About – Women of Divine Destiny Inc

About WODD, Inc

Women of Divine Destiny, Inc. holistically empowers women to better serve the church and their community. They seek to address the needs of women in the church community through counseling, referral services, education and scholarship to empower spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially. Their intended audience is women in leadership positions in the church community and the community at-large. WODD is a beacon to nurture & encourage women that they may thrive in their ministerial endeavors.

Our Leadership Team

Dr. Kim Yancey James, a native of Hackensack, NJ, was raised in Paterson and has been singing in the church since the age of nine. God has also blessed her to perform Off-Broadway in “Mama I Want to Sing”, touring with the National Touring Company and appearing on the national television with the New York Reach Ensemble. She is also the writer/director of “We Love Gospel Music”, which was produced by her and Phenician Sullivan.

A graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., she continued her education with Graduate Studies in Communication Arts at William Paterson University. As the Lord prepared her for ministry the Holy Spirit led her to New York Theological Seminary where she graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in 2005 and was chosen by the faculty to receive The Preaching Award. She continued her education at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio where she simultaneously graduated from the Robert Schuller School of Preaching in Garden Grove, California and earned the Doctor of Ministry Degree in 2008. A prolific writer, she is the author of Breaking the Silence! The Voiceless Victims of Physical and Emotional Violence.

Dr. James, a New Jersey State Certified Social Worker, a thirty (30) year employee of the Passaic County Board of Social Services has worked as Social Worker in Adult Protective Services. She was subsequently promoted to Senior Training Technician during which she facilitated Life Skills & Job Readiness classes for clients. Her most recent assignment prior to retirement in December of 2015 was employee training for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and Mandatory Civil Rights Training for the entire staff. She is an Adjunct Professor for the New York Theological Seminary Certificate Program and Pillar College in Newark, NJ. Dr. James currently serves as the New Jersey State and Northeast Central Regional Director of Christian Education for the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, International under the leadership of Bishop Rudy V. Carlton and Bishop Kenneth L. Robinson; respectively, Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, International Presiding Bishop and Bishop Paul S. Morton, Founder. Licensed to preach the gospel in February 1999 and ordained in July 2005, she has been blessed to minister at national and international Conferences, Retreats and Worship Services.

She is the president and founder of Women of Divine Destiny, Inc. a 501c3 non- Profit Corporation which seeks to address the needs of women in the church community through counseling, referral services, education and scholarship to nurture and empower them spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially. Their intended audience is women in leadership in the church and the community at-large. Women of Divine Destiny, Inc. is a beacon of light which strives to encourage women to give the best of their service to the church and community. WODD, Inc. continues to broaden its horizons launching a New York Chapter and hosting conferences in Nassau, Bahamas, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico and Montego Bay, Jamaica. Striving constantly to “give God the best of her service” and to keep “first things first”, she is the Elect Lady, Director of Women’s Ministries and Executive Minister of the Paradise Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, where her husband, Bishop Jethro C. James, Jr. is the pastor.

They are the parents of a son; Terrill, a daughter; Danielle and a chosen daughter; Tanisha, the proud grandparents of a 2 granddaughters; Taylor Jewel and Sofia-Jo and 2 grandsons; Isaiah and Micah. She gives all the glory, honor and praise to God for the “great things” that He has done!

Phenician D. Sullivan, affectionately known as Sis. Neicey, is the youngest of nine children born to the late William Townes, Sr. and Ethel Townes. She grew up in Paterson, NJ and is a graduate of Eastside High School.

Her musical training began with Ms. Doris Shadiak at the Lucibello Music School She received further training from Rev. Ray Hagins and Michelle McKoy, musical director of “Mama I Want To Sing.” She also attended various Musicians Clinic sessions at The St. Paul Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY and was the Musical Director for “We Love Gospel Music” a play co-produced with Rev. Dr. Kim Yancey James.

Neicey grew up in the Canaan Baptist Church in Paterson where the Lord began to prepare and equip her for music ministry under the leadership of Rev. Louis Norris. She honors the memory of pianist, Sis. Ruth James who was instrumental in teaching her the standard hymns of the Church. Phenician served as the church organist from 1974-1981, working with the Youth Choir, Mass Choir and Male Chorus.

She became a member of The Paradise Baptist Church and was consecrated to the music ministry in 1981. She is currently the Minister of Music/Musical where she is faithfully committed, leading a staff of three musicians and working harmoniously with three Choir Directors. She is also the treasurer of Women of Divine Destiny, Inc.

