The International Covenant of Pentecostal Orthodox Churches

02/02/2026

Subject: Regarding the Consecration of Dr. Maisha T. Bryant

Beloved in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We write to you with both transparency and pastoral care regarding the consecration of Dr. Maisha T. Bryant. After prayerful discernment and consultation, we have made the decision to postpone the consecration service due to ongoing health concerns. This decision is rooted solely in our shared desire to ensure her full strength, wellness, and peace, and to avoid placing any unnecessary physical or emotional burden upon her during this sacred season.

We want to state clearly and without reservation that Dr. Bryant has done nothing wrong. This postponement is not corrective, disciplinary, or procedural in nature. Rather, it reflects our commitment to honor the human body as a gift entrusted to our care, and to proceed with holy orders in a manner marked by wisdom, patience, and love.

At this time, we anticipate rescheduling the service for late March or April, with specific details to be communicated as soon as dates are finalized. We are confident that this brief pause will allow the consecration to be celebrated with the fullness of joy, reverence, and communal strength that such a moment deserves.

We ask that you continue to hold Dr. Bryant in your prayers, praying for restoration, endurance, and peace. We also invite you to pray for the Church, that we may remain attentive to the Spirit’s timing and faithful in our care for one another.

Thank you for your gracious understanding, your continued support, and your steadfast prayers.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Dr. Christopher S. Bryant
On behalf of the
International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches

01/04/2026

Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied unto you.

As we cross the threshold into the year of our Lord 2026, we do not enter quietly. We enter with a holy resolve, a unified spirit, and a mandate from heaven. As we look upon the horizon of this new year, the Spirit of the Lord has impressed upon us a singular, defining identity for this season:

We are The Determined Church.
Advancing the Kingdom: No Matter What

The image of the burning flame atop the chalice serves as our visual anchor this year. It reminds us that we are the keepers of the ancient faith (the Chalice) ignited by the fresh fire of the Holy Ghost (the Flame). But fire requires oxygen to burn, and the Kingdom requires determination to move.

We live in an era of shifting cultures and uncertain times. Yet, our directive remains unchanged. We are called to advance. Not to retreat, not to maintain the status quo, and not to apologize for the Gospel. Our determination is not born of human will, but of divine necessity. We are advancing the Kingdom no matter what opposition arises, no matter what societal tides turn, and no matter what obstacles stand in our path.

Our scripture for 2026, Matthew 11:12, declares: "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

This is not a call to carnal violence, but to spiritual vigor. It is a call to a holy aggression against the powers of darkness. The "violence" speaks of an energetic, forceful determination to seize what God has promised.
• Where there is sickness, we are determined to preach healing.
• Where there is confusion, we are determined to offer the sound liturgy of truth.
• Where there is emptiness, we are determined to bring the fullness of the Spirit.

To every pastor, leader, and member of the ICPOC: I charge you to let your determination be stronger than your hesitation. Let this year be marked by a refusal to settle.

If the door is closed, we will knock until it opens. If the way is blocked, we will forge a new path. We are a Covenant people, bound by history and propelled by prophecy. Let the fire on the altar of your heart burn brighter than ever before.

Welcome to 2026. Welcome to the year of the unstoppable, unshakeable, Determined Church.

In His Service and Covenant,
✠ ✠ Christopher S. Bryant, DMin, PhD
Presiding Prelate
The International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches

12/24/2025

A Christmas Missive to the International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches

Beloved sisters and brothers in Christ,

At the Feast of the Nativity, the Church gathers around a mystery that never exhausts itself. The Word who took flesh continues to give himself, here and now, in bread broken and cup shared. Christmas therefore does not rest only in memory. It arrives again at the Table. In the Eucharistic presence of the Lord, the Advent of Christ is not concluded but continually given, a coming that presses into the present tense of the Church’s life.

This is why the manger and the altar belong together. The Child laid in swaddling cloths is the same Lord who says, “This is my body.” The Incarnation does not pause at Bethlehem. It extends through the life of the Church as Christ gives himself sacramentally, sustaining his people in time, forming them into one body, and drawing them into the life of God. Each celebration of the Eucharist stands as an Advent renewed, a present arrival of Emmanuel who comes without spectacle yet with full self-gift.

