Suffragan Bishop Ira Combs, Jr.

Pastor/Founder, Greater Bible Way Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith

EMPLOYMENT

Suffragan Bishop Ira Combs, Jr., D.D., is currently the Founder & Pastor of the Greater Bible Way Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith in Jackson, Michigan; the Founder & Executive Director of Christ Centered Homes, Inc.; and President & Chairman of IRCO Housing Development, Inc. in Jackson, Michigan. Bishop Combs has held career positions with Xerox Corporation in Lansing, Michigan, American Bank and Trust Company in Lansing, Michigan, Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan and American Building Maintenance in Detroit, Michigan. Between 1985-1986, Primerica Insurance Company promoted Bishop Combs to District Manager after serving as the number one insurance sales leader in his region.

EDUCATION

In 2003, Bishop Combs, received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Aenon Bible College of Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1999, Bishop Combs received an Honorary Doctorate degree for his published work entitled “Until I Die – The Life of Bishop R.P. Paddock”. In 1991, he received a Bachelor’s of Theology degree from Indiana Bible College and studied finance at Oxford University in Oxford, England in 1995. Bishop Combs studied marketing for three and one-half years at Michigan State University from 1976-1979.

HONORS & ACTIVITIES

Bishop Combs was featured on the cover and as lead story in the May 2000 Jackson Magazine. He was included in the 1997-98 American Directory of “Who’s Who in Executive and Business”; the 1994 International “Who’s Who of Professionals in America”; the 1992-93 Marquis “Who’s Who in Religion”; and the 1990, 1992-93 Marquis “Who’s Who in the Midwest. In 1995, Bishop Combs received the YMCA Manny Fields Community Service Award and was elected in 1982 by the National Jaycees as “Outstanding Young Man of America”. The Michigan State University National Pan Hellenic gave Bishop Combs the “Outstanding Chairman” gavel award in 1977-79.

ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP

While at Michigan State University (M.S.U.), Bishop Combs was the Founder & President of the National Pan Hellenic Council. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Sigma Chapter, the A.S.M.S.U. Policy Committee, the Student Media Appropriation Board and a member of a $17,000,000 Fund Raising Committee for the Delores Wharton Performing Arts Center. In addition, Bishop Combs served as a Student Advisory Group representative from the National Pan Hellenic Council under the Edgar L. Hardin Administration (M.S.U. President).

ECCLESIASTICAL LEADERSHIP

Bishop Combs is a licensed and ordained minister carrying the title: Elder with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (P.A.W.) – the oldest and second largest Pentecostal organization in the world. He was elevated to the office of Suffragan Bishop in September 2001 and serves as a member of the Northern District Council Bishops Advisory Board. He served as Vice Chairman of the P.A.W. Northern District Council overseeing 120 churches throughout Michigan and Canada from 1998-2001. He is also a writer for the P.A.W. Christian Outlook Magazine – the official publication of the organization. Bishop Combs is the Ministerial Counselor for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and is an Advisory Board member for the Christian Action Network in St. Louis, Missouri (National Advisory Committee). Bishop Combs was recently asked to serve on the Board of Directors for the Aenon Bible College in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he serves as Director of Finance and Appropriations.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

With regard to community service, Bishop Combs is a member of the Board of Directors for Choices for Children, founded by Betsy and Dick DeVos. He is Chairman of the Community Service Committee of the Jackson Rotary Club/Rotary Foundation. Bishop Combs serves as co-sponsor along with Congressman Nick Smith, of President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative in Michigan and hosts the annual Michigan Faith-Based Summit. He has served on the Advisory Board of Starr Commonwealth in Albion, Michigan, is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, and previously served as Chairman of the Jackson Chapter NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet Committee, which raised $22,000 in contributions in less than six months. In 1996, Bishop Combs was a Jackson City Police Reserve officer and now serves as the Jackson City Police Chaplain.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & LEADERSHIP

Bishop Combs has been elected to serve on numerous professional boards and committees. He was re-appointed to a second term as a member of the State Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board by former Michigan Governor John Engler. He was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court and now serves on the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board. Bishop Combs is a member of the American Federal Credit Union Supervisory Committee ($120 million Credit Union/tri-county area). He was also appointed by former Jackson Mayor Betty Granger to serve as Human Relations Commissioner on the Jackson City Human Relations Commission (Ex-Officio). He was the first local chairman appointee of the Michigan Leadership Conference by State President and Founder, Joseph E. Madison. In addition, he has served on the Jackson-Hillsdale Community Mental Health’s Committee to Develop Fee for Service Contracts, as Chairman of the Jackson-Hillsdale Community Mental Health Problem Solving and Solution Committee, and as Chairman and Organizer of the Jackson Chapter Ad-Hoc Coalition on Fair Banking Practices. From 1991-92, Bishop Combs served as the President of the Michigan Housing Coalition C.R.A. Network.

POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS & LEADERSHIP

Bishop Combs served as Co-chair of the Jackson Area Committee to Re-Elect George W. Bush. He is Chairman of the Recruitment Committee of the Jackson Republican Party and serves as State Delegate for the Michigan Republican Party. Under the auspices of former Michigan Governor John Engler, Bishop Combs served on the National Exploratory Presidential Committee and became a Michigan Team Leader for the Presidential Campaign of President George W. Bush. He was appointed by the Honorable Congressman J.C. Watts to serve as a Steering Committee member of President George W. Bush’s “Faith Based Initiative.” He was also nominated by the Honorable Congressman Nick Smith to be the Michigan Representative for President George W. Bush’s Faith Based Initiative. Bishop Combs was a member of Governor John Engler’s Clergy Commission and Senator Philip Hoffman’s Cabinet Club, Congressman Nick Smith’s Cabinet Club and the Executive Committee of the Jackson Republican Party. Bishop Combs was Co-Campaign Chairman of the Jackson Region for Michigan Governor John Engler.