Currently employed as Customer Service-Central Dispatch Coordinator for Datascope; a medical device company located in Mahwah, NJ. She is the proud mother of one daughter, LaNeisha R. Sullivan. She is extremely appreciative of her family; The Townes Family Ties for their nurturing love and cushion which is priceless! She is also grateful for the love of her church family and is supportive of her Pastor and First Lady who have encouraged her in her pursuit of excellence in ministry through using her musical talents to do God’s work, giving Him her best through biblically based theologically sound music.

History of Women of Divine Destiny, Inc.

Women of Divine Destiny was spoken into the heart of Rev. Dr. Kim Yancey James as she began serving women in ministry in 1998, as the director of the Women’s Ministry at the Paradise Baptist Church where her husband, Bishop Jethro C. James Jr. serves as Pastor. It was through this experience that God led Dr. James and gave her the vision to serve women beyond the walls of the Paradise Baptist Church which led to the Women’s Fellowship & Summer Bible School. This fellowship and learning experience spanned a period of fourteen (14) years included women throughout the State of New Jersey and as far as Spring Valley, New York. As God grew the ministry, Dr. James collaborated with other women’s ministries in the City of Newark for events such as an Annual Women’s Conference and later a Women’s County-Wide Revival graciously hosted by Rev. Joe A. Carter, Pastor of The New Hope Baptist Church and Bishop Rudy V. & Lady Linda L. Carlton leaders of Jehovah-Jireh Praise & Worship Church Center, both in Newark, New Jersey. It was soon after that God was spoke again, calling her to serve women in the kingdom on an even larger scale.

In October 2009, led by the Holy Spirit, Dr. James brought together a group of 61 committed and supportive women who established Women of Divine Destiny. The founding officers and board members were: Dr. Kim Yancey James, Pres. Sis. Margaret Lewis, Vice-Pres. Min. Betty Christmas, Sec’y, Sis. Phenician Sullivan, Treasurer, Pastor Lula A. Baker, Chaplain, Board of Directors; Trustee Alice George, Lady Eucelyn Morrast. Rev. Keia Boyd, Deaconess Susan Thompson and Min. Stacey Wendell. These women, trusting God and believing the vision that had been given Dr. James, immediately began working to bring the vision to fruition and thus, on December 22, 2009 Women of Divine Destiny was incorporated as a Non-Profit organization, receiving their 501(c) 3 non-profit status in May of 2011.

WODD Inc. has served as a ray of hope for women around the world, immensely extending her boarders beyond the city of Newark. One of their greatest ministry endeavors was hosting the first international conference in Nassau, Bahamas in April 2014. The international conference was initially planned to occur bi-annually, but God spoke clearly during their 2^nd conference in August 2016 at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, requiring WODD to host this conference annually; and in August 2017 WODD hosted its 3^rd international conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. “Beyond Greater, The Power Conference” continues to grow adding musical productions under the leadership of Dr. Richard Hartley, WODD Artistic Director. Continually breaking new ground and chartering new waters, history was made with the first WODD baptism in the Dominican Republic in 2016. WODD hosted its 4^th annual international conference in August of 2018 in Playa Del Carmen/Riviera Maya, Mexico and celebrates the tenth Anniversary in 2019.

Women of Divine Destiny Inc. holistically empowers women to better serve the church and their community. They seek to address the needs of women in the church community through counseling, mentoring, referral services, education and scholarships to empower spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially. Their intended audience is women in leadership positions in the church community and the community at-large. WODD is a beacon of light to nurture & encourage women that they may thrive in their ministerial endeavors. They have been fulfilling their mission by through collaborative ministry; hosting an annual pre-conference prayer breakfast, co-hosting an Annual One Night Revival with Councilwoman Mildred C. Crump in partnership women in church leadership honoring women who demonstrate a strong commitment to the God, family and the Kingdom.

In March of 2015 WODD inducted its 1^st chapter; the New York Chapter, thus establishing WODD, Inc. as a national Organization with its headquarters “Mother Chapter” in New Jersey. The organization has been blessed by the prayers and support of those in pastoral leadership and is especially grateful for Bishop Jethro C. James and The Paradise Baptist Church of Newark, New Jersey for providing a covering and a “home” for Women of Divine Destiny, Inc.