On Sunday, June 1, 2025, a dear friend celebrated the seventh anniversary of her church, Bethel Restoration Church in District Heights, Maryland. The praise and worship service kicked off the evening of reflection and blessings with praise dancers, wearing purple, and included adults and young children too! They danced and praised the Lord, some with flags, and they kicked off the celebration in grand style. There was praise and worship singing which continued to usher in the Holy Spirit.
There were video congratulatory messages from nationally known preachers, like Archbishop Alfred Owens, the preacher and singer, Bishop Paul S. Morton Sr., who said “She is one of the chosen ones.” We heard from Bishop Bonnie Hunter, Bishop Greg Davis, Bishop Shawn L. Bell, Jonathan and Phyllis Anderson, father and pastor; Chairwoman Jeanelle Wilkins, chair of the Maryland Black Caucus, the largest in the country; we heard from Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Dr. Jamal L. Bryant, reminding us how the number 7 means completion. Finally, we heard from Bishop Jackie McCullough, Cynthia and Tony Brazelton, all offering Rev. Dr. Zina Pierre and Bethel Restoration Church heartfelt congratulations and asking the Lord to continue blessing this woman of God!
By the time we were ready to hear the guest preacher at the 4 p.m. worship celebration, Bishop Jason Brownlee, senior pastor of Life Changing Christian Center of Fort Washington, Maryland, the entire church was ready to worship. That man of God preached an unforgettable seventh anniversary message. His topic was “Help Is On The Way,” scripture was 1 Samuel 7:11-12. He had to take a station break to let folks run, jump, shout as he slayed them to the floor with the Word, giving hope to all who will proclaim His righteousness! He prophesied and singled folks out. It was a miraculous service.
Bethel Restoration Church moved to this new location in District Heights, Maryland, in February of this year, 2025. The first in-person worship service was held there on Feb. 2, 2025. Worship services are held each Sunday at 10 a.m. for 90 minutes of worship and the Word. They host Friday night Prophetic Encounter Services every month at 7:30 p.m. as well.
Dr. Zina Pierre and her faithful congregation worshiped previously from a hotel room. God is truly good, because Bethel Restoration Church has graduated, they are worshipping in a beautiful church on Marlboro Pike. They have been in temporary spaces for more than six years. God opened this door in December of 2024. Though the church and senior pastor are delighted to be in this lovely, new facility, they are still working to buy their very own building. In the meantime, God is good, and Pastor Zina and her congregation are worshiping and enjoying the Lord until their next change comes!
Dr. Zina said, “I’m also working on launching an Intergenerational Day Center that would house kids and seniors under one roof.” This “Woman of God” is a friend, and God continues to bless her because of her anointing and obedience!
In case you don’t know Dr. Zina, she has worked her way up through the ranks over the years! Bethel Restoration Church is a spinoff of her national prayer ministry, it was called “The Breaking Room,” which was a virtual prayer and worship group. It also had an annual in-person event called the IGNITE Conference; I know, because she promoted her conference from my radio show, and I have promos to prove it.
I’m not finished telling you about Rev. Dr. Zina Pierre yet! Prior to her IGNITE Conference, Dr. Zina was called to host a television show out of Detroit. More about that show next time, but she had nationally known guests, talking about the goodness of the Lord, blessing folks across the nation!
She practices what she preaches. Her bio is one of great political influence, having been appointed to serve as a presidential appointee. Let’s take a look at some of her previous work, plus there is much more to share with you about her religious upbringing.
Zina Pierre, Ph.D., is founding president and CEO of Reyarp Strategies Group, LLC (RSG). Reyarp Strategies provides lobbying, advocacy, development of public policy, and workforce training and development. She is also managing partner of Quora Alkaline Water bottling company with customers including 7-Eleven, Royal Farms Convenience Stores and numerous hotels in the DMV.
Dr. Pierre has worked in the national political arena for more than 30 years advising and developing strategic outreach engagement and public/private partnership plans for national unions, civil rights organizations like the NAACP, and political organizations including the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and adviser to presidential campaigns. In addition, she has worked on dual sides of the aisle with congressional, state and local elected officials drafting policies and building alliances between the government and private sector. Dr. Pierre has also developed training and development frameworks for the District of Columbia Departments of Forensic Sciences and the D.C. Health Benefit Exchange Authority. In 2016, she served as the former national director for African American Faith Outreach for former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Dr. Pierre’s work as a public servant began in 1993 in the Clinton administration, with her last administration assignment in the White House as a commissioned officer in the position of special assistant to the president for Intergovernmental Affairs in the Executive Office of President Bill Clinton. In that role, she served as President Clinton’s liaison to the nation’s state legislators, mayors and county officials. Prior to the White House, she served as a political appointee in several federal agencies including OPM, the Department of Labor, and SBA. Before her career in politics, Dr. Pierre spent 10 years in television working for Fox 5 D.C., News Channel 8, USA Today Show, “America’s Most Wanted” and Sports News Network.
Dr. Pierre has served on numerous boards including the National Council of Negro Women, Greater Washington Urban League, Board of Visitors for Lincoln University, The White House Project, the Ms. Foundation and many more. She currently serves as president of the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation representing the largest group of Black state legislators in the country. She received her undergraduate degree in Communications from Catholic University and Ph.D. in Religious Philosophy. She is a John Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member.
I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the House of the Lord. Thank you for inviting me to your seventh anniversary Worship Service, my friend, Rev. Dr. Zina Pierre. May God continue to bless you, and may Heaven smile upon you!
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, go to her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on X @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.
Great article on Dr. Zina Pierre