Personal Background
• Fifth of 8 children born to Elder Chester and the late Beatrice Dickerson
• Raised in a Christian home
• Saved at age 17
• Married to the former Sonjia Blumenberg, August 1982
• Father of three children, Kevin II, Cherese, and Faith
  
  Education/Professional Background
• Earned B.S. in Accounting, Chicago State University
• Held various staff and management positions in Accounting and Auditing for CPA firms and Fortune 500 corporations
• Member of the Joint College of Bishops, February 2000 – present and has received annual Overseer training and development for the last 7 years
• Earned Master of Theological Studies; Vision International University
• Earned Doctor of Ministry, Vision International University Ministerial
  
  Background
• Called to the ministry in 1985, Cross Temple COGIC, Chicago, Illinois under the late Bishop Moses Cross, Sr.
• Ordained Elder, COGIC 1987, 5th Jurisdiction, Chicago, Illinois
• Served as Elder, Abundant Life COGIC 1987-1994, Dallas, Texas under the late Dr. E.L. Battles
• Founded Dayspring Family Church, July 1994

February 10, 2007 was a historic day in the life of Pastor Kevin Dickerson. Several years ago our Pastor began to feel the leading of the Holy Spirit to be a Pastor to Pastors. He began to mentor and train Pastors from all over the DFW Metroplex, challenging them to be accountable and faithful to both their ministerial call and families. On February 10th that relationship was formalized through the establishment of the Vision Fellowship Of Churches. This group of churches will work together to make an impact on our communities and beyond.

Pastor Dickerson’s Spiritual Father, Bishop Jesse Ellis who is the President of the Joint College Of Pentecostal African American Bishops was present for this event. With the Dayspring Family Church Ministers looking on, the Pastors of the Vision Fellowship acknowledged Pastor Dickerson as their spiritual father and desired that he be the Bishop of the newly founded Vision Fellowship of Churches. What is a Bishop? A Bishop is a Pastor of Pastors. After a vote was taken it was unanimous… Pastor Dickerson was elected Bishop of the Vision Fellowship Of Churches.

God has been preparing our Pastor for this new assignment for several years. The Lord led him to further his education and in recent years he has earned his Masters of Theological Studies and his Doctor of Ministry. For the past seven years he has been attending Overseer training at the Annual Joint College Of Pentecostal African American Bishops. He went through a rigorous examination by Bishop Ellis & Bishop Douglas, Secretary of the Pentecostal Churches of Christ where he was questioned about his beliefs, goals, and plans to do the work of the Lord.

We are very excited about what God is doing in our Pastor’s life who is now the Bishop Kevin Dickerson. We are so proud and we thank God for what He is doing.

The Vision Fellowship exists to provide leadership, guidance, and encouragement to pastors, their spouses, the churches they pastor, and other five fold ministry gifts. Through Vision Fellowship you can connect with a spiritual father, other five fold ministers, and ministry resources that will strengthen and enhance what God has called you to do and become. Vision Fellowship wants to help you fulfill your call with excellence through:

• Spiritual Fathering
• Provide a spiritual covering and accountability for pastors, their churches, and other five fold ministry gifts
• Assist pastors with the birth, the communication, the funding, and realization the vision of their ministries
• Provide pastors with training to develop the leadership skills needed to advance their ministries
• Being a link to connect your ministries with other area pastors for relationship building, exchanging ideas, and joint ministry
• Provide personal counsel to pastors and their families
• Provide cutting edge training tools to enhance your personal walk with God, your marriages, and your ministries
• Providing training and examination for licensure and ordination of ministers and elders
• Provide support, mentoring, training, and encouragement for the pastor’s wife

While Vision Fellowship does not require that we agree on every minor theological, doctrinal or ministry point, we strongly believe that Vision Fellowship members, churches and ministries exhibit common distinctives or characteristics:

1. Anointed preaching and teaching
2. Preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God
3. Preaching and teaching that is designed for salvation, spiritual maturity, and equipping for ministry
4. A personal and corporate commitment to prayer
5. The church or ministry has a theocratic model of church government
6. Leading churches and ministries where there is an atmosphere of praise and worship
7. Leading churches and ministries that are healthy, growing, and reproducing
8. Assertive and consistent evangelism and outreach efforts to reach and win the lost

In addition to the Distinctives of the Vision Fellowship, we also believe that Fellowship members should be committed to these biblical values as they operate in their God given callings:

