in Togo could benefit from its wisdom and content. In addition, he strengthened the work of the regional programs and personally brought his administrative talent to various districts across the country.
Despite his heavy schedule, as pastor and district elder in the South Carolina diocese, Dr. Sawyer maintains a strong influence in the ICEA as a supporter and teacher for annual conventions.
District Elder Edward Sofer served the ICEA in several capacities and has the distinct honor of having been elected to the office of President four times. Having served his first two terms, he moved on to supporting the ICEA through teaching ministry, committee work, and in other administrative areas. Four years later, however, he was encouraged by the members and led by God to again run for the presidency. God’s will prevailed and his last two terms in office allowed him to pass his leadership style and vision to a new set of leaders. Under District Elder Sofer’s guidance, the ICEA spearheaded a national award for local superintendents and began the development of the ICEA Communicator. District Elder Sofer’s inclusive leadership style and his God-given ability to encourage and mentor other leaders has given strong leadership to the ICEA for many years.
Although stricken with illness that prevents his physical involvement, it is still rare for District Elder Sofer to not attend the convention. Always ready with an encouraging word, District Elder Sofer has done much to see that the ICEA program moves forward as new challenges are faced. District Elder Sofer is an innovator and visionary leaders. He resides in Alabama where he continues to serve the PAW with grace and compassion.
