Bishop Mckissick Jr. Bio

Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick, Jr., is Senior Pastor of the Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, located in Jacksonville, Florida. Bishop McKissick serves in the capacity of Senior Pastor along with his father, Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Sr., who has served the church now himself for over forty plus years as Pastor. Their Pastorate of Bethel is unique, not only because they are father and son, but also because both McKissicks were born and raised in the Bethel church, both serving in various capacities before entering into ministry and eventually the pastorate. Under his leadership, the ministry has grown to over 14,000 disciples active in the ministry.

The musical blessing and vision of Bishop McKissick, Jr., has resulted in the production of three CD’s by the Word and Worship Mass Choir of the Bethel Church. All three CDs have received national critical acclaim, with the project entitled, “The Right Place” debuting at No.5 on the Billboard charts.

Bishop McKissick is the author of several books. His first book entitled, “Nuggets by Day and Gems by Night” was released in April 2009. His second book “God’s Got My Back: Insights I learned From Spinal Surgery” was released in August of the same year. In July of 2010, “God’s Got My Back” reached number one on the Independent Publishers Book chart.

In June of 2008, McKissick was consecrated and elevated into the high office of Bishop in the Lord’s church within the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship International, under the leadership of Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. and serves as the Bishop of the state of Florida for the Fellowship. He also serves on various boards, which include being a national board member of the National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Jacksonville University with a double major in the field of music: one in Opera and the other in Sacred Church Music, with a minor in pipe organ performance.  He holds the Master of Divinity Degree from the Samuel Proctor School of Religion at Virginia Union University, and the Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary. Dr. McKissick was awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Bethune Cookman College. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., as well as Sigma Pi Phi Boule.

He is married to the former Kimberly Joy Nichols and they are the proud parents of three beautiful children; Jocelyn, Janai and Joshua.