The New Frontier Jurisdiction began with the pioneering spirit of its founder and leader, Bishop Levi Willis Sr. Who can but marvel how God raised up this giant of a churchman from the hot tobacco fields of North Carolina to lead one of the outstanding Jurisdictions in the Church of God in Christ. In 1952, Bishop Willis founded a church in the Oakwood section of Norfolk. It was to his wife, Mother Hortense Jones Willis, that God gave the church’s name, the Garden of Prayer. In 1954, the purchase of a building at 710 Park Avenue caused Willis’ ministry to gain the attention of the Hampton Roads community. The building in the Brambleton section of Norfolk had once been the site of a thriving white congregation, but “white flight” had caused the church to move and sell its building to a furniture company for a warehouse. By 1961, the Garden of Prayer congregation celebrated the burning of the facility’s mortgage.

God chose and anointed this forward-thinking man of faith to expand his ministry while serving as Superintendent of the Norfolk District in the Virginia Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. In 1961, Superintendent Willis felt the leading of God to open the Garden of Prayer No. 2 in the Lambert’s Point section of Norfolk. Our leader recognized the need for help and appointed Elder William Blackwell as Assistant Pastor for this church. Not resting on this accomplishment, Willis was just warming to the task. In 1963 Superintendent Willis founded the Garden of Prayer No. 3 at 200 W. 25th Street in the Park Place section of Norfolk, to this location he would send a young man named Elder Cornelius Purkett as Assistant Pastor. One year later, while still a young superintendent in the Second Jurisdiction of Virginia, this driving leader established the Garden of Prayer No. 4 across the water in the city of Portsmouth. To further the work, Elder Samuel Moore was sent. In an era where most new Church of God in Christ congregations were usually begun in storefronts, Superintendent Willis built a new tradition of birthing churches in edifices meant to honor the presence of God.

By 1966 Superintendent Willis had organized a group of forward-thinking pastors who recognized the visionary genius that he possessed. The first fellowship service was held in March 1966 with a Fellowship Conference that followed in September. After a year of trials and testing, the New Frontier Jurisdiction was established. The first Worker’s Conference of the New Frontier was held at the Garden of Prayer on Park Avenue in March 1967. It was there where the second Senior Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr., consecrated Willis as Bishop. This appointment was further sanctioned by the Executive Board of the national Church of God in Christ in Spring 1968. Motivated to ensure the success of the New Frontier, Bishop Willis appointed Mother Fannie G. Mann as the first Jurisdictional Supervisor of Women. A meek and loving woman of God, Mother Mann was a hard worker and great supporter of the vision.

Because of the pioneering spirit of Bishop Willis, many able pastors were attracted to the new work. Superintendent A.V. Mitchell brought in a district of several churches. For a time, he acted as the second in command for the new Jurisdiction. Other notable men cast their lot with the new work such as Elder Norton B. Wilder, first Chairman of the Board of Elders, Elder A.J. Jones, Elder Clifford Moore, and Superintendent William Blackwell. They were constant traveling companions of the Bishop and assisted him in getting the new Jurisdiction off the ground. Others who made significant contributions in the first year were Superintendent William P. Wiggins, Superintendent Thomas Davis, Elder Shadrack Brown, Elder Maurice Riddick, Elder Bennie Copeland, Elder Linwood Goodman, Elder Larry Melton, and many others. Among them was the first female pastor, Elder Queenie Barton, affectionately known as “Miss Hospitality”, she won the hearts and respect of the men in the Jurisdiction and many preachers in the Church of God in Christ.

Within the next four years, Garden of Prayer Churches No. 5, 6 and 7 were founded by Bishop Willis, Sr. in Covington, and Roanoke. In 1969, the Garden of Prayer relocated to 1000 E. 26th Street as the Garden of Prayer Temple. Soon thereafter, Bishop purchased the historic Garden of Prayer Temple located at 812 Washington Street in Portsmouth. This colossal, granite sanctuary with beautiful stained-glass windows became the new Jurisdictional headquarters.

In the early 1980s, “The Crusader” personally purchased and established two more churches, Crusade for Christ Temple I & II in Richmond, and Petersburg. During the 1970s and 1980s, many new pastors came into the Third Jurisdiction. Many of them created new churches and built new buildings with the assistance of Bishop Willis and the Jurisdiction. After several successful tent crusades in the early 1990s, Bishop Willis took on the mammoth task of building a new Jurisdictional headquarters in the city of Norfolk.

