Rev. Jeraldine Pratt

Rev. Jeraldine Pratt is an Ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Zion Church’s California Conference and serves as a Conference Evangelist. She also serves on the Ministerial Staff at her church.

Rev. Pratt has ministered in the field of Christian Education for 43 years. For many years, she served at her church in San Francisco, in positions ranging from Sunday School Teacher to the Director of the Christian Education Department. As director, Rev. Pratt developed and implemented an intense training curriculum, to equip the local body. The first stage, “Plan of Salvation”, which is an 8-week course, was taught to all the officers and most of the members. Moreover, this class was also taught as a two-part workshop to the Bay Cities District’s (BCD) Christian Educators, ministers, and pastors.

At the Conference level, Rev. Pratt was appointed by the presiding bishop, as the BCD Director of Children, to equip the children’s directors in each church. She was also appointed to the Conference Board of Christian Education and the Board of Evangelism. In 2006, Rev. Pratt was appointed the BCD Christian Education Director of Adults, to equip the adult directors.

Due to an injury, Rev. Pratt began worshipping at a church closer to her home, in December 1999. She accepted the call of God on her life to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in February 2003. On March 30, 2003, she preached her trial sermon. Then, on June 3, 2003, Rev. Pratt graduated from Shiloh Bible College in Oakland, CA, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Theology.

From that point, Rev. Pratt was called on to cover the pulpit and to preach for Pastors of different denominations when they were away. She has also been the speaker for Women’s Day and Women’s Missionary Programs; and the Workshop Leader for many, many Christian Education Workshops, Singles Conferences, and Women’s Retreats in the Northern and Southeastern portions of California. Rev. Pratt has served as the Praise and Worship Leader and Workshop Leader for the Free In Jesus Women’s Annual Retreats in the Southern California mountains. She was also privileged to serve as the Keynote Speaker several times for the Free In Jesus Annual Anniversary Prayer Breakfast.

In January 2004, Rev. Pratt noticed that the youth were not active. As a result, she began a monthly Youth Fellowship, with Bible Study, Youth Council Meetings, Praise Team Rehearsal, food, and fun. Later, she was appointed as the Minister of Christian Education, with the duty to select and equip the directors to serve each year, according to their job descriptions and to meet monthly to report on the department’s plans and progress.

Regarding ordinations, the Presiding Bishop in the A.M.E. Zion Church ordained Rev. Pratt as a deacon on October 22, 2005, and as an elder on October 19, 2007.

In addition, Rev. Pratt began ministering at Kaiser Hospital, in Vallejo, as an Associate Chaplain, in August 2006. As a chaplain, she provided prayer support and comfort care to patients and families in ICU and on the 6th and 7th floor. She also responded to calls on the Spiritual Care Hotline from throughout the hospital and serve holy communion to anyone who requested it. Rev. Pratt also assisted in the training of a new chaplain. She also provided backup support for Rev. Dr. Amanda Tull, the Head Chaplain, when she was out of town. Rev. Pratt had to step down from the duties of Assoc. Chaplain in November 2008, due to a severe injury which prevented her from continuing to serve.

In September 2011, Rev. Pratt began the Disciples in Training YHVH Students (DITYS) Class, each Sunday Morning during the Sunday School hour, to change the mindset that Sunday School isn’t only for children. It is for “disciples” of Jesus. Those who are learners of the ONE they follow.

In February 2014, Rev. Pratt, began a weekly Worship Service at the Oakwood Senior Home, in Vallejo, where she ministered, taught the word of God, and served Holy Communion, until March 2020, when COVID hit.

She also began a War Room Prayer Ministry, at her church, in October 2015. This ministry gathers on Wednesday evenings to interceder over the prayer requests and more importantly, whenever a prayer request is received, their 911 prayer team begins to offer prayers immediately. Thankfully, this team has gotten stronger during COVID, and continues to serve the masses during this time.

For the past 41 years, Rev. Pratt has walked closely with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the love of her life, and she is committed to walking In His Steps!

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow In His Steps.” 1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)