At Christmas we also recall the Church’s responsibility to guard this confession. The tradition remembers Saint Nicholas of Myra, not as a figure of sentiment, but as a bishop formed by prayer, charity, and doctrinal fidelity. At Council of Nicaea, Nicholas represents a generation of pastors who recognized that love for Christ requires clarity about who Christ is. His defense of the faith was not driven by rivalry or control, but by pastoral care. What the Church confesses about Christ shapes how the Church worships, prays, and lives.

For a Pentecostal-Orthodox people, this witness speaks directly to our vocation. We confess Christ with the whole Church, drawing from Scripture, the councils, and the lived faith of the saints. At the same time, we expect the Spirit to make that confession alive in worship and mission. Eucharistic presence and orthodox confession belong together. Where Christ is truly confessed, Christ is truly given. Where Christ is truly given, the Church is drawn again into faithful confession.

Christmas therefore calls us to hold together wonder and discipline, devotion and doctrine, Spirit and sacrament. The Table keeps the Church grounded in the humility of God’s self-giving, even as the Creed keeps the Church steady in the truth of God’s self-revelation. Nicholas’s witness reminds us that defending the faith is never abstract. It is always about preserving the Church’s ability to receive Christ rightly and to proclaim him clearly.

As you gather this Christmas, may your celebrations of the Eucharist renew in you the expectancy of Advent and the courage of the saints. May the presence of Christ among you deepen communion across jurisdictions and cultures, strengthen your common life, and send you out as witnesses to the Word made flesh. And may the peace of the Incarnate Lord, given again at his Table, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

In the joy of the Nativity and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

The Most Reverend Christopher Bryant, PhD, DMin
Metropolitan Archbishop and Primate
International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches

12/04/2025

11/27/2025

A Thanksgiving Missive to the International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches

Beloved in Christ,
Grace and peace to every bishop, pastor, deacon, and faithful believer gathered within our Covenant.

As we pause in this season of gratitude, my thoughts turn to the truth that steadies the Church in every age: humanity’s highest purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy His presence with a steady and enduring joy. This confession, first voiced in the early catechetical tradition, frames the life of the Covenant. It offers more than a doctrinal claim. It names the hope we share and the work we undertake.

We glorify God when we teach the faith with clarity, when we order our lives in holiness, and when we care for the communities entrusted to us. We glorify Him when our worship is shaped by Scripture and the Spirit, when our sacraments witness to His nearness, and when our ministries carry the mercy of Christ into homes, neighborhoods, and nations. The Covenant strengthens this witness by gathering our jurisdictions and ministers into a shared fellowship where the ancient confession is practiced, not merely repeated.

We enjoy God when His joy steadies our leaders, when His consolation meets our congregations, and when His Spirit lifts the weary. This enjoyment is not a fleeting emotion. It is the settled confidence that the risen Christ walks among His churches. In a year marked by challenge and renewal, your fidelity to prayer, preaching, pastoral care, and the sacred work of building healthy communities has made that confidence visible. For this, I offer my gratitude.

As your Metropolitan Archbishop and Primate, I thank you for the trust you extend, the counsel you offer, and the work you carry with quiet strength. Each jurisdiction, each local assembly, and each minister brings a needed gift. Together, we confess with our lives that God is worthy of glory, and that His joy is our strength.

May the God who calls us to glorify Him and delight in Him bless the International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches with wisdom, unity, and renewed affection for Christ. May our common witness shine with clarity. And may this season deepen in each of us the holy joy that cannot be taken away.

In the fellowship of the Spirit,
The Most Reverend Dr. Christopher S. Bryant, DMin
Metropolitan Archbishop and Primate
International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches

08/22/2025

📜 Official Announcement 📜

The International Covenant of Pentecostal–Orthodox Churches joyfully invites you to witness a sacred moment in the life of the Church.

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 12 Noon, Dr. Maisha T. Bryant will be consecrated to the holy order of Bishop at The House That Love Built, 206 South West Blvd, Vineland, NJ 08360.

This service will be presided over by Archbishop Christopher Bryant, Chief Consecrator, with Archbishop Erskine Williams, Bishop David Maldonado, and Bishop Judy Williams serving as Co–Consecrators.

