Reverend Ruth A. Harley-Boyd
Reverend Ruth A. Harley-Boyd was the fifth child born to the late Reverend Denvil and Dr. Adeline Harley. Her parents were both former pastors of the Shiloh Pentecostal Church in Somerville, New Jersey. Shiloh was founded by her grandmother, the late Reverend Ruth A. Brown. Thus, she grew to love the Lord during her younger years and was filled with the Holy Spirit at age eleven.
Ruth was called by God to preach His Word at the age of 12. It was at that time she began singing the Lord’s praises with the Shiloh Pentecostal Church Choir. Her first solo performance with the Choir was in New Brunswick, N. J. under the direction of the late Bishop Charles Watkins of Cleveland, Ohio.
There was a struggle within her to accept this call on her life to preach God’s Word, but she knew during the year of 1972 that she was also ‘chosen’. She accepted God’s call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was ordained a Reverend at Shiloh on June 21,1975 by her mother and Pastor, the late Dr. Adeline Harley. Her commitment, faithfulness and dedication to Shiloh was evidenced by the many offices and ministries she led. She was a teacher, preacher, church secretary, financial records administrator, assistant treasurer, Minister of Music, Praise & Worship Team Leader, Young Adult Choir Director & Leader, advisor to the Youth Ministry & Music Ministry, and SPC Choir President. She organized the first Music Workshop at Shiloh and was responsible for the formal training of the entire Music Ministry. This training encompassed the creation and publication of Praise & Worship handbooks, as well as, all teaching materials for all disciplines of the choir. Sister Ruth (as she prefers to be called) was an Associate Minister at Shiloh Pentecostal Church until God birthed within her Zion ‘Tabernacle of Praise’ in July 1999.
Ruth was called by God to preach His Word at the age of 12. It was at that time she began singing the Lord’s praises with the Shiloh Pentecostal Church Choir. Her first solo performance with the Choir was in New Brunswick, N. J. under the direction of the late Bishop Charles Watkins of Cleveland, Ohio.
There was a struggle within her to accept this call on her life to preach God’s Word, but she knew during the year of 1972 that she was also ‘chosen’. She accepted God’s call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was ordained a Reverend at Shiloh on June 21,1975 by her mother and Pastor, the late Dr. Adeline Harley. Her commitment, faithfulness and dedication to Shiloh was evidenced by the many offices and ministries she led. She was a teacher, preacher, church secretary, financial records administrator, assistant treasurer, Minister of Music, Praise & Worship Team Leader, Young Adult Choir Director & Leader, advisor to the Youth Ministry & Music Ministry, and SPC Choir President. She organized the first Music Workshop at Shiloh and was responsible for the formal training of the entire Music Ministry. This training encompassed the creation and publication of Praise & Worship handbooks, as well as, all teaching materials for all disciplines of the choir. Sister Ruth (as she prefers to be called) was an Associate Minister at Shiloh Pentecostal Church until God birthed within her Zion ‘Tabernacle of Praise’ in July 1999.
Answering God's call...
Sister Ruth was ordained and installed as Pastor of Zion ‘Tabernacle of Praise’, Inc. on November 4, 2000 by Bishop Donald Rudolph, Jr., Pastor of New Life Worship Center in Chester New York. She follows in the footsteps of her late grandmother, Pastor Ruth A. Brown who founded Shiloh Pentecostal Church in Somerville New Jersey. So, it’s no wonder that God would use her in this capacity at some point in her life; grandmother, father, mother and sister were all pastors!
On a personal note, Sister Ruth has been married to Johnnie L. Boyd, a retired State of New Jersey Corrections Lieutenant, for thirty-seven years. She has been blessed to receive a wealth of theological training and knowledge. Her greatest influence and Spiritual deposit, however, was received from her parents. She holds degrees in Computer Science, but the wisdom and knowledge she has received and is constantly receiving by studying the Word of God is far more important and lasting. She graduated from True Disciple Bible Institute in June 2002 at which time she also received teaching certification from Evangelical Training Association (ETA). Although her religious studies are ongoing, Sister Ruth’s main goal is to continue preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ; telling the world that “LOVE (for GOD IS LOVE) NEVER FAILS.”
On a personal note, Sister Ruth has been married to Johnnie L. Boyd, a retired State of New Jersey Corrections Lieutenant, for thirty-seven years. She has been blessed to receive a wealth of theological training and knowledge. Her greatest influence and Spiritual deposit, however, was received from her parents. She holds degrees in Computer Science, but the wisdom and knowledge she has received and is constantly receiving by studying the Word of God is far more important and lasting. She graduated from True Disciple Bible Institute in June 2002 at which time she also received teaching certification from Evangelical Training Association (ETA). Although her religious studies are ongoing, Sister Ruth’s main goal is to continue preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ; telling the world that “LOVE (for GOD IS LOVE) NEVER FAILS.”