The Beginning

Bishop John Percy Lee, Sr., DD, was born in St. Augustine, Florida as the eldest son of the late Elder and Mrs. John P. Lee. Under his father’s ministry, at age 13, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. “Tie a Good Tie” was the sermon that redirected his life. He worked in the ministry along side his parents as choir director, Sunday School Superintendent and youth leader. At 17 while serving as youth leader organizing drama classes and plays, he realized a call to pastor. At age 18, he preached his trial sermon. The late Bishop Amaziah Melvin Cohen later ordained him an elder. As an active member of Eastern Florida Jurisdiction, a young Elder Lee accepted the call to pastor at Emmanuel COGIC in Brownsville, Florida.

Education

Elder Lee completed his formal education at Booker T. Washington School and later pursued studies at Bethune Cookman College in Daytona, Florida, and Brown Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. In October of 1972, he attained his Doctor of Divinity from Trinity Hall College and Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.

Marriage and Family

The providence of God continued to bless him in Florida where he met a lovely Margaret Laflore. In 1944, he and Margaret united in Holy Matrimony. This union has been blessed with four children—John P. Lee, Jr. (deceased), Margaret Lavern, Marvin Jerome and James Gregory (deceased). 1994 marked the golden wedding anniversary of Bishop and Mother Margaret Lee for which they celebrated 50 years of marriage and ministry. Mother Margaret Lee went from labor to reward in November of 1996. Her dedicated years of service and loyalty to her husband where exemplified in her many acts of kindness to the community, the Church, and their family. In October 1997, Bishop wed Evangelist Palma Dandridge. Lady Lee serves by Bishop and is a contribution to the community through her work with the Rutland Nursing Home in Brooklyn. She works with the mothers’ board and evangelist board at Revelation and the examining board of the Fourth Jurisdiction.

The Birth of Revelation Church of God in Christ

After relocating to New York in 1954, they joined the Evergreen COGIC in Brooklyn under the late Elder Eugene Williams. He and his family served in the Eastern New York Jurisdiction under the leadership of the late Bishop Otha Miema Kelly. Elder Lee served as District Sunday School Superintendent and YPWW President. In 1958, he established the Revelation COGIC at 755 Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn. In September 1966, the Lord led the ministry to its current location-433 Myrtle Avenue. The young, thriving church captured the heart of its community and the Lord continued to “add to the church such as needed to be saved.” Revelation praises God for a Pastor who is a Bishop, renowned Preacher and who is blessed with both wisdom and knowledge. Bishop Lee is a charismatic, warm-hearted man of God operating in the Gifts of the Spirit. We can surely say that Bishop gives free reign to the Holy Spirit!

Serving The Eastern New York Jurisdiction

In the late 1960s, the late Bishop Otha M. Kelly appointed Elder Lee Superintendent of the Emmanuel District. In addition, he served as President of the Fourth Saturday Conference for more than two decades, Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, and member of both the Trustee Board and the Finance Board. Upon the demise of Bishop Kelly, he continued to serve faithfully under the leadership of Bishop Fredrick Douglas Washington. In 1973, Mother Margaret Lee opened a day care center. Through Supt. Lee’s vision, Revelation also opened a soup kitchen. In the 1970s, Revelation had a radio ministry on WWRL. After Bishop Washington’s demise in 1988, Supt. Lee was appointed First Administrative Assistant to Bishop David W. Grayson, Sr., the former Prelate of the Fourth Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Eastern New York.

Elevation – Fourth Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Superintendent Lee’s faithfulness and dedication has elevated him throughout his ministry in the Church Of God In Christ. On April 15, 1993 His Eminence the Late Bishop Louis Henry Ford and the General Board appointed Supt. Lee as Prelate of the Fourth Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Eastern New York during the April Call meeting of our National Church. This appointment was ratified by the General Assembly. Under his leadership the Jurisdiction developed the F.D. Washington Memorial Bible Institute in 2002. Through the Bible Institute, God has shown Bishop that his dream to one day develop a senior citizens complex will be launched. Bishop Lee’s distinguished record of service to the Church of God in Christ spans a period of more than 50 years which includes his Pastorate at Revelation Church of God in Christ (50 years) and Prelacy (25 plus years).  With consideration for Bishop Lee’s declining health and years of service, in 2017, Bishop Lee was made Emeritus from the Office of Jurisdictional Bishop of the Forth Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Eastern New York and Pastor of Revelation.  He has been succeed by one of his son’s—Superintendent Ramses M. Conyers. Bishop Lee a well-deserved honor for one who served so well.  On June 19, 2019, Bishop John P. Lee, Sr. took permanent leave of his early assignment and went on to his place of rest.  To God Be the Glory! “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him….The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way….A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD:” (Psalms 34:8, 37:23; 112:5 & 12:2a)