With the Prayers and financial support of the great pastors of the New Frontier Virginia Third Jurisdiction, the 4.5-million-dollar, 2000+ seat cathedral was completed in August 1995. The Reverend Jesse Jackson delivered the dedicatory message on its opening day. Virginia Third was on great footing with great pastors and leaders who loved and supported one another. After the death of his dear friend, Auxiliary Bishop Norton B. Wilder, Bishop Willis, and this mighty Jurisdiction set out on a campaign to help complete the million-dollar, Prayer of Faith Temple in Lynchburg. In 2000, the new sanctuary was dedicated in honor of Bishop Wilder to the glory of Almighty God.

In 2007 the Jurisdiction’s 40th anniversary chronicled the legacy of Bishop Levi E. Willis Sr. and the New Frontier highlighting its growth, strength, and leadership. Many testified to the effectiveness of Bishop’s “Crusade for Christ” which aired daily on Willis Broadcasting stations around the nation. Myriads of souls and countless lives were affected causing many to visit and become members of the Third Jurisdiction.

On Friday, February 20, 2009, the sun set on the work of Bishop Levi E. Willis Sr. As the Lord saw fit to call home our beloved “Crusader”, his earthly labor ceased leaving a keeper of the mantle. Serving as Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor Levi E. Willis II waited in the wings to carry on the work. Following the demise of his father, Administrative Assistant Levi E. Willis II was appointed as Pastor of the Garden of Prayer Worship Center and as Jurisdictional Leader by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. preceding the 42nd Worker’s Conference.

Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. and a quorum of national leaders called together all the pastors of the Third Jurisdiction to conduct an inquiry as to the future Bishop of the Third Jurisdiction. Bishop Blake administered a poll, and the election was won by Administrative Assistant Levi E. Willis II. The results were quickly accepted and ratified by Bishop Blake. Following this voting procedure, several pastors that casted opposing ballots elected to part fellowship and leave the Third Jurisdiction.

Appointed as Bishop-Designate by the Presiding Bishop, Dr. Levi E. Willis II was consecrated as Jurisdictional Prelate of the Virginia Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction on November 9, 2009, during the 102nd Annual COGIC Holy Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee. Bishop Willis had to forge ahead, seeking the Lord in prayer, and bending his frame before the throne of grace to hear from Heaven regarding the leadership of this great Jurisdiction.

Bishop’s first assignment was choosing a leader for the women’s department, naming Mother Claudine T. Austin as Jurisdictional Supervisor. Mother Austin affectionately known as “The Jewel of the Jurisdiction” served faithfully until her demise in January of 2018. To also aid in the leadership of the Jurisdiction, Bishop Willis II surrounded himself with a group of distinguished men to uphold his arms in leading the “New Frontier – The Next Generation.” As Administrative Assistants, Bishop chose Superintendents Jonathan G. Willis Sr., Melvin L. Austin, James I. Johnson Jr., Dwight A. Nixon, Calvin Pruden and, Maurice C. Davenport Sr. after the passing of Mother Austin, Bishop Willis II was given the task of choosing a successor. After much prayer over the course of time, Bishop named Administrative Assistant Mother Sharon Alston–Felder as the new Jurisdictional Supervisor during the Official Day Service of our 51st Annual Holy Convocation.

The work of Bishop Levi E. Willis II came to an end on January 13, 2023, when he transitioned and entered the church triumphant. Because God is faithful and always leaves keepers of the mantle, and in His infinite wisdom allowed the episcopal elevation of Administrative Assistant Jonathan G. Willis Sr. who was consecrated as the newly appointed Jurisdictional Prelate of the Virginia Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction by Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard on November 11, 2023, during the 115th Annual COGIC Holy Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee.

For over fifty years, the Virginia Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction has continued to build a record of success. Blessed by God, more than 40 churches and covenant ministries can be found throughout Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. The Virginia Third continues to break ground in the Church of God in Christ as a premier Jurisdiction and looks forward to continued success. To the glory of God, we stand on the mantra that “We are a First Class People, in a First Class Jurisdiction with First Class Leadership.”