Pastor R. A. Vernon is arguably one of the greatest spiritual leaders of our time. Armed with the Word of God, this business-savvy author and visionary is determined to make his mark for the Kingdom of God. He has an irrefutable anointing on his life to meet people where they are—whether rich or poor, young or seasoned, educated or uneducated, businessman or ex-con, Pastor Vernon is called to minister to people from all walks of life and especially to those who have never met Christ.

The scope of Pastor Vernon’s career landscape stretches beyond his pastoral call and he is known for his uncompromising integrity. He is a trailblazer and trendsetter, challenging the notions of tradition by focusing on relevancy rather than routine and doing “out-of-the-box” kingdom ministry. He is paving the way for others to break the boundaries of convention through his bold, frank delivery of the Word of God and willingness to talk about the tough subjects that are often left unaddressed.

Holy, humble, hungry and driven by his passion to give back and serve others, Pastor Vernon continues to make extraordinary strides in ministry and business. With over 20 years in ministry and over a decade in the pastorate, he is well-respected among both his contemporaries and congregation for his commitment to integrity and holiness, and continues to establish himself as one of the most influential leaders in the nation.

Under Pastor Vernon’s direction, “THE WORD” Church developed a for-profit company called “THE WORD” In Action, which operates a skating rink, restaurant, fitness center, pool hall, three full basketball courts, and two soccer fields.

With a culturally diverse congregation that consists of people from all socio-economic classes, Pastor Vernon is committed to unreserved outreach, the economic empowerment of the impoverished, and the holistic improvement of the determined. He founded “THE WORD” Church on love, truth and veracity. As a result, "THE WORD" Church has become one of the fastest growing churches in the region. In less than a decade, the church has experienced remarkable growth, as thousands have given their life to Christ, or recommitted their lives to Him as a result of joining with “THE WORD” Church.

Pastor Vernon has his undergraduate degree in theology with a concentration in Black Church Studies from Ashland University. He holds a Master of Arts in Practical Theology from Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS) and is currently a doctoral student at ATS. Pastor Vernon is honored to be married to First Lady Victory Vernon. Lady Vernon is the Director of Women's Ministry at "THE WORD" Church and they have five wonderful children.