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Bishop Parnell M. Lovelace, Jr. serves as the founding and Senior Pastor of the Center of Praise Ministries of Sacramento, California.
He is described as an apostolic strategist, communicator, teacher, thinker, and progressive leader. He possesses a passion towards ministering the Word of God in a clear, provocative, and revelatory manner that is well received by all generations and cultural groups. The merging of his spiritual journey, and that of social science, has served to facilitate a ministry that reaches and embraces the disenfranchised, the poor, the youth, the elderly, and the marginalized.
Born March 29, 1962, in Montgomery, Alabama, the bishop is the son of the late Parnell M. Lovelace, Sr., and Eara E. Lovelace. He received his early spiritual training at the historic Shiloh Baptist Church, Sacramento, California. He confessed Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and was baptized in May 1970 by his father in the Gospel, Pastor Emeritus Willie P. Cooke.
Bishop Lovelace has been blessed to receive lifelong spiritual and academic mentorship through godly men and women; all of whom have marked his life with excellent tutelage and impartation.
The Bishop continues to be a sought after voice and counsel within the church and civic community. He has been the recipient of various awards, commendations, and recognitions. He has sought to excel academically and professionally by completing requirements that have earned him the following:
He was inducted into the prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers at Morehouse College on April 12, 2012; in honor of his profound commitment to Beloved World Community, ethically centered ministerial contributions, and his embrace of the prophetic traditions of Dr. King.
He is a published contributing author with the Great Commission Research Journal; an academic journal devoted to research and scholarly thinking on the perspective of church growth. He is a Senior Fellow (Class XV) with the American Leadership Forum, Mountain Valley Chapter.
He serves as the Vice President of the Global Outreach and Community Development, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also serves as the co-pastoral chair of the 2012 Luis Palau Sacramento Festival.
He is married to the love of his life, Dianna L. (Richardson) Lovelace of East Palo Alto, California. They are the parents of one son and care for their niece.
It is the privilege of our visionary leader to serve all; proclaiming Redemption, Justice, and Empowerment.
Dianna L. Lovelace (aka Lady Di) resides in Sacramento, California with her husband, Bishop Parnell M. Lovelace, Jr. She is the mother of one son and nurtures and cares for her niece.
Dianna is a very creative, motivational speaker. She has ministered at Women’s Conferences, Fellowships and Brunches. She is the CEO of the First Ladies Academy of Sacramento; a nurturing and developmental ministry for senior pastors’ wives. She is:
Lady Di, as she is affectionately called by many, has a contagious zest for life and a true excitement for the Word of God. As a speaker and teacher, she has an ability to balance exhortation and revelation from God’s Word with practical application. She calls this the "Just Do It" clause. Her approach is to be honest, vulnerable, and transparent with her audience.
Lady Di’s passion is to see people make a conscious effort to change from brokenness to wholeness, through the Word of God. She inspires and challenges you to first look inward and then upwards for God’s direction. One of her greatest objectives is to see people walk in the fullness of their gifts, calling and God-given dreams.