Bishop Tommy L. Simpson is the youngest of eight sons born to Robert and Florine Simpson, starting his ministry at the young age of 17 under the pastorate of Elder (Dr.) Harvey Jackson (his spiritual mentor) in Mound Bayou, Mississippi at the Lampton Street Church of Christ. He has received extensive ministerial training from great teachers of God’s Word like Reverend Wayne Anderson of the City of Refuge Christian Church in Aiea, Hawaii; Rev. (Dr.) Maxwell of the Independence Chapel in Fort Devens, Massachusetts and Chaplain Onerray Neal of Fort Hood, Texas.       

Bishop spent 22 years of military service in the United States Army as a Military Intelligence professional and serving in ministry under various military chaplains in a non-denominational capacity, while retaining his association with his ministerial upbringing in both the Baptist and Church of Christ faiths.  He declares himself to be Christian following an evangelical path for living his life for the Lord.

Throughout his career, he has served in many facets of ministry during his years of service to the Lord and was ordained in 1997 as he showed full proof of his calling.  He continued his growth in God’s Word and believes that the Bible is the Spirit of God in action.

He served as the Senior Pastor of the Kino Gospel Protestant Church service, Fort Huachuca, Arizona and guest minister of the Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for many years until God called him to start a new ministry.  Together with Pastor Rae, they endeavor to do what God has ordained them to do in the community, the nation, and the world. In 2004, he was led by the Holy Spirit to accept the mentoring of Bishop (Apostle) Nathaniel Holcomb & Pastor Valerie of the Christian House of Prayer (CHOP) and the Cathedral of Central Texas located in Killeen and Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a faithful Covenant Connection International (CCI) partner in this awesome organization. Embarking upon a destiny inspired by the Almighty God, Bishop accepted the move to open the doors of the New Jerusalem Community Church (NJCC) in Sierra Vista, AZ where he currently serves as the Senior Pastor and overseer (Bishop).  He has served as a dean of an international ministry and oversees several ministries under his bishopric.

Bishop is married to his “good thing” Pastor/1st Lady Rae Simpson, a native of Chicago, Illinois and together they are blessed with two lovely daughters, Keana and Ciarra (grandkids – Amaya and Ayden).  Bishop has two older daughters Jenecia (granddaughter Laela) and Nakia (granddaughters Saija and Wynter). Together, they endeavor to follow after God’s heart and to love as God loves, to see as God sees, and to live as God would want humanity to live.  The Scripture that drives him is, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31