OUR BISHOP
Jonathan Wallace, Sr.
Jonathan Wallace, Sr. is a native son of Baltimore, Maryland and is the seventh of thirteen children born to the union of the late Bishop Alfred Wallace, Sr. and Mother Mary L. Wallace. Jonathan received his formative education in the Baltimore City Public School System. Because of his outstanding academic prowess, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the prestigious Stoney Brook High School in Stoney Brook, New York. After graduating from Stoney Brook, Jonathan took his educational endeavors to Morgan State University, located in Baltimore, Maryland.
On June 7, 1979, Jonathan was united in Holy matrimony to Bessie Lee Garnett. They currently reside in Baltimore County and have four beautiful children: Denise, Sophia, Jennifer and Jonathan, Jr.; two grandsons, Eddie and Roman; two granddaughters, Ajai and Samya and two great-grandchildren, Kai and Eli.
In May of 1980, Jonathan was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and was filled with the Holy Ghost. A few years later, he felt the ministry call upon his life and began preparing for servitude through fasting, prayer and study. After delivering his initial sermon, he continued his studies as he aspired to be used of God in the preaching and teaching ministry. After three years of dedicated service and spiritual growth, Minister Wallace was ordained into the pulpit ministry. Because of his faithfulness and God’s divine plan, Minister Wallace was elevated to the office of Elder. In 1990, after the home-going of his father, Bishop Alfred Wallace, Sr., he received the mantle to pastor the Full Gospel Apostolic Church. In October of 2001, God gave Bishop Wallace the vision to change the name of the ministry from the Full Gospel Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ to Inner Court Ministries. This name change reflected God’s will that the ministry reach higher heights in Him. Bishop Wallace remains the visionary, leading Inner Court Ministries onward and upward.
As Bishop Wallace sought the face of God, the hand and favor of God rested upon him. On Sunday, July 14, 1995, Pastor Wallace was consecrated Bishop in the World Assemblies of Restoration (WAR). Subsequently, on Sunday, July 27, 1997, Bishop Wallace was consecrated First Assistant Presiding Prelate of WAR. As the First Assistant Presider, Bishop Wallace served Bishop James David Nelson, the founder of WAR, with humility and dignity. With the blessings of God, Bishop Nelson and colleagues in ministry, on Friday, July 25, 2014, Bishop Wallace was favored and ordained the Presiding Prelate of WAR.
Recognizing the urgency and essential practice of studying and understanding the Word of God, Bishop Wallace keeps his ear to the mouth of God. He believes that both wisdom and knowledge are essential to leadership. With this belief, he continued his educational endeavors at The Baltimore Hebrew University, Hampton University, The Bethel Bible Institute and The International Apostolic College of Grace and Truth. After years of study and completed coursework, Bishop Wallace received his Bachelor of Christian Education Degree and Master of Theology degree. On Saturday, July 26, 1997, he received his Doctorate in Theology. He continues to study to serve and to equip the body of Christ.
With heightened spiritual consciousness, Bishop Wallace has as his focus, excellence in ministry to God. He promotes holiness as the standard for daily life, soul winning and discipleship as the work of the church and agape love as the key to spiritual maturity and prosperity. He embraces the will of God as pronounced in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”