Bishop Ernestine Cleveland Reems, Center of Hope Community Church (Oakland, CA)

Bishop Ernestine Cleveland Reems has an unusually charismatic, fire  baptized and provocative preaching style that is uniquely and intensely  her own. Truly anointed of God, her approach to the gospel of Jesus  Christ beckons the soul of the lost and speaks to the heart of people  from all walks of life.

From the pulpit, she has an uncanny ability to  speak the truth in love while sharing from the depths of her own heart  with realness that appeals to the churched and unchurched alike. Her  messages are painfully clear and rich with poetic commentary, startling  insights, and contemporary applications of the Bible’s timeless message.

It is through her extensive ministry of intercessory prayer and the  practice of fasting that many souls are drawn to Christ. Her ministry  exhibits the power of a prayer filled life and encourages those who hear  her to seek God for a deeper level of intimacy with Him.

Bishop Ernestine Cleveland Reems is the Founder and Senior Pastor of  Center of Hope Community Church in Oakland, CA. While functioning as  Pastor for over 39 years, Bishop Reems has impacted her local community  by providing for those in need through the development of a food feeding  ministry, a charter school with grades K – 8, a 150 unit affordable  housing complex, a 56 unit building for senior housing, and a 17 unit  transitional facility for homeless single women with children. Bishop  Reems is dedicated to making the Word of God come alive in the community  through service.  

Her reach and impact have  extended beyond her local community through Kingdom Builders Ministerial  Alliance, an organization she founded to mentor leaders of urban  ministries. Additionally she supports missionary projects in Haiti and  throughout South Africa. As a trial blazer, Bishop Reems has forged a  new path for women and men in ministry. Her efforts through Ernestine C.  Reems Ministries Inc. have offered her the opportunity to speak to  national audiences in an annual conference and regional Wisdom Retreats.  The powerful anointing on Bishop Reems’ life makes her one to watch to  see the manifestation of God’s awesomeness in our time!

Bishop Reems have received numerous awards and honors throughout the  years but over the past few years she has received the following awards;  2005 “The We Stand On Your Shoulders Women In Ministry” award, 2005  Embracing the Dream "The Shirley Chisholm" award, 2007 the National  Consortium of Black Women in Ministry, "Daughters of Thunder Trailblazer  Award", 2007 the OAACC-Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce,  "Woman of the Year" award, 2008 American Baptist Foundation of the West  "Visionary Guidance and Outstanding Contribution to Affordable Senior  Housing" award, 2008 the Hamilton Memorial International, "Premiere  Legacy Leadership" award, 2008 the "Gospel Heritage" award, 2009,  Healthy Oakland, "Vision" award, 2009 the Board of Supervisors Contra  Costa County Certificate of Recognition, and 2009 "Recognition Award  from Alameda County Juvenile Facilities (Ministerial Service to the  children of Alameda County.)".

Bishop Reems is a very dedicated and involved minister as well as a  powerful evangelist. She is also the author of "In the Storm" and a  devotional wisdom journal. In addition to her many ministerial duties,  she is the loving mother of two sons, Brondon and Brian. Brian is, the  proud father of Bishop’s youngest grandchild, Robert Paul. Reverend  Brondon Reems, Bishop’s eldest son, and his wife Reverend Maria Reems  were installed as Pastors of Center of Hope Community Church in October  2004. They are the proud parents of Brendon and Bryson. Truly the  devoted grandmother, Bishop Reems loves spending time with her  grandchildren when she isn’t traveling to preach the gospel. Bishop’s  husband of 41 years, Deacon Paul Reems, went home to be with the Lord in  2000. Love found Bishop Reems once again and she married Theotis  Dickerson in 2003.

Her life's testimony and prayer is a song she continues to sing:    "Oh Lord, please use me And please don’t refuse me For surely there’s a work that I can do And though it may be humble Lord help my will to crumble And though the task is great I’ll Work for You"

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Center of Hope Community Church: http://www.cohccministries.org

Bishop Ernestine Reems Ministries:  http://www.ecreemsministries.org