Bishop Christobal Miguel Kimmenez entered into life on July 19, 1961, born to Roberto and Patricia Kimmenez in Washington, DC. Bishop Kimmenez was educated in the DC Public School System and graduated a year early in June 1977. Upon turning 17, he entered the US Marine Corps and served until being medically retired at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 in 1995.  He served in combat in Grenada, Panama, Kuwait, and Somalia. After retiring due to a car accident and struggling with addiction, physical disability, a criminal record, and spiritual brokenness, Bishop Kimmenez met our Savior and was baptized in 1994 and was delivered from addiction on January 27, 1995.  He received and accepted the call to ministry in 1996.  Bishop Kimmenez was first licensed to preach in May of 1996 by then-Bishop Patricia Williams, the Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Tabernacle Centers at the home church Glorious FGTC in Wilmington, DE. He was ordained an Elder in July of 1998.

 

In November of 2006, after moving to Philadelphia and a period of seeking God for direction on whether to join or found a ministry, Bishop Kimmenez joined Word Tabernacle Baptist Church in SW Philadelphia as an Associate Minister under Pastor Michael K. Heath Sr. In June of 2009, he received the call as Interim Pastor of Oaklane Community Church. In September of 2010, he was led by the Spirit to create an ecumenical network for ministers who desired integrity and accountability in ministry. The Pastor’s and Preacher’s Support Network now has over 350 pastors in membership. In June of 2011, the Holy Spirit implanted the vision for what has become The Recovery Christian Center, an alternative ministry outreaching to the recovery community, addicts, sex workers, behavioral health, reentry, veterans, and at-risk teens in the Kensington Section of Philadelphia.  In January of 2014, RCC joined the Master’s Commission International Ministerial Fellowship under its Presiding Prelate, Bishop JT Cohen where Bishop Kimmenez serves as 1st Assistant to the Presiding Prelate and Overseer of Administration. He also serves as Dean of Administration and Professor of Biblical Counseling and Non-Profit Development at Master’s Commission Bible Institute. Bishop Kimmenez also currently serves as Director of the Philadelphia Chapter and National Director of Support Services for Healing Communities USA, a national faith-based prison reentry initiative, as a contracted Mental Health First Aid Instructor and as a member of the Faith & Spiritual Affairs Advisory Board with the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities and as a member of the Faith Leaders Network of Philadelphia FIGHT.

 

Bishop Kimmenez holds a B.S. in Human Resources from Georgetown University, an M.S. in Health Education from American University, and Psy. D from Temple University and is currently pursuing a D. Min. He has also served on the Board of Directors of We the People, Inc, and The Greater Philadelphia Region of Narcotics Anonymous. He formerly served the City of Philadelphia as a member of the Community Planning Group for the Office of HIV Policy and Planning. He is married to Rev. Paula Burnett-Kimmenez and between them, they have six children (one deceased) and twelve grandchildren.