BARBARA MCCOO LEWIS was born in Los Angeles, California. She was born again and filled with the Holy Ghost at the age of nine and is a Third Generation member of the Church of God in Christ.  She has been married to Senior Administrative Assistant Dr. James A. Lewis Sr. since June 9, 1962 (Fifty Years-2012). To that union were born two sons both ordained Elders of the Church of God in Christ; James A. Lewis Jr and Jeffrey M. Lewis (wife Floetta) and grandchildren Shannon and Jeffrey Jr.  Pastor and Mother Lewis co-founded the New Antioch COGIC in Los Angeles February 1970.  After thirty-six years (January 2006) Pastor Lewis passed the baton to their youngest son Elder Jeffrey Martin Lewis who now serves as Senior Pastor.  Mother Lewis has served faithfully in many capacities since the inception of the New Antioch church. Currently she is the Prayer & Bible Band President/Teacher and the New Antioch’s Basic Bible Institute Instructor of Christology (study of Jesus Christ).

Her educational achievements include an Associate of Arts degree in Journalism West Los Angeles Community College; Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism California State University at Los Angeles. She matriculated at Fuller Theological Seminary. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Theology and an honorary Litterarum Doctorate degree from the Church of God Southern California School of Ministry. 

 Mother Lewis was selected on May 5, 1988 to be the Jurisdictional Supervisor of Southern California Jurisdiction One by Jurisdictional Prelate Emeritus – Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake. She received her appointment from the National Department of Women – Dr. Mattie McGlothen, General Supervisor at the Holy Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee on November 11, 1988 and has served for 25 years (2013). Bishop Joe L. Ealy is currently her Jurisdictional Prelate.

 Many new innovations have been added to the Department of Women since her appointment.  Mother Lewis established Bible Bold, a regimented weekly effort towards scripture memorization, the Missionary and Laywomen Awareness Institute, a one-day course study which focuses on excellence in ministry and local church stewardship, and three early morning weekly prayer lines for the Women of the Jurisdiction (5am Tuesdays- 49&Under-5:30am Thursdays- Anna’s Daughters- 6am Fridays Clergy Wives); Under her leadership the Department of Women conduct monthly Urban Initiative workshops which empower the women for implementation in their local church and community (Economic Development, Family Enrichment, Crime Reduction, Financial Literacy, Education, with additional workshops for Seniors, Children and Youth).  She is the author of The Christian Woman’s Guide for Church Protocol and Saintly Decorum and was the managing editor for the Curriculum Guide for the School of Licensing; A Handbook for the Aspiring, Deaconess and Evangelist Missionary; and A Handbook for Clergy Wives.

Dr. Lewis is President of the Board of Directors and CEO of a 501C3- Southern California COGIC Economic Development Corporation.  She was the visionary for the 4.7 million dollar forty-one (41) unit Senior Citizens Complex erected and opened in 2002 in the heart of Los Angeles. The Complex is named Hale Morris Lewis honoring the three Jurisdictional Supervisors who have served Southern California Jurisdiction One –a weekly bible study, weekly computer classes, quarterly health screening, annual food, school supplies and toy giveaways are sponsored by the Department of Women Auxiliaries to benefit the community at large (see HaleMorrisLewis.org)

 She has received several awards which include: The Mayor’s Certificate of Appreciation for Outreach work in Drug Rehabilitation Centers in Los Angeles; Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper’s “Woman of the Year”; Distinguished Educator Award- West Angeles Bible College; First Ladies Community Impact Award-LA Focus Newspaper.

She serves on the national level of the Church of God in Christ as a member of the Presiding Bishop’s Senior Executive Planning Commission and in April 2013 was elevated by the Presiding Bishop as Assistant General Supervisor and Chairperson of Executive Business Affairs for the Department of Women under the leadership of Mother Willie Mae Rivers General Supervisor. Mother Lewis is also a member of the Executive Board, the General Supervisor’s Representative for the Western Region of the United States, International Marshal, Chairperson Program Committee, Chairperson Special Convention Assistance Committee. She is a past member of the Board of Trustees C.H Mason Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA…………                         

The theme of her life is…
“I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengthens Me!”