Excellence - We are inspired by the life of Jesus Christ to strive to do our very best in every area of ministry. Galatians 6:4

God's Word - There are answers to all of life's questions in God's Word. Our commitment is to preach, teach, study, and most importantly live lives that reflect the image of Jesus Christ recorded in God's Word. I John 2:12-14, 2 Peter 1:16-21

Prayer - Our prayer lives represent our direct and constant communication with our Father to receive direction, comfort, and seek forgiveness, hope, and strength. Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18

Praise & Worship - When we worship we are asking God to work among us as he would like. John 4:20-24, I Corinthians 14:33

Marriage – We are faithful and committed to our spouses. We do all that we can to love, support, encourage and build them up, both publicly and privately. Our marriage is the model for the church we lead.

Family - The family is the greatest institution created by God and He meant for us to devote quality time in spiritual and social activities with them. Family is a top priority and our #1 ministry. I Kings 5:13-14

Fellowship - Being in the fellowship of other believers is key to our being focused, encouraged and spiritually healthy. We gather together to share our faith and to receive strength from one another in the Lord. Hebrews 10:25, I John 1:3-4

Evangelism - We are instruments that God wants to use to reap a harvest of souls with boldness and love. Luke 10:2, 12:8-9

Growth - God instructs us that our spiritual growth is a slow but certain process that leads to spiritual maturity. Mark 4:26-29

Moral & Financial Integrity - We are who we say we are in words, actions, and deeds. We are also committed to financial accountability with resources that are sown into our ministries. Psalms 25:21, Proverbs 19:1, Luke 16:10-11

Active Spiritual Gifts - The gifts of the Spirit are to be used regularly in serving God and others. Our gifts are enhanced and increased with active use. I Timothy 4:14-15, II Timothy 1:6-8

Giving – We will give generously to expand the work of God’s Kingdom. Luke 6:38-39, 1 Corinthians 9:9-11

• Excellence in ministry  - Excellence is the standard we strive for in all the ministry
• Apostolic leadership
• Integrity
• Encouragement
• Spirit of Unity
• Fellowship opportunities for:
• Worship
• Training and development
• Accountability
• Personal consultation

• Active Participation in Fellowship meetings and training sessions
• Develop relationships with other Fellowship members
• Freely share your experience, your gifts, and secular skills to help advance the Fellowship vision and partner with local Fellowship members
• Realize that being a member of the Fellowship means being in “relationship” with Fellowship members. That relationship is driven mutually by love, respect and honesty.
• Maintain a life of integrity and moral purity

Vision Fellowship members will meet periodically for worship, training and accountability. Realizing your commitments to family and your ministry, we commit that when we meet our gathering will enhance your personal life and ministry. To that end, Vision Fellowship members will meet together as follows:

Fellowship Worship Services – Fellowship members and their congregations will come together three times per year for a joint worship service where members of the Fellowship will lead prayer, praise and worship, and minister the Word. This will include our coming together for the annual Vision Conference. This is a time of spiritual refreshing and relationship building with other Fellowship Pastors and Churches.

Fellowship Accountability Meetings – Meeting with all Fellowship pastors, their spouses, and other five fold ministry gifts for an update on how your individual churches and ministries are flourishing, updates on Fellowship projects, and instructions for the worship service. These meetings will be one hour before the Fellowship Worship Service.

Fellowship Training Sessions – Quarterly training and development sessions designed to strengthen you personally, your marriage, and your ministry. There will also be periodic specific times of training for pastor’s wives and other ministry leaders. These training sessions will be facilitated by Kevin Dickerson, members of the Fellowship, and guest presenters. The training sessions will be approximately 3 hours in length.

Vision Conference – Our annual convocation in July each year, where guest speakers are brought in to speak into our lives and destinies. The Vision Conference would take the place of Fellowship Worship Service in the 3rd quarter of the year.

Private Consultations – If the need arises where a personal meeting is desired, they can be scheduled by contacting the ministry office. It is the desire of Pastor Dickerson to be accessible to you periodically for face to face or phone consultations.

Who can be a member of the Vision Fellowship?
• Any pastor of a church can become a member of the Fellowship along with any other five fold ministry gift (i.e. apostle, prophet, evangelist, and teacher) that is in full time ministry.

What are the qualifications?
• A whole hearted commitment to serve God in the ministry He has called you to.
• A strong commitment to building relationships
• A strong belief and desire in expanