Reverend Preston O’Neal Jones Sr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 4, 1971 to the late Turner Jones and the late Vermell Jones. He is the youngest of seven children. He developed leadership skills at an early age. He was Drum Major for the Fortier High School Tarpon Marching Band.
Reverend Jones received his license to preach on April 1, 1994 at First Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church under the auspicious leadership of Pastor Ulyess D. Landry, Sr. While at First Mount Calvary, Pastor Landry placed Reverend Jones under the tutelage of the late Reverend Bennett Williams. Reverend Jones began to grow exponential in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. He began to teach Adult Sunday School and Adult Choir Bible Study. Pastor Landry and Chairman Deacon Raymond Lewis had the vision to sow in Reverend Jones' life by sending him to Union Baptist College and Theological Seminary, where he received a Bachelor of Theology on May 16, 2001.
After graduating from the Seminary, Pastor Landry placed Reverend Jones under study for ordination. On September 27, 2001, Reverend Jones was ordained by the Ideal Missionary Baptist and Educational Association. As the result, he received a solid foundation under the leadership of Pastor Landry. Reverend Jones was led by the Holy Spirit to transition and further cultivate under the leadership of the Honorable Pastor Rainey Daniels of the Plymouth Rock Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Jones developed significantly under the tutelage of Pastor Daniels.
While under Pastor Daniels, God blossomed the relationship between Reverend Jones and Bishop Noel Jones, his spiritual mentor, of the City of Refuge in Los Angeles, California.
In the fall of 2010, Bishop Jones invited Reverend Jones to preach at his 2011 Winter Revival in Los Angeles, California at the City of Refuge. Revered Jones’ Ministry blossomed greatly under the leadership of Bishop Jones.
On April 26, 2011 while in Chicago, Illinois, Bishop Jones and Reverend Jones were having a general conversation when God gave Bishop Jones a word of knowledge for Reverend Preston Jones, Sr. Bishop Jones asked him if he was pastoring and Revered Jones said “No.” Bishop Jones said that the Lord said, “You are about to.” Revered Jones began to disclose to Bishop Jones how God had showed him in a dream of men laying hands on his head, but the dream did not reveal when this transition would take place. On October 7, 2011 while in New York City, Reverend Jones was conversing with Bishop Jones once again about his ministry. Reverend Jones stated to Bishop Jones that he had been fasting and praying trying to hear a word from the Lord concerning his ministry. Bishop Jones looked at Reverend Jones and stated, “you have already heard from God, start looking for a building.” Reverend Jones returned from New York with only a vision.
When Reverend Jones returned to New Orleans, Louisiana, God immediately began to make provisions. He immediately began to disclose to Pastor Daniels the vision that God had given him. Pastor Daniels stated to Reverend Jones that God had revealed to him in a vision that Reverend Jones had to leave Plymouth Rock Missionary Baptist Church because God had great things in store for him and a great work for him to do.
On January 1, 2012, the City of Refuge Church-New Orleans was birthed. Reverend Preston Jones, Sr. became the Pastor of the City of Refuge Church-New Orleans.
Pastor Jones has also been actively engaged in the law enforcement community for almost twenty years. He has worked closely with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). In July 2013, three youths from the church attended the 1st ever FBI Teen Academy at the New Orleans FBI Field Office. God has given Pastor Jones a vision to rebuild and repair the relationship between African American males and law enforcement. He also has had the privilege of counseling officers and victims of violent crimes.
Pastor Jones is not only a dedicated Pastor to his congregation and a strong active, respective community leader, he is also divorced and the proud father of four wonderful children; Shardae Womack, who is the Executive Assistant to the pastor, Mikella Womack, Preston Jones, Jr., and Joshua Jones.
