EP 45 DR DAMONE B JONES SR

King Crush Thursday - The Interviews

Dr. Damone B. Jones, Sr., is the youngest of three children born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Boykin Jones of West Philadelphia. Dr. Jones is a deeply devoted husband having been united to his very lovely wife Melissa in October of 1991. They are the very proud parents of four wonderful children: Aleah, Damone, Jr., Alyssa and Dominic.

Dr. Jones received Christ as Savior and Lord at the young age of sixteen years old. Being led by the Holy Spirit, he answered the call to the Gospel Ministry at eighteen years of age. On November 5, 1986, Dr. Jones was licensed to preach the Gospel by his beloved father in the ministry the late Dr. Hiawatha Coleman, former Pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Philadelphia.

Dr. Jones graduated from the Lamberton High School in June of 1984 and the RETS Electronic School in May of 1986. Dr. Jones’ early theological training includes Manna Bible Institute and The Center for Urban Theological Studies. Dr. Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree from Philadelphia Biblical University (Now Cairn University) in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Dr. Jones also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Palmer Theological Seminary, the Seminary of Eastern University.

Having a tremendous burden for at-risk youth, Dr. Jones served at the Philadelphia Youth Center (now the Juvenile Justice Services center), as Coordinating Chaplain during the late eighties. Dr. Jones also served as a panelist for the District Attorney’s Youth Aid Panel and as President of the Police Clergy Program in the 19th Police District. Dr. Jones also served his community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Carroll Park Community Council. In 2001, Dr. Jones was appointed by Mayor John F. Street to the City of Philadelphia Board of Ethics and in 2006 appointed by Mayor Street to a Blue Ribbon Commission on Children’s Behavioral Health in the City of Philadelphia. In 2008, Dr. Jones was appointed by Mayor Michael Nutter to the Advisory Board of the Mayor’s Office of Community Services and appointed again by Mayor Nutter to the Philadelphia Board of Ethics in 2009. Dr. Jones was appointed in 2010 by Mayor Michael Nutter to the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Prison System and appointed Board Chairman in 2015. Under Mayor Jim Kenney, Dr. Jones was re-appointed to the Advisory Board of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. In 2014, Dr. Jones was appointed to Governor-elect Tom Wolf’s Transition Team Co-Chairing the Review Committee on the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Dr. Jones currently serves on the Governor's Advisory Commission For African American Affairs.

Deeply concerned for the reduction of crime in the community, Dr. Jones was the first President of the Organized Anti-Crime Community Network, which brought the first National Conference on Preventing Crime in the Black Community to Philadelphia. Dr. Jones spends significant time collaborating with the Police and the District Attorney advocating for young people in court. As a trusted community leader, Dr. Jones has assisted and accompanied four homicide fugitives in turning themselves in to the authorities. Under Dr. Jones’ leadership, Bible Way Baptist Church became an approved Community Service Site for the Philadelphia Departments of Adult and Juvenile Probation. Dr. Jones has mentored many young men over the years, including serving as a spiritual advisor to Philadelphia Rapper Meek Mill. Because of his passion for working with incarcerated youth, Dr. Jones formed The BrothaHood Foundation, a non-profit, basketball/mentoring program for incarcerated youth who are charged as adults and in custody within the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.

Dr. Jones has worked diligently to bring educational resources to the community by serving on the Boards of Carson Valley School, Raising Horizons Quest Charter School, The West Philadelphia Regional Branch of Community College of Philadelphia and The Christian Academy in Brookhaven, PA. Dr. Jones has served as Adjunct Professor at Lancaster Bible College at the Center for Urban Theological Studies (C.U.T.S) in Philadelphia and at the Eastern School of Christian Ministry at Palmer Theological Seminary in St. David's, PA and currently serves as Member of the Board of Trustees and Adjunct Professor at Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, PA.

After obediently heeding God’s call to the Pastorate of the Bible Way Baptist Church in West Philadelphia, Dr. Jones was ordained on November 5, 1993 at the Mount Zion Baptist Church. Dr. Jones is a much sought after preacher, lecturer and teacher. Dr. Jones has trained Deacons at a number of local churches and conducted numerous workshops and seminars in the areas of Leadership, Men’s Ministries, Youth Ministries, and his personal favorite: How to Connect with At-Risk Youth. Dr. Jones has guest lectured at Eastern University, Temple University, Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University) and Palmer Theological Seminary.

Dr. Jones has held membership with The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., The Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention; The Black Clergy of Philadelphia; and he is Past Moderator of the Pennsylvania Eastern Keystone Baptist Association.

The Bible Way Baptist Church @biblewayphilly membership has more than tripled under Dr. Jones’ leadership and more than forty-one active ministries have been implemented to serve the diverse needs of the church and community. Bible Way continues on a steady path of substantive growth. Dr. Jones is also very proud of his spiritual sons in the ministry who began pastoring their own churches under his leadership. (Pastor Clarence Washington/Haven Peniel United Methodist Church; Pastor Raymond Harris/Christ Tabernacle Baptist Church; Pastor Robert J. Fontell, Jr./Calvary Christian Church; Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, Greater St. Matthew’s Independent Church; Pastor John C. Gblah/International Baptist Church; Pastor Joe Nock/Second Antioch Baptist Church, Pastor Michael Robinson/Greater Enon Baptist Church, Pastor Khalil B. Rogers/Peniel Baptist Church, Reverend William A. Davis, Assistant Pastor at the Service Baptist Church; and Pastor Vernal E. Simms, Jr./Millcreek Baptist Church.

Check out the video of this interview HERE!