Dr. Avery E. Brown, Jr.
Whitehead Cathedral Church
Saints City Church
Life Changers Ministry Church of God In Christ
Dr. Avery E. Brown, Jr.
A native of Metro-Detroit, Dr. Avery E. Brown, Jr. is a distinguished pastor, clinician, and executive leader dedicated to spiritual and social empowerment. He holds a PhD in Clinical Counseling from Northwestern and a Doctor of Ministry from Andersonville Theological Seminary. His academic foundation also includes a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University.
Currently, Dr. Brown serves as the Director of Correctional Health for Cherry Health Services, Inc., where he oversees all Federal Bureau of Prisons Reentry Centers across Michigan’s Eastern and Western Districts. His diverse professional background includes roles as an educator within the River Rouge Public School District, psychotherapist, and director within both the juvenile and adult justice systems.
Through the guidance of his grandfather, the late Supt. Willis Logwood, Sr., and his father-in-love, Bishop James L. Whitehead, Jr., Dr. Brown has worked in nearly every area of the church.
With a lifelong commitment to the church, Dr. Brown served as Youth Pastor at Saints City and Whitehead Memorial COGIC for over 15 years, where he founded Valor and Virtue University to empower youth spiritually and professionally. In 2015, under the tutelage of Bishop Whitehead, Dr. Brown successfully founded Life Changers Ministry (COGIC), and in 2022, was appointed by and accepted the mantle of ministry from Bishop James L. Whitehead, Jr., becoming the Pastor of his mother churches—the Historic Whitehead Memorial and Saints City COGIC.
Dr. Brown holds significant national and jurisdictional leadership roles within the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). Nationally, he serves as Vice-President of the O.T. Jones Training Institute and Dean of the National Adjutancy Academy. He is a contributing writer for the Expository Sunday School Commentary and the Men Perfecting Men’s Manual. Jurisdictionally, he serves as Superintendent, Jurisdictional Chief Adjutant, Jurisdictional Secretary, and Administrative Assistant.
Dr. Brown is an active member of the American Psychological Association, American Association of Christian Counselors, and the National Board of Certified Counselors. He was born to the late Avery E. Brown, Sr. and Evangelist Elizabeth James and has been happily married to Evangelist Gwen L. Brown for over 30 years. They are the proud parents of Jullian (Emma) and Alana Gabrielle, and the doting grandparents of Brooklyn and London.
First Lady Gwen L. Brown
Whitehead Cathedral Church
Saints City Church
Life Changers Ministry Church of God In Christ
First Lady Gwen L. Brown
First Lady Gwen L. Brown is a native of Detroit, MI. She is the oldest child of the late Bishop James L. Whitehead, Jr. and Lady Mollie Whitehead. She is a graduate of Davenport University with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Business Administration—Human Resource Management and a Master of Science degree in Public Health with a concentration in Public Policy and Leadership from Capella University respectively. She is employed at The University of Michigan in the Office of the Provost – Center for Innovation in Detroit as an Administrative Partner to an Executive Officer of the University. First Lady has an extensive background in organizational leadership, project management, and strategy.
First Lady G (as she’s affectionately called) comes from a rich spiritual heritage being nurtured by her grandparents who were pioneers/trailblazers of the Church of God in Christ.
Her grandfather, the late Superintendent James L. Whitehead, Sr., served as the first Minister of Music for the Michigan Southwest Jurisdiction under the leadership of Bishop John Seth Bailey. Her grandmother served as the International President of the Purity Class, “Ms. Purity” herself the late Evangelist Ella Barbara Whitehead. Her father was the Jurisdictional Prelate of Michigan Southwest Second Jurisdiction, Editor of the Young People Willing Workers Topic (YPWW) & Sunday School material in addition to being the reviewer of all educational and doctrinal literature distributed under the Church of God in Christ.
First Lady G has been married to Dr. Avery E. Brown, Jr. for 30 plus years and the mother of two children, Jullian Bishop, daughter in love – Emma, and Alana Gabrielle. First Lady Brown serves her local churches as; Chief Operating Officer, Executive Board Member, Women’s and Outreach Ministry Leader, Intercessory Team, and Overseer of the Music Ministry. Jurisdictionally she served as District Missionary of the Kingdom Fellowship District and lead armor bearer to Lady Mollie Whitehead.
First Lady Gwen Brown’s heart is to serve the Lord and see lives transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ—bringing people together in the Father’s love, empowering them through the Holy Spirit, and helping them discover their place in God’s family while walking in their purpose and destiny on earth.