This has been years in the making, and we are godly proud to see this moment arrive. Dr. Maisha T. Bryant is a worthy servant of God, and we are confident she will serve faithfully and fruitfully in this sacred office. Axios, Axios, Axios!

As both her husband and her bishop, I am humbled and overjoyed to stand with her as the Church affirms her calling. We ask for your prayers and warmly invite you to join us for this historic and holy celebration.

✝️ “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

04/28/2025

With holy reverence and profound joy, the International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches announces that on Sunday, April 27, 2025, in an official act by the Presiding Prelate and Founding Primate, The Most Reverend Dr. Christopher S. Bryant, the Church has declared:

The Reverend Dietrich Bonhoeffer to be a Saint of the Church, now and forever to be known as

— Saint Dietrich Bonhoeffer of Flossenbürg —
Martyr and Witness of the Church

This momentous occasion marks a sacred testimony to the enduring legacy of a man whose fearless discipleship, theological brilliance, and martyrdom for the cause of Christ continue to call the Church to a faith that costs everything — even life itself.

Saint Dietrich was a faithful pastor, a prophetic theologian, and a courageous resister of evil whose ministry embodied what he himself named “costly grace” — the grace that demands our whole life in union with Christ. Through preaching, writing, and ultimately by his martyrdom, he witnessed to the Lordship of Jesus over every earthly power.

By this canonization, the Church:
• Affirms his public veneration as a Saint within our Communion and among all faithful who honor his life and sacrifice,
• Inserts his name in the Official Calendar of Saints,
• Establishes April 5 (the day of his final confession and Holy Communion) as the Feast Day of Saint Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
• Authorizes the creation of proper liturgical prayers, readings, and commemorations for his remembrance,
• Encourages every jurisdiction, diocese, and parish to be inspired by his writings, sermons, and martyrdom, especially The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together.

Let the Church rejoice, for one who bore witness under persecution now stands among the great cloud of witnesses, interceding for us at the Throne of Grace.

Let every congregation, every altar, every community remember:

Discipleship is costly — but Christ is worthy.
And the saints among us show us the way.

04/07/2025

A SAINT AMONG US:
The Canonization of Saint Veron Ashe (Mar Enoch)
April 6, 2025

With holy reverence and profound joy, the International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches announces that on Sunday, April 6, 2025, in an official act by the Presiding Prelate and Founding Primate, The Most Reverend Dr. Christopher S. Bryant, the Church has declared:

Archbishop Veron Ashe (Mar Enoch) to be a Saint of the Church, now and forever to be known as

— Saint Veron Ashe of Fresno —
Bishop and Teacher of the Church

This momentous occasion marks the first formal canonization in the life of our Communion and stands as a sacred testimony to the enduring legacy of a man whose preaching, vision, and ministry shaped a generation and bridged the ancient faith with the present work of the Spirit.

Saint Veron was a prophetic teacher, a masterful communicator of the Gospel, and a bishop whose embrace of both Pentecostal fire and Orthodox depth became a beacon for all seeking the fullness of the faith. Known for declaring, “There’s got to be more” he challenged the Body of Christ to live toward union, holiness, and divine mystery.

By this canonization, the Church:
- Affirms his public veneration as a Saint within our Communion and among all faithful who honor his life and legacy,
- Inserts his name in the Official Calendar of Saints,
- Establishes January 18 (the day of his passing into glory) as the Feast Day of Saint Veron Ashe,
- Designates January 18 henceforth as Proclamation of Saints Day, inviting all churches in the ICPOC and beyond to celebrate those whom the Spirit has set apart as examples to the faithful,
- Authorizes the creation of proper liturgical prayers, readings, and commemorations for his remembrance,
- Encourages every jurisdiction, diocese, and parish to learn from and be inspired by his writings, sermons, and witness.

Let the Church rejoice, for one who walked among us in truth and fire now stands in the great cloud of witnesses, praying for us all.

Let every congregation, every altar, every community remember:

Holiness is not far off. It is near, embodied, and among us still.

01/06/2025

To all whom these presents come, Greetings.

As we embrace 2025, we are called to focus our hearts and minds on the theme: The Distinguished Life: Making a Difference Between Clean and Unclean & Strengthening the Foundations. Anchored in the sacred texts of Ezekiel 44:23 and Isaiah 58:12, this theme summons us to a deeper discernment of holiness and a renewed commitment to rebuilding the spiritual and moral foundations of our communities.

