Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. D.D., a native of Bridgeport, CT. He was the fourth child born to the late Doris Jackson and Matthew Moales, Sr. on September 21, 1945. He was a graduate of Warren Harding High School, Norwalk Community College and an alumnus of the Nyack Alliance College, as well as, the University of Bridgeport. He received the "Honoris Causa" Doctor of Divinity Degree (D.D.) from The Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops Congress of Cleveland, Ohio in Rome 2004. In the same year, Saint Thomas Christian College of Jacksonville, Florida, conferred the same honor. He was the founding pastor of the Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love, Inc. /Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bridgeport, Connecticut for 42 years. He was a renowned gospel artist and preacher throughout the United States and abroad. In his local community, Bishop Moales was the CEO of Kingdom's Little Ones Christian Daycare and Love Christian Academy School. He served two terms 1999 - 2002 as President of the Inter-denominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Bridgeport and Vicinity, Inc. He is a member of the Bridgeport Clergy Association; Ralphola Taylor Community Center - YMCA of Bridgeport Board Member, Regional Advisory Council member for Housatonic Community College and a support to the Mayor's cabinet. He served as a sixth term fire commissioner, A Mayoral appointee to the Charter Revision Committee for Bridgeport, Connecticut. Bishop Moales received numerous citations and awards. In 1993 he succeeded the Father of Gospel Music, Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey, as President of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, Inc., which celebrated 77 Years of Gospel Music Ministry in Orlando, FL August 2010. Bishop Moales served as a Historical Consultant for the 100th Birthday Celebration of Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey for the Lincoln Center Festival of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at Avery Fisher Hall. He has been a lecturer at the American Museum of Natural History in celebrating "The Life and Legacy of Thomas A. Dorsey", a member of the Advisory Board for Gospel Today Magazine, a member of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., Executive Board Member of Hampton University Ministers Conference and a member of the Board of Directors for The Gospel Complex for Education and Preservation. In 1995 he was consecrated and installed as Presiding Prelate of the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ. His episcopacy serves the states of Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. Bishop serves on the Executive Board of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops. He leaves to cherish his wife of 43 Years, Peggy A. Moales, his three children, Kenya (Shawn), Kenneth (Ena) and Kenee (Rashid) and 12 grandchildren, Damynicque, Rajane', Chelsea, Kenneth III, Shaka, Lazarus, Renease, Simone, Chad, Chloe, Rania, Benjamin and a great-grandson Keith; four brothers, Matthew Jr., Robert, Hamilton and Timothy, one sister, Mary Williams. He was predeceased by his mother, Doris, father Matthew Sr., and brother William.

Published in Connecticut Post on Sept. 24, 2010