Our Leaders

Bishop Lewis M. Payne is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System.

He received a baccalaureate degree in Foreign Languages from Morgan State University in 1971 and a Master of Divinity degree from the Howard University School of Divinity in 1975.

In 1974 he began to teach foreign languages (Spanish and French) in Baltimore City Public Schools in the program for Gifted and Talented students.   He has also taught in the states of Florida and Pennsylvania. Bishop Payne has taught in Community Colleges and for the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state of Maryland.

At present, he serves as the founding pastor of the newly organized Word for the World Community Church in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Board of Bishops of the United Church of Jesus Christ. Bishop Payne is also an instructor in the Ministerial and Leadership College of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic). He also recently earned a Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) degree from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

At the age of sixteen, Bishop Payne recognized God’s call on his life. He is an anointed and gifted preacher and teacher of the Word of God. He is an avid reader and also enjoys traveling and cooking

Bishop Payne is the husband of the former Violet Theresa Parran. They have one daughter, Jennifer Payne Watson (Mark). They are the proud grandparents of their granddaughter, Ysabella, and their grandson, Caleb.

Born in Washington, D.C., Lady Violet Payne is the sixth child of the late William and Floyetta Parran. Lady Payne is married to Bishop Lewis M. Payne, D. Min., Pastor and Founder of Word for the World Community Church in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania.  She is the proud mother of their one daughter, Jennifer.

She was educated in the Washington, D.C. Public School System.  Lady Payne also graduated from the Howard University School of Dentistry with certification in Dental Hygiene.  Violet worked in the dental profession for over 28 years and then pursued another career in management being employed by The Time Group/Washington Place Management in Baltimore, Maryland.

She retired from the secular work force in order to serve the Lord and His people along with her husband at Word for the World Community Church. Violet serves the Lord with all of her heart. She serves with humility and honesty.  At the present, she is the Administrative Assistant of the church and coordinator of the Ladies of WWCC (Word for the World Community Church). Lady Payne is a minister called by God to work for God. She does it well. She and her husband are the proud grandparents of two grandchildren, Ysabella and Caleb.

One of Lady Violet Payne’s favorite Scripture(s) is – “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path”.   Proverbs 3:6