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Bishop Terence M. Sykes
Our Visionary and Establishmentarian
Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and the third son of five children to the late Vanderbilt T. and Ruth A. Turner-Sykes, Bishop Terence M. Sykes began his musical journey at the age of five and also gave his life to the Lord at an early age. He completed his early education in the Portsmouth Public School System and later added to what God had already given him by attending and completing further academic instruction at Norfolk State University in Norfolk. VA. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public School Music Education with a major in piano and a double minor in voice and organ. Bishop Sykes also has academic credits toward completing studies in a Master of Divinity at Beacon University in Columbus, GA. and is currently enrolled in the MDiv program at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.
In December 1980, Bishop Sykes was blessed of God to wed the former Shereé Smith of Lynchburg, Virginia. This God-ordained union has produced two fine offspring in the persons of Terence-Christian, who currently serves as the minister of music at Shekijah, and Jordan-Christopher. In October 2009, a beautiful granddaughter added joy to the Sykes family in the person of Zy'ona Symone Sykes.
After much personal struggle with what he knew God was speaking to him, Bishop Sykes accepted the call of God into the Ministry in 1983 and was licensed in 1984. In May of 1987, upon hearing the voice of God, he ventured out and established a non-denominational church called Shekijah Preparation Assembly. Shekijah in the Hebrew tongue, God had said, means, “I DWELL HERE!!!” Since that time, the church, as well as the ministry of Bishop Sykes, continues to grow and prosper and has become a place of healing and refreshing to many. The True Vine Churches of Deliverance, Inc. (Winston-Salem, NC), under the leadership of Apostle Sylvester Davis Johnson, consecrated him into the Bishopric in September 1997.
Within the ministry of Shekijah, as well as outside its walls, souls are being saved, added to the Body of Christ, delivered, and made free by the moving of the Lord Jesus Christ through the God-ordained ministry of this vessel of honor. In addition to the increase in souls, Bishop Sykes’ God-inspired leadership led Shekijah to construct a new worship edifice, in 1996, and a new dining hall in 2002, all to the glory of God.
Bishop Sykes has done revivals, workshops, concerts, seminars, and guest appearances alone, with his wife, and with his church, in a number of cities in the Continental United States, as well as internationally in the Islands of Nassau, Bahamas; Port au Spain, Trinidad; Port au Prince, Haiti; Sagamihara, Japan; London, England; Rome, Italy; Lagos, Nigeria, as well as travel to Johannesburg, South Africa. He has been featured on several album projects of which two were anointed albums featuring his church choir, “LEVITICUS”. He is the writer of two featured songs recorded by nationally acclaimed producer/song writer Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers (“Uzziah” and “And Yet, I’m Still Saved”) that has been performed on three of Lawrence’s projects including their farewell recording, Finale. Most recently, Bishop Sykes recorded his first L-I-V-E Solo Project entitled “Real Worship” at the Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church in Washington, DC where his pastor and apostolic covering, Archbishop Alfred A. Owens, along with Co-Pastor Susie Owens, minister.
In addition to being an accomplished musician, songwriter, and psalmist, Bishop Sykes is an anointed preacher and teacher of God’s Word. His gifts have truly made room for him. Along with his pastoral duties, he is also the Mt. Calvary Holy Church of America State Bishop of the Virginia District of the, which is headquartered in Washington, DC.
Bishop Terence M. Sykes has accomplished quite a lot when looking through natural eyes, but that which pleases him the most is what has been accomplished when looking through spiritual eyes. He is a born-again, baptized believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and is sold out and committed to his calling. His ultimate desire is to please the ONE for whom he lives and loves, His Majesty, King Jesus!