The Very Reverend Dorothy Louise (Holt) Wright was born on Thursday, July 14, 1927 and went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 9, 2015. Dorothy was the youngest of five, born to the late Jiles and Reverend Minnie Holt in Lexington, North Carolina. Jiles was a factory worker and Minnie was a founder and pastor of Jerusalem Church of God and the Christian Fellowship Church of God, Inc. The Holts instilled within Willie, Robert, Sara Catherine, Beatrice, and Dorothy a love for God and raised them to be obedient to Him - a foundation that would serve Dorothy well later in life.

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     As a young girl, her family relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina where Dorothy attended the J.C. Price Elementary School and the James B. Dudley High School. Her higher education began at North Carolina's Agricultural and Technical College (A&T) and she matriculated at the Maco Beauty College as a beautician and truly enjoyed beauty and hair care.

 

     In 1944, Dorothy Louise accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour. In 1949, Dorothy attended Mount Zion Bibleway Church in Providence, Rhode Island, where her brother-in-law, the Late Reverend Daniel Hogue served as pastor.

 

     In 1950, Dorothy and Carson “Chester” were married having initially met during their time at A&T - a match truly made in heaven. Dorothy and Chester settled in Brooklyn, New York where they started their family. To this union, three children were born: Carson, Paul, and Pamela.

 

     In 1951, after her marriage to Chester, Dorothy, her sister-in-law the Late Rev. Marjorie Riley, and the Late Rev. George Frazier started having prayer meetings. This group met each week and rotate from house to house. It is from this prayer group that Dorothy’s commitment to ministry took root. She became the prayer group leader and renamed the group "Saint Paul’s Prayer Group".  Through the Saint Paul Group Prayer meetings, Dorothy and her sister-in-law, the Late Rev. Marjorie Riley, established a mission at 2020 Fulton Street in 1957. 

 

     In 1959, Dorothy began hearing God’s voice concerning pastoral ministry. In 1962, she finally surrendered to the call. Having witnessed the gravity and sacrifice required of pastors from walking and working closely with her mother, the Late Rev. Minnie Holt, Dorothy spent three years in deep prayer, contemplation and study to ensure her call and election. Thus Dorothy L. Wright established the Saint Paul   Pentecostal Church where she served as pastor.  Chester worked for the NY Police Department for over 30 years and retired as a Sergeant. During this time Chester and Dorothy organized various community-based programs that substantiated and spurred the growth of the Saint Paul Pentecostal Church. After Elder Carson Wright’s death in 1993, Dorothy continued as the pillar and matriarch of her family, always steadfast in her faith in God, endeavoring to be an example for all.

 

     From the inception of her pastorate, she devoted her ministry to see the Body of Christ united, to glorify God, to evangelize, and to empower Christians to discipleship. Pastor Wright purposed to help people improve their relationship with God and one another. Her immense love for children became an influential factor and driving force in many of Saint Paul’s outreach programs. She knew that in order to invest in the future of our community, one must be diligent in developing youth that are dedicated and educated.

 

     A continuum throughout the breadth of Dorothy Wright’s service unto the Lord has been her exemplary leadership and her burden for souls. She was a woman of great discipline, responsibility, and excellence. Both privately and publicly, Dorothy Wright maintained the standard of holiness, unconditional love, and accessibility. These principles fueled her zeal and commitment to the work of the ministry.

 

     Dorothy Wright was President of the Home Mission Department of the Christian Fellowship Church of God.  She originally gained notoriety in the greater Brooklyn area as a firebrand missionary often called upon to lead prayer, devotional services, and visit the sick-and-shut-in. Not complacent with New York City as her mission field, Dorothy expanded her efforts and energy abroad by organizing and leading a missionary group to Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic in the 1970’s. Dorothy Wright, was awarded a silver plate by the Christian Fellowship Church of God for serving as President for 25 years.  

 

     After forty years of charismatic, consistent, and compassionate apostolic ministry, Dorothy L. Wright was consecrated to the Office of Overseer in the Lord’s Church in November 2005 during the 18th Holy Convocation of the St. Paul Pentecostal Church by Apostle Nathan J. Anderson, Chief Prelate of W.A.R. Fellowship Ministries.

 

     Overseer Wright will always be highly regarded by her spiritual sons and daughters across the nation, which are the fruit of her labor.  Overseer Wright was a pastor’s pastor, a leader’s leader, a counselor’s counselor, a jewel in the Kingdom, and indeed a Mother in Zion.