Rohan Spencer was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He was called to God from an early age as shown in him receiving the Holy Spirit through baptism at 12 years old at the New Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church. He later became a member of the Old Harbor Seventh-day Adventist Church. It was there his call to ministry began to unfold as a trained and certified Bible Instructor at the 14 years old.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Jamaica. Sensing the need to diversify professional ministry skills, he completed a Master of Education in School Counseling at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. Still feeling the need to be of greater service to God and his people, he completed advance graduate study in Mental Health Counseling at the Alfred University, New York. Undoubtedly, Pastor Spencer is indeed a lifelong leaner as shown in his current pursual of a PHD at the Montemorelos University in Mexico.
Pastor Spencer comes to the Bethesda Church with over 18 years of ministry experience as a Servant, Pastor, Evangelist and Church Planter. His ministry started with the Central Jamaica Conference in 2004, where there served over 27 congregations (including two church plants) within four pastoral districts over a seven-year span. He has served the Bog Walk, Linstead, Palm, Comfort Hall, and Central Village Districts in the parish of Catherine.
After migrating to New York in 2012, and participating in several public evangelistic campaigns during NY13, the Northeastern Conference Leadership extended a call for him to join the band of Gospel Workers as Associate Minister for the historic Hanson Place Church in Brooklyn. Two years into his journey, he was assigned to the Jamaica Church in Queens where God blessed his ministry in the areas of evangelism, church planting and capital development. Pastor Spencer has organized several evangelistic campaigns that has yielded two Church Plants, the Queens South Asian Fellowship and the City Mission.
Working as a Behavioral Support & Intervention specialist, Pastor Spencer fulfilled another lifelong passion of empowering youth, especially boys, to resist gang violence and substance abuse. Feeling the need to further impact youth at the high school level, in the last two years, expanded his reach to this area and has received remarkable positive responses from his mentees. He pursued studies with Project Lead the Way as an Engineering Technology Career Technical Education facilitator. In this program, he helps to nurture students innovative and creative engineering mindsets with the goal of getting more students of color to pursue careers in the STEM fields.
Pastor Spencer shares ministry with the lovely, charming and beautiful Lady Mauricia Cassanova-Spencer. She hails from the cool celebrious community of Mandeville, Manchester in Jamaica West Indies. She has been a High School Mathematics educator with the New York City Department of Education for over 15 years.
She was educated at the Church Teachers College where she completed studies as a Math & Physical Education. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Education from Brooklyn College, a Master of Science in Special Education from Touro College, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from College of St. Rose. Her licensure credentials include, professional teacher, special education leader and building leader. Her leadership responsibilities include:
- Lead Mathematics Teacher
- Coordinator for Gateway Math & Science Institute
- Coordinator for Academic Testing & Assessment
The couple shares three children including Kayla Abbi who attends the Longwood Junior High School where she excels as a Scholar in reading, math, science, and the arts. She plays thus far three instruments: piano, violin and the cello.
Kai John is 4 ½ year old curious biomedical engineer that is fascinated with the physiology of the human anatomy and its processes and chemical functions.
Kaz Worth is two years old construction engineer that likes to build, explore heights, navigate challenging terrains.
Guiding Text: Proverb 4:18 “
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
Personal Mantra: “Habor No Hindrance on your Way to Glory”