OUR FAITH WILL PRODUCE OUR VISION
Bishop Jeffery L. Hodge
Bishop Jeffery L. Hodge was born June 4, 1973 in the city of Fort Worth, Texas to the parentage of Debra Hodge and Ray Hudson. He was raised in the Stop Six Community of Fort Worth where he attend public elementary and high schools.
He was saved at an early age while attending Bethany Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor B. R. Hodge. But like most young people, he strayed away from God and the church and became involved in drugs, women and gang activity. Bishop Hodge is a former member of one of the largest gangs in the Fort Worth area.
After turning his life around in the late 1990's and returning to his first love (God), he was called by God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in October of 1996. Bishop Hodge preached his first sermon on November 3, 1996.
On April 18, 1998, he married the love of his life, Lady Abesa L. Dennis-Hodge. Together they have 4 wonderful children; Lacharele, Jajuan, Keandre and Xavier.
In late 1998, Bishop Hodge's pastor and grandfather, Pastor B.R. Hodge, the late pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, became ill and was unable to continue to Pastor. Because of this, he elected to take full responsibility of the ministry that his grandfather had so fervently built, to ensure that the church would not die.
In January of 1999, Bishop Hodge was called to pastor Bethany Missionary Baptist Church, succeeding his Pastor and Grandfather. Bishop Jeffery Hodge is currently a student at the Southern Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas where he is learning bible doctrine which will better equip him to serve as a Shepherd, called to Feed, Protect and Tend to the sheep God has assigned to his keeping. It is also Bishop Hodge’s hope to unselfishly serve, assist and encourage other Pastors, Ministers, and churches that God has assigned to his care.
On August 5, 2007 God moved Pastor Hodge and the Bethany Church to merge with Pastor Nolan Yancey and Southside Christian Center where he now serves as Pastor and Overseer. Bishop Hodge can be heard weekly on Heaven97-KHVN every Thursday from 8:15 -8:30.
God has given Bishop Hodge an anointing to reach a nation of people that most are not willing to help or even have a desire to effect. From gang members, drug users, to drug dealers, he is truly a man of God, called by God, to turn the lives of many lost souls toward Christ. Bishop Jeffery L. Hodge was consecrated to his office as Bishop on Sunday, October 25, 2008 at 4:00pm.
This was truly a blessed event and definitely the will of God for his life. In August of 2009, after completing a 2 year merger with Southside Christian Center, and completing the process of purchasing the Southside Christian Center church, our name officially changed back to The Bethany Church.
Shield of Faith Fellowship
Bishop Hodge was officially voted in as the Shield of Faith President on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. We were all extremely excited about this wonderful opportunity that God has blessed Bishop Hodge to lead into the next season.