Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jesse is the eldest of six children. Relocating to Columbia Maryland with his parents, Dr. & Mrs. Jesse Paul Clay, he graduated from Wilde-Lake High School, attended Howard University, graduating with a BS degree. He also received a Masters in Christian Counseling, a Masters of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Maple Spring Baptist Bible College and Seminary.
Jesse, an administrator in the District of Columbia Government has recorded over twenty – eight years of government service. He married the beautiful former Brenda Wildes in Dec. 1983, and out of their union, has two wonderful adult children: Victoria and Jesse III. a daughter and son in love, Dinatria and Harick and two grandchildren, Nevaeh and Jesse IV.
In October 2004, Rev. Clay, with the assistance of his wife and other supporters including his parents, Dr. Deacon and Mrs. Jesse Paul Clay, his brother now Pastor Leonard Clay and Dr. and Mrs. Jerry W. Jones Jr. opened the doors of Jehovah Christian Ministries, a non-denominational Christian ministry. They currently worship in the Capital Heights, Maryland area. There they continue a ministry for God and He is richly blessing the ministry. The church has grown and touched many souls who continue to be connected.
Most important, Jesse is a born again believer, and loves the Lord. His message is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he rose again so we can live victoriously and receive eternal life. With this message, he witnesses to male prisoners at Brockbridge Correctional Institution in Jessup, Maryland with the New Life Ministries, and homeless men at the Central Union Mission with the Partners in Ministry Program sponsored by the Church of Restoration. His counsel to individuals is that God is restoring, renewing, and re-establishing them for the Master’s use.
Jesse also serves as Vice- Chairman of the Board for the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Therapeutic Services (PRBTS) since 2008. Prior to being appointed a board member in 2007, he performed at various levels at the Better Way Program which is an out-patient substance abuse program sponsored by PRBTS. His services included being a counselor, a supervisory counselor, and the Program Director. He is also Vice Chairman with Teach’ Em to Fish, and incubator designed to assist disadvantaged people that desire to be entrepreneurs. An original member of the Men’s Rapp it reaches out to men through monthly rap sessions and annual conferences.
May God receive the glory for the great changes in the lives of His people.
…building lives through the Word!
Elder Brenda Wildes Clay
Senior Pastor
Brenda Wildes Clay was born in Edenton North Carolina. She grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the eldest of eight children. In 1971 her parents Deacon and Mrs. Leo Wildes moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were she graduated from West Philadelphia High School. She graduated from Philadelphia Community College and later graduated from Temple University with a B.A in Education. She later received a Masters in Public Administration from South Eastern University. She is currently enrolled at the Maple Springs Bible College and Seminary where she is pursuing a Masters in Biblical Counseling.
After a distinguished twenty-eight-year career of teaching she retired from teaching in the Philadelphia School and in the District of Columbia Public School Systems.
In 1980 God called her to the Mission Field. Brenda spent one year in Liberia, West Africa teaching and ministering to the needs of the people. This was a life changing experience which brought many changes to her view of life. Upon returning home she became an active participant in Teen Haven ministries: a ministry dedicated to helping reach troubled teenagers in the streets of Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Since then She has returned to Africa several times ministering and serving as God allows her.
In 1983 Brenda married Jesse P. Clay, Jr. And out of this union, have two adult children: Victoria and Jesse III, both of whom are married. She has two grandchildren. With her husband, they live in the Mitchellville Maryland area.
In October 2004, Min. Clay assisted her husband and other supporters in opening the doors of Jehovah Christian Ministries. She accepted her call to the ministry, and was licensed to preach in October 2004. She was later ordained in February 2013. They currently worship in the Capital Heights, Maryland area. She leads the Praise and Worship Ministry, Children’s Ministry and assists in various other Ministries in the church. God has richly blessed the ministry and they are looking for greater things to occur.
Most important, Brenda loves the Lord and is a born again believer. She serves God with a passion. She loves to sing praises unto God through praise and worship. One of her favorite verses that she often quotes is Joshua 1:8, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth: but thou shalt mediate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.