“Live the life, share the message,

and show the love of Jesus Christ.”

Suffragan Bishop Brenda Lee Cuthbertson is a visionary, energetic, caring, and unassuming woman of integrity who serves as the Pastor of the Pentecostal Faith Assembly Church in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pa. She is the fourth child born out of eight children and was blessed to be raised by her paternal grandparents, the Late Deacon Emmanuel and Pastor Helen Campbell.

Under the leadership of her grandmother and Pastor, Bishop Cuthbertson received salvation and participated in the life of the church her grandmother pastored, serving as usher, pianist, choir director, Christian education teacher, church secretary, trustee, and associate minister. From her youth, she excelled both spiritually and academically.

Bishop Cuthbertson began preaching the gospel in 1970. Ministerial license and ordination courses were completed through Aenon Bible College. She was licensed with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (P.A. of W, Inc.) in 1975, ordained in 1993 as well as active on local, district, and state levels, serving the Youth and Women’s Department while serving her home ministry.

In 1993, after the passing of her grandmother and Pastor, Bishop Brenda Cuthbertson was elected by the congregation to be the succeeding Pastor of the Pentecostal Faith Assembly Church. Her innovative leadership resulted in the creation and development of a variety of new ministries, organizational restructuring, and integration of technologies that have enhanced the ministry. She has led the congregation through the construction of a new parking lot for the church, multiple sanctuary renovations, the set up a memorial prayer room, upper level multipurpose area, application of a new dining hall roof, and replacement of heating systems in both buildings. She is currently leading the congregation in a capital campaign to take the ministry to the next level of impact.

In the community, she has created, organized, and overseen multiple outreaches including: a “Feed and Share Ministry” that distributes bread, pastries, and other items weekly to the community residents and other organizations/churches for distribution; “The Tuesday Club” which is comprised of church members who work to complete outreach and improvement projects around the church; “Spring Open House” and “Fall Harvest Festival” which serve to introduce the leadership, ministries, and vision of the church to the community, as well as connect with people in the area; and most recently, launching a new online presence and mobile app – ways of staying connected, evangelizing, and providing opportunities to support the kingdom, that is relevant to the times.

Bishop Cuthbertson’s work has garnered praise and attention of and has been acknowledged by her organizational affiliation, making her a trailblazer for women in ministry. She has become the first in many capacities, particularly in the state of Pennsylvania – the 2 nd Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (PAW, Inc.):

• First woman 2nd Vice Chairperson elected of the Greater Pennsylvania State Council (GPSC)
• First woman District Elder appointed and consecrated in the GPSC (2000)
• First woman 1st Vice Chairperson elected of the GPSC
• First woman Suffragan Bishop appointed and consecrated in the GPSC (2013)
• First woman Chairperson elected of the GPSC

She has been reelected to each elected office.

Bishop Cuthbertson is a dynamic and well-sought after preacher and teacher, a trained vocalist, loves Do-It- Yourself (DIY) projects, and at times, is referred to as “Mrs. Home Depot.” She sits on several community/organizational boards, and has formally contributed to the development of solutions for community concerns. She is blessed to have her family working with and supporting her in ministry: Elder Fred Cuthbertson, Ministers Freda and Derrick Morrison, and Deacon Melanie Cuthbertson, who faithfully serve in various capacities to help forward the vision God has given to Bishop Cuthbertson. One of her favorite scriptures is, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God” (Psalms 42:1). This ministry that she leads is encouraged to “Live the life, share the message, and show the love of Jesus Christ.”