Our Present

Pastor Derrick Farmer

Suffragan Bishop Derrick Farmer, DD, a dedicated, service oriented, inspiring visionary, was born to Deacon Willie and the late Missionary Betty Farmer in Bronx, New York and was raised in Brooklyn and in Queens.  At the age of 15, Suffragan Bishop Farmer gave his life to the Lord and was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost at Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Temple, Inc., in Ohio, pastored then by the Honorable Bishop Paul A. Bowers.  After which, he became a faithful member of Christ Pentecostal Temple, Inc. in New York. At the age of 18, Suffragan Bishop Farmer was called into the ministry; and under the leadership and tutelage of the late Suffragan Bishop Marion Lockett, he was ordained to the office of Elder in 1993. To further his ministry studies, he attended Somerset Christian College in New Jersey, Bethel Bible Institute in Queens, New York and the Aenon Bible College in Indianapolis, IN, where he earned his pastorate license. 


On August 10, 2004, Suffragan Bishop Derrick Farmer was ordained as the Pastor of Christ Pentecostal Temple, Inc. Upon receiving this honor and mission, Pastor Farmer, empowered by the Lord and with the fervent support of the members of Christ Pentecostal Temple, completed construction projects of the church that began under the direction of the late Suffragan Bishop Marion Lockett.  Also, in 2009, under his expert leadership, the interior of the church was renovated without the expenditure of borrowed money. The church’s membership is steadily increasing. To God be the glory!


Pastor Farmer served on the Evangelism team for the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World for over 15 years.  He served as the General Secretary for the New York State District Council of the PAW for 9 years. In 2009, he was elevated to the office of District Elder.  In June 2011, he was elevated to the office of Suffragan Bishop serving the Eastern Caribbean Council of Nations under the leadership of Bishop Leo Smith. In February of 2013, Suffragan Bishop Farmer was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Saint Thomas Christian College.


Suffragan Bishop Farmer is married to Elect Lady Janice Farmer, a dedicated, loving and God-fearing woman.  He is father to Monique S. Wright and Derrick D. Farmer of New Jersey. He is also the grandfather of Layla Wright, Loriell Wright and Ethan Farmer.


Suffragan Bishop Derrick Farmer has a vision to win his community, one block at a time, for the kingdom of God.  With the help of the Lord, it is done.


Our history

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things to advance His kingdom.  It was God who impressed upon Sis. Maude Ford to start a work in her home at 16 W 136th Street, New York City in 1920.  She diligently took heed to the Lord’s calling to establish a cell ministry. The Lord led Sis. Ford to Jamaica, Queens to hold services.  In July 1925 an open air meeting was started.  Service was later held in the basement of her home located at 157-01 110th Avenue.  God further blessed and the garage adjacent to the house was dedicated on March 7th, 1926 as Gospel Truth Tabernacle. In April 1931 the church was incorporated and the name changed to Christ Pentecostal Temple, Inc.  In 1931 the church moved back to the first floor of her home for larger quarters.


The Lord entrusted Pastor Ford with great faith and the gift of healing by the laying on of hands.  Many people were drawn to Christ because they were healed from the laying on of hands. The church continued to grow and a larger sanctuary was needed.  Pastor Ford (also known as Mother Ford) fasted and prayed for forty days and forty nights, knowing that although it would be a major undertaking there was nothing too hard for the God that she served, and so the ground was broken for the new sanctuary, and the construction began.  The construction was stalled as a result of financial problems, and sacrifices were made by Pastor Ford, the church and her family who mortgaged their property, and the church construction continued.  Before the completion in 1950, the construction was stalled again.  Pastor Ford and the church continued to fervently pray.  As a result of their faith, God’s favor caused a businessman, with no connection to the church or the community to notice that the construction had stopped and donated the money to complete the sanctuary.


She continued to follow the Lord’s leading and in 1969, she passed the mantle of shepherding on to Elder Marion Lockett as Pastor.


Pastor Lockett took the mantle and began to seek the mind of God concerning the vision for the church.  He saw the opportunity to enlarge the church’s territories.  Properties were acquired from the Blackman family on behalf of the church.  The premise of 157-01 110th Ave., and 109-47 157th Street along with the garage where the service was originally held, were purchased by the church.  Pastor Locket also negotiated the purchase of the parsonage adjacent to the church 109-39 157th Street, Jamaica, NY.  Pastor Lockett, affectionately known as “Pop Lockett” was successful in enlarging the territories of the church.  He envisioned the church by the railroad tracks as a Lighthouse, a Soul Saving Station.  It was Pastor Lockett’s desire to pass the mantle on to one of his sons in the Gospel who labored alongside him.  After his death, one year later, the mantle was passed on to Elder Derrick Farmer, one of his sons in the Gospel.


God is not slack concerning His promises.  On August 10, 2004, Suffragan Bishop Derrick Farmer received the mantle with joy and was ordained as the Pastor of Christ Pentecostal Temple, Inc.  Upon receiving this honor and mission, Suffragan Bishop Farmer, empowered by the Lord and with the fervent support of the board and members of Christ Pentecostal Temple, completed the construction of the front of the church that began under the leadership of the late Suffragan Bishop Marion Lockett.  Also in 2009, Suffragan Bishop Farmer led in the restoration of the interior of the sanctuary along with then Board Chairman, the late Deacon Fred Walthour who was the project manager.    The renovated sanctuary included the rostrum, handcrafted pews, golden chandeliers, podium, televisions, a structurally sound baptismal pool, and a state-of-the-art sound system.  Under his expert leadership, the church was able to complete the renovation without the expenditure of borrowed capital.


Suffragan Bishop Farmer revitalized and gave energy to different ministries in the church.  He rededicated the deacons and deaconesses and gave them charge of becoming more socially responsive to the needs of the community and the church body.  His love for souls led him to create an annual Harvest Fest, a soul winning community outreach mission.  In 2008, with the members of Christ Pentecostal Temple, he took Baisley Pond Park in Queens, New York by storm.  They handed out tracts, sang songs of praise and witnessed to men and women.  The entire month of May was dedicated to reaching out to the community. It was a huge success and victory for the kingdom of God with over 100 souls turning their lives to Christ.


The legacy of Pastor Maude Ford resounds vibrantly. The vision has expanded! With the Lord’s help, Suffragan Bishop Farmer endeavors to do more in the community. The Lord has impressed upon him to further enlarge the territory of the church by building a multi-purpose center.  This audacious goal requires the church body to step out on faith and prove God faithful to see this vision come to fruition.  With the Lord’s help, it is done.  Suffragan Bishop Farmer has held fast to the legacy that was left to this church – a faith walk intertwined in prayer and supplication.