Meet the Pastor - Rev. Jessica Rivers Ford

Jessica Rivers-Ford, a Revenue Officer for the United States Treasury and a Minister, has served as a pastor in the 11th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church since 2009. This district encompasses the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Under her leadership, she has inspired and guided several congregations in diverse communities.

 

On May 13, 2017, Rev. Ford established Greenville Community Sports Unlimited, an organization dedicated to empowering young boys and girls to achieve their full potential both academically and socially. This initiative aimed to provide life skills that would foster their future development. Additionally, she served as a last-chance counselor at Madison County Central School, a program designed to assist teachers with students exhibiting behavioral issues and disrupting classroom learning.

 

Rev. Ford graduated from Malone High School, where she was recognized as the valedictorian of the Class of 1988. In December 1993, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s School of Business and Industry. Furthermore, in 2014, she obtained a Master of Divinity degree from Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio.  

 

Reverend Ford is a lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She commenced her ministry at Mc Chapel AME Church in Marianna, Florida. She received her call into the ministry during her tenure there and was licensed to preach on November 13, 2006. She was admitted to the Florida Annual Conference on August 31, 2007. She was ordained an Itinerant Deacon on August 21, 2009, and an Itinerant Elder on September 11, 2014.

 

On September 18, 2015, Reverend Ford was elected the Pensacola/Marianna District AME Women in Ministry Coordinator at the Florida Annual Conference. She has served the following churches: Mount Olive AMEC, Marianna, and Allen Chapel AMEC, Greenville. On November 2020, Reverend Ford received a historical appointment as the Pastor of Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Quincy, Florida. This appointment marks the first time a woman has been appointed to a first church in the Eleventh Episcopal District.

 

At the 2022 Florida Annual Conference, Reverend Muse received another historical assignment, becoming the first woman to serve as the Vice-Chair of the Florida Conference Board of Trustees. She also serves as the conference assistant statistician.

Rev. Ford has been selected by Denominational Leadership to participate in a COVID-19 Pastor’s Training Program.

 

Her passion lies in serving God’s people. She believes in doing what is within her means, for whoever she can, while she has the opportunity.

 

Rev. Ford is the wife of First Gentleman, Larry Ford, Sr., mother of one daughter, Alexandra Muse. She is also the aunt to the nephews she assisted in raising: Austin Williams, Savon Armstead, Joshua, and Hayden Rivers.

 

To God be the glory for the remarkable accomplishments He has achieved!

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Rev. Jessica Rivers-Ford, MDiv