Meet Our Leaders
Bishop Willie L. Jones II
Bishop Willie L. Jones II, a servant leader for over four decades, under girded Dr. Tessie M. Jones, Pastor Emeritus (now deceased), for over two decades faithfully. Unbeknownst to him, the Lord was grooming him for greater assignment. In November 2000, Dr. Jones retired from full-time ministry, and the mantle of Pastor was placed upon him. Upon his acceptance and submission to the will of God, he was installed as Senior Pastor of Refiners Fire Community Church, formerly known as New Mount Temple Tabernacle.
Bishop Jones is characterized as a man of integrity by many. He strives to re-establish uprightness amongst the Body of Christ by holding men and women accountable to God's standard of holiness.
As an avid worshipper and follower of Christ, Bishop has received a mandate to teach sons and daughters of the Most High God to improve their relationship and fellowship with the Father through intentional worship encounters. Unadulterated (pure) worship creates an open door of communion with the Holy Spirit that breaks yokes and annihilates bondage.
As a lover of people, Bishop Jones believes God's gift of unconditional love ministers to the heart of mankind, breaks down barriers to communication, and allows God's plan for man to unfold.
In continuance to the legacy of Dr. Tessie M. Jones' motto of "1 Million Souls," Bishop believes integrity, holiness, worship, people, and love are the foundational ingredients to building "The Culture of One," which is SOULS.
Bishop Jones holds a Doctorate of Theology and a Doctorate of Sacred Studies.
He and Lady Gloria have two sons [Willie III and Mario], a daughter-in-law [Rebecca], and two grandchildren.
Lady Gloria H. Jones
Lady Gloria H. Jones has walked gracefully alongside her husband, Bishop Willie L. Jones II, in holy matrimony for over forty years. Together, they have served as the Senior Pastors of Refiner’s Fire Community Church since January 2001.
In an ever-evolving world, Lady Gloria stands firm in her proclamation: “The Kingdom message has not changed; Holiness Is Still Right.” With a heart's mission to present a holy people to a holy God, she firmly believes in maintaining a Kingdom standard in both our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationships with one another. Alongside Bishop Jones, her calling is to restore broken marriages, homes, and lives by unveiling the blueprint for wholeness found in the Word of God.
Affectionately known as a "Woman of Wisdom" and a mother to many, Lady Gloria freely shares her insight and spiritual gifts with all who are ready to listen. Her deep passion for helping women of all ages discover their true value led her to found two impactful ministries: Woman to Woman and Woman With A Purpose—both designed to help women discover "The Queen In Me."
Recognizing the needs of the next generation, her visionary leadership spans all age groups. She initiated YARD (Young Adults Reclaiming Their Destiny) to strengthen the walk of young adults, TWIG (Teens Winning in God) to provide a dedicated space for teenagers to develop their place in ministry, and Fire Starters, a nurturing ministry designed to give toddlers a solid spiritual foundation from the very beginning.
Professionally, Lady Gloria holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from North Carolina Central University and utilizes her leadership gifts as the Chief Executive Officer of Refiner’s Fire Community Church.
Founding Pastor
Dr. Tessie M. Jones, whose God's woman of evangelism, prayer, and faith, began pastoring in the city of Durham, NC when it was uncommon for women to walk in that mantle. Obedient to the Lord and leadership of Bishop Barbara Amos, she established the Evangelistic Prayer Band, Inc., and in 1978 New Mount Temple Tabernacle was birthed.
Under Dr. Jones' leadership, NMTT continued to expand her vision for evangelism and incorporated the ministry of helps to better serve the inner-city community in which the church was located.
Her motto, "1 Million Souls for Christ," ignited the members, and the church experienced tremendous growth. Her passion for young adults opened a door for her to minister at North Carolina Central University, and her nurturing spirit captured the hearts of many students. They too became engrafted into the ministry, enlarging the territory of her evangelistic prayer and faith platform.
During her time in ministry, the Lord allowed her to see the champion for Christ she had become through the countless souls she had nurtured and the many believers she had equipped for divine purpose.
Due to her health, Dr. Jones retired from full-time ministry in 2000, relinquishing the ministry to her son, Bishop Willie L. Jones II