The charge to distinguish between clean and unclean is more than an Old Testament prescription; it is a spiritual mandate that reverberates in our daily lives. In a world filled with blurred moral lines and shifting cultural values, we are called to embody the wisdom of Ezekiel’s priests who taught the people to discern the sacred from the profane. This is a year for us to rise as holy examples, not only in our worship but in our decisions, relationships, and societal contributions. As a covenant body, let us recommit to a life marked by purity of heart, clarity of purpose, and a pursuit of righteousness that transforms the spaces we inhabit.

Isaiah 58:12 reminds us of our call to be “repairers of the breach” and “restorers of streets to dwell in.” This prophetic charge aligns seamlessly with our theme, urging us to strengthen the spiritual, relational, and institutional foundations that support our collective faith. In a time when the Church is challenged on every side, we must not retreat but rebuild—fortifying our worship, deepening our discipleship, and advocating for justice and mercy. This year, let every congregation, jurisdiction, and ministry within the Covenant take intentional steps to cultivate strongholds of faith that will endure for generations.

Moreover, living a distinguished life requires action, not mere contemplation. The International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches is uniquely positioned to exemplify this call, blending the liturgical depth of the ancient Church with the dynamic vitality of the Spirit-filled movement. Together, we can foster a culture of bold evangelism, intentional discipleship, and compassionate service that reflects the heart of God. May this year see us laboring side by side to bring Christ’s kingdom closer to our world, distinguishing ourselves as vessels of honor in His service.

As we celebrate this Epiphany, the manifestation of Christ to the world, let us recommit ourselves to reflecting His light wherever we go. Let us strive to make a difference, not for our own glory, but for the glory of the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and always.

For Christ and His Kingdom

The Mst. Rev. Christopher Bryant
Metropolitan Archbishop & Primate
The International Covenant of Pentecostal-Orthodox Churches

01/06/2025

On January 6th, Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany—a time to reflect on the manifestation of Christ to the nations, symbolized by the Magi’s visit to the Christ child. The word “Epiphany” means “showing” or “revelation,” marking the moment the Savior was revealed not only to Israel but also to the Gentiles.

As the Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they recognized Jesus as King, God, and Savior, embodying the global and timeless significance of His birth. This day invites us to consider how Christ reveals Himself to us and how we, as the Church, can reflect His light to the world.

Let us embrace the call of Epiphany: to honor Christ with our gifts and to live as witnesses of His grace and truth.

01/04/2025

🌟 Honoring the Saints in January: 🌟

As we enter the New Year, let us reflect on the lives of the saints and martyrs who have gone before us, bearing witness to God’s glory and faithfulness. Each of these holy men and women inspires us to live with boldness, devotion, and a steadfast commitment to Christ.

📜 January 1st: The Circumcision of Our Lord
We remember the obedience of Jesus’ earthly family and the significance of His Holy Name. Let this day remind us of the covenant God has made with His people.

📜 January 13th: Saint Hilary of Poitiers
A defender of the faith and a theologian who stood firm against heresy, Saint Hilary’s writings continue to encourage us to remain grounded in the truth of the Gospel.

📜 January 19th: Saint Wulfstan
Known for his humility and zeal, Saint Wulfstan reminds us that leadership in the Church is a call to servanthood and unwavering integrity.

📜 January 21st: Saint Agnes
A young martyr who gave her life for her faith, Saint Agnes challenges us to trust in the Lord’s strength, even in the face of adversity.

📜 January 22nd: Saint Vincent of Saragossa
This brave deacon bore unspeakable suffering for his faith, calling us to remain steadfast in times of trial.

📜 January 25th: The Conversion of Saint Paul
On this day, we celebrate the transformative power of God’s grace, as seen in the life of Paul, a persecutor turned apostle.

📜 January 30th: King Charles the Martyr
A controversial yet enduring figure, King Charles reminds us of the cost of standing firm in faith and the hope of eternal victory in Christ.

As we commemorate these holy lives, may we, too, strive to be faithful witnesses of Christ in the world. Their stories are not just history; they are living testimonies that echo into our lives today.

✝️ Let us be inspired to live boldly for Christ. ✝️