Leadership
LEADERSHIP
BISHOP JOHN ALVIN MCCULLOUGH, II
Bishop McCullough has been the eminent Senior Pastor of Friendship Christian Church, Gastonia, North Carolina since 1989 and is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy, he is an alumnus of Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina. He continued his education at Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, North Carolina and received a Master of Divinity Degree.
As a civic leader, Bishop McCullough serves in various capacities in the community. He holds membership with Gaston Together, Gaston County Progressive Coalition, and Gaston Clergy Citizens (GC3). Bishop McCullough is also a board member of the Backpack Weekend Lunch Program of Gaston County. Bishop McCullough is the Chairman of the Board for the Fresh Start, CDC, an organization focused on assisting new fathers. He is a past Board Member of the Gaston County Chamber of Commerce and Gaston 2012 organization.
He is very instrumental in the improvements of the Highland Community and is one of the sponsors for “Hope for Gaston”, a community revitalization program for the Greater Gaston area that refurbishes homes, provides food, and cloths for families in need.
As directed by the Great Commission to “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:19, Bishop McCullough’s spiritual goals are to spread the Gospel to mankind on all levels, to promote economic development in the community through the Church, and to be used by God as an instrument making a positive impact on those he serves and meets. In accordance with his apostolic mandate, Bishop McCullough’s has been divinely directed to preach the Gospel in Colombia, South America; El Salvador, Central America; Port-Au-Prince, Haiti; Democratic Republic of Congo, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, and Swaziland, Africa; Birmingham, England; and Quebec, Canada. Bishop McCullough has had the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land, Israel where he experienced great spiritual renewal.
Bishop McCullough was ordained as Elder on January 28, 2006 and was consecrated to the Office of Bishop in the Lord’s Church on January 20, 2009 through the Father’s Council of Covenant Ministries where he serves as Vicar General (Charlotte, NC) .
Bishop McCullough is married to his best friend and ministry partner, Elder Dekota Grier McCullough and to this union they have been blessed with two children, Jonathan McCullough and Jessica (Antoine) Dunlap and three grandchildren Elijah, Zoe, and Victory.
LADY DEKOTA MCCULLOUGH
Elder Dekota Grier McCullough is a native of Charlotte, NC and received her former education in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. She received a Bachelors of Arts Degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. She received a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Her professional affiliations include Member of the National Association of Educators, Member of Association of Secondary School Principals and Member of the National Middle Schools Association.
As a twenty-five year educator, Elder McCullough has been classroom teacher, Teacher Evaluator, Assistant Principal, and Principal within Gaston County and Mecklenburg County Schools.
Her community involvement has included Vice President of the Gaston County Missionary Baptist Association Ministers Wives, Instructor for the Gaston County Missionary Baptist Association Institute, Alliance for Children and Youth, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Committee, North Carolina Parent Corp., and Education Coordinator for the Day Reporting Program for excluded students.
Elder McCullough has served as the Director of Administration for Friendship Christian Church and currently leads the FCC Women and Marriage Ministries.
On November 17, 2006, Lady McCullough was ordained as an Elder in the Lord’s Church.
Elder McCullough has been married to her dearest and best friend, Pastor John A. McCullough, Jr., for over 40 years. They are the proud parents of two children, Jonathan McCullough and Jessica (Antoine) Dunlap and three grandchildren Elijah, Zoe, and Victory.
Elder McCullough’s purpose in life is “To live in the perfect will of God.”