HISTORY
Our Founding Bishop: Bishop Clarence L. Redway
Bishop Redway was born in Brown’s Town, St. Ann on April 30, 1915 to Adolphous and Marjorie Redway. He accepted the Lord in 1935, and was later filled with the Holy Ghost. In 1940, he was ordained as a Minister under the leadership of Elder Henry Lee.
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Thereafter, he preached out a work in French’s Run, St. Ann, where he baptized his first candidate in the person of Bishop Henry McKoy. In 1965, he was recruited by the government to work in Cuba. While in Guantanamo Bay, he continued preaching the gospel to his fellow workers. Some were enlightened, and some refused the spoken word. Among those who accepted his teachings was Elder Dennis Butler, who now resides in Paterson, NJ. In 1969, he returned to Jamaica, and obtained a visa to enter the United States, where he joined his wife, Beryl.
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The vision of the True Witness Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), Inc. became a reality in September 1974 when Pastor C. L. Redway, being inspired by the Holy Ghost, stepped out by faith and began a house to house ministry in the city of Paterson.
It was during this time that Pastor and Evangelist Redway agreed to open up their home using the living room as a place of worship, to accommodate the saints. As the word of God went forth, lives were changed, and God continued to bless this ministry.
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It was during this time our pastor was ordained as a Bishop in Connecticut by Bishop E.N. Skyers in 1981; a worthy office bestowed on him after a very long, and hazardous, yet triumphant journey.
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Bishop Redway had been ministering this gospel both locally and internationally, for over sixty-three years. His life story as a great servant of God is very real.
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He gained much wisdom and understanding from the many experiences life offered him. Also, he had a heart of compassion for the lost.
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He was always ready to offer advice to anyone willing to receive it, from which great benefit had been derived. He was a dedicated man of God, and a pioneer in the city of Paterson.
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He showed great leadership qualities. He was a man with both a mission and a vision.
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In March 2004 Bishop Redway was called to be with the Lord. He is greatly missed by all of us, and while we are sad, we rejoice in the fact that he is with the Lord who he loved and served so faithfully all these years.
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“And He said unto them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”
~Mark 16:15
Our Bishop and Pastor: Bishop Llewelyn Mitchell Sr.
Pastor Llewelyn Mitchell was born in the parish of St. Elizabeth, in the Island of Jamaica, WI to Gladys Johnson and Vivian Mitchell. He accepted the Lord in 1963 and was later filled with Holy Ghost.
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He attended the Shiloh Apostolic Church, where he worshipped for seven years under the leadership of Elder Randolph Barrett and later became a Deacon.
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He started working as a farmer for himself at a tender age. However, he later attended trade school in Ocho Rios where he specialized in welding.
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In 1972 after migrating to Toronto, Canada, Deacon Mitchell was consistent in attaining success that he attended the School of Technical Trade where he furthered his skills in welding. Upon completing his studies, he graduated and got his first job at the Canadian Hansen and Van Winkler Co. as a first class welder.
He later married the love of his life, Sis Muriel O’rero in Toronto, Canada in 1972. It was then that he met the late Bishop Redway who was the giveaway father of his bride, Sis Muriel Mitchell. Sis Mitchell and Bishop Redway worshiped at the same Assembly in New York City, subsequently, she returned to New York after her wedding.
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A few years later Deacon Mitchell migrated to the United States and joined his wife. He also became a member of the same Apostolic Church in New York City where he continued for ten years.
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Following the leading of the Holy Spirit, Deacon Mitchell decided to take up fellowship with the True Witness Church in Paterson, New Jersey under the leadership of the late Bishop Redway. Due to Deacon Mitchell’s faithfulness, grace and humility he promoted to the position of an Elder in 1985.
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In 1995 Elder Mitchell was ordained as the Assistant Pastor of the True Witness Church. Due to the declining illness of Bishop Redway, Elder Mitchell was elevated to the position of Pastor in October 2001. After the passing of the late Bishop Redway, Pastor Mitchell assumed full pastoral responsibility of the True Witness Church of Jesus Christ, Inc. However, The Lord was not through with him yet; in August 2009, He was ordained to the office of Bishop.
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The Lord strengthens him, and blesses him in this ministry, and we, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath began a good work in him would perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (~Phil 1:6)” know that the Lord will continue to do so.
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“So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.”
~1 Kings 19:19
Our History
The vision of the True Witness Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), Inc. became a reality in September 1973 when Pastor Clarence. L. Redway, being inspired by the Holy Ghost, stepped out by faith, and began a house-to-house ministry in the city of Paterson. It was during this time that Pastor and Evangelist Redway agreed to open their home, using the living room as a place of worship, to accommodate the saints. As the word of God went forth, lives were changed, and God continued to bless this ministry. Pastor Redway was elevated to the office of Bishop in Connecticut by Bishop E.N. Skyers in 1981.
Being blessed with the dynamic ability to expound the word of God, his firm approach persuaded the hearts of the people who listened to him to change their lives to the point of seeking water baptism in Jesus’ name. Since there was no access to a pool, the bathtub became the baptismal pool for the first seven souls in this ministry.
Membership grew tremendously, therefore the congregation had to move to a larger area (the basement), until the Lord provided a building for worship on East 29th street & 17 Ave. in Paterson, NJ. After experiencing a temporary setback, our Pastor’s home once again became a place of refuge for the saints, until another place of worship was provided for us at 454 Broadway in Paterson, NJ. The location at 454 Broadway proved to be a steppingstone to something greater. Soon after we moved to a building on Lafayette Street in Paterson. Eventually, True Witness moved to 176 12th Ave. in Paterson.
With increased spiritual and social activities, the need for a multi-purpose building arose. God soon answered our prayers and made 377 Hamilton Ave., Paterson, NJ available to us. This building was purchased from Calvary Baptist Church and was soon converted to the church it is today. This edifice was dedicated to the glory of God in July of 2000, in a grandiose pageant complete with local and international dignitaries in attendance. Although Bishop Redway was not in the best of health at this time, the Lord granted lengthened time so that he and his wife would be able to witness the dedication of this wonderful sanctuary as a saving station for the souls of men.
Bishop Clarence L. Redway, the man with the vision continued to be a dedicated, faithful, and reliable man of God who knows how to abound in any situation. As a result of his efforts, his faithfulness, reliability, and commitment, we have renovated this beautiful building to perpetuate the word of God in this area.
In October 2001, Bishop Redway ordained Assistant Pastor, Elder Llewelyn Mitchell, to the office of Pastor of the True Witness Church, a position he did not assume full responsibility for until April 2004, when Bishop Redway was called home to be with the Lord. Elder Leroy Edwards was also ordained as International Overseer of the True Witness Churches, internationally.
Pastor Mitchell would serve in this office until August 2009 when he was elevated to the office of a Bishop. Bishop Mitchell worked diligently to elevate this ministry and spread the gospel to lost souls. In 2009, Bishop Mitchell ordained Elder Michael McDonald, as the Assistant Pastor of the True Witness Church. Bishop L. Mitchell, with a team of able, dedicated members and saints, through God’s help, made great strides in establishing a vibrant ministry in the city of Paterson and beyond the shores of this community. Under his leadership, we established a Food Pantry that serves our community. There were annual community day events that focused on providing health assessments, back to school supplies, clothing drives, along with food and games, and an evening of worship for everyone in the community. Bishop Mitchell believed in building the ministry and would spend his time traveling to various churches to help lift up the ministry. He did so until he went home to be with the Lord in April 2020.
In the wake of the passing of Bishop Mitchell, Elder McDonald was appointed by the Board of Trustees to the office of Pastor in April 2020. Elder McDonald saw it fit at that time to also appoint an Assistant Pastor in the person of Minister Dean Robinson. Both were ordained into their positions on May 23, 2020, by Bishop E. N. Skyers. A year later, Pastor Michael McDonald was elevated to the office of Bishop and Elder Dean Robinson to the office of Pastor of the True Witness Church on August 1, 2021.
Since then, they have worked tirelessly to forge ahead, staying true to the faith, and carrying the vision that was started by Bishop C. L. Redway. Truly, we can say that the church is moving on. Under Bishop McDonald and Rev. Robinson’s leadership there has been the development of a leadership training class, the enhancement of our new converts class, that started under Bishop Mitchell, amongst many other kingdom building ventures. We pray that the Lord continues to bless and keep our Bishop and Pastor as they continue to do the work of Him that sent them.