Bishop Dr. Iona E. Locke was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and is one of nine siblings. At an early age, she came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and according to Acts 2:4, she was baptized with the Holy Spirit. She began her education in the Pittsburgh School System, and later attended Harty’s Bible School. Bishop Locke was commissioned by the Lord to further her Christian training. In so doing, she continued on to complete her doctorate in Theology and Divinity Programs in July 1994. It is of greater knowledge to couple education with experience. God has afforded Bishop Locke, throughout the years, the opportunity to train under noted leaders such as: Bishop F.M. Thomas of Pittsburgh, PA, the late Bishop Robert McMurray of Los Angeles, CA and Elder John Lloyd of Bridgeport, CT. Additional training has also come from her father in the gospel, Bishop Norman L. Wagner, Presiding Prelate of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., Youngstown, Ohio. Having a divine calling from God to preach to all nations, Bishop Locke has extensively traveled the length of these contiguous United States, as well as Antigua, British West Indies, West Germany, London, England, the Bahamian Islands, Israel and Holland. The anointing to preach the gospel was recognized by the music industry through Intersound Records in 1993. In June, Bishop Locke recorded two compact disc messages released on the Intersound Label. The recordings include What Kind of Fool Are You?, and Let’s Get It On! These releases have marked Bishop Locke as the first Pentecostal preacher to have the spoken Word distributed on compact disc.
About The
Founder
Rave reviews in great demands have and continue to follow the recordings of these sermons. In 1994, after much prayer and fasting, Bishop Dr. Iona E. Locke heeded the call from the Lord, to the office of Pastorate. On August 17, 1994, Abyssinia Christ Centered Ministries was birthed. Her Mission Statement includes. To love our brothers and sisters, to give of ourselves, to do all to obey God, to be priestly through Godly relationship. She aims to accomplish with all diligence the wholeness of man, with these commandments and commitments to God and man. She is indeed a vessel called of God to destroy the enemy through the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bishop Iona E. Locke was consecrated as bishop on August 23rd 2000, as presiding prelate of Christ Centered Ministries. Discography Former Vice President of International Young People’s Union of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Former Assistant Pastor of Greater Bethany Community Church, Los Angeles, CA Former Director of Ecclesiastical Affairs – Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church, Youngstown, OH Administrative Assistant Emeritus – Perfecting Church, Detroit, MI Board Member of E.C. Reems International Women’s Ministry, Oakland, CA CEO – Christ Centered Ministries, Southfield, MI CEO – Empire Community Development Center, Southfield, MI.
On December 18, 2020, Bishop Locke made her transition from this earth into eternal rest. Her presence and voice are deeply missed at Abyssinia and the Body of Christ. The leadership and ministry team of Abyssinia alongside the interim pastor, Bishop Eric Mitchell are continuing the work of ministry at Abyssinia and moving the church forward.