REV. DR. JONNEL R. GREEN
SENIOR PASTOR
Entrepreneur, advocate, activist, abolitionist, cultural explorer, intellectual eclectic, culture shifter, and leadership practitioner, Rev. Dr. Jonnel Green is an anointed preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He proudly hails from Harlem, NY and decided long ago that he would serve God by following the carpenter.
Dr. Green served as the Youth Pastor at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Hackensack, NJ under the leadership of Rev. Gregory J. Jackson from 2016-2019. He was licensed to preach the gospel in 2014 under the leadership of Pastor Michael A. Walrond, Jr. of First Corinthian Baptist Church of Harlem, NY, where he served as an Associate Minister. Dr. Green obtained a Master of Divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary and was awarded the 2015 New Testament Bible Scholar Award.
In 2018, he was presented with the Trailblazer Award from the North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association in outstanding leadership and service in the state of New Jersey. Dr. Green is the former President of the North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association’s Congress for Christian Education. He is the current Recording Secretary for the General Baptist Convention of New Jersey and the Northeast Regional Coordinator for Evangelism for the National Baptist Convention USA Inc.
In 2020, Dr. Green earned the Doctor of Ministry degree in Congregational Leadership from New York Theological Seminary. Expanding his impact beyond the pulpit, he later launched Shifting the Culture, LLC, and has taught at major gatherings, including the IC3 Issachar Church Growth & Development Conference and the National Baptist Convention’s Joint Board, Congress, and Annual Sessions, equipping pastors and leaders through dynamic teaching and leadership development.
On June 19, 2021, Dr. Green was elected the Senior Pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church of Jersey City and he responded with a resounding "yes" to God's clarion call.
He is married to his beautiful and brilliant wife, Reverend Janiqua Green, Ph.D.
REV. JANIQUA A. GREEN, Ph.D.
WIFE OF PASTOR GREEN
Rev. Janiqua Aleece Green, Ph.D. is a preacher, teacher, and ministry strategist who situates her work at the intersection of practical theology, Christian education, and the Black church.
She was licensed and ordained at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY. Janiqua is a graduate of Syracuse University (2003, B.S.) and New York Theological Seminary (2013, M.Div.). In 2018, she was presented with the Rising Leader Award. Janiqua earned her Ph.D., following the successful defense of her dissertation at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education (GRE) in April 2025. As GRE’s first teaching assistant, she has taught a range of courses across Practical Theology in addition to co-creating an Anti-Racist Religious Education course.
As an Associate Minister of Bethesda Baptist Church, Janiqua leads the (Be)loved Women’s Ministry, including an annual women’s gathering that continues to grow in reach, participation, and purpose. Janiqua serves as the State Director of Christian Education for the General Baptist Convention of New Jersey. She combined her 25+ years of corporate experience and ministry practice to creatively serve New York City through notable organizations, churches, and charter schools. She has spoken on panels, facilitated workshops and preached the gospel, reaching people of all ages, cultures, and faith traditions.
Janiqua proudly serves as Chaplain of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Incorporated, Iota Epsilon Omega chapter. She is a native New Yorker, by way of Harlem, who currently resides in New Jersey with her husband Rev. Dr. Jonnel R. Green, Senior Pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church in Jersey City, NJ. At the end of the day, Janiqua is a bold servant who is working to make her ancestors proud and lives her entire life determined to hear two words from God, “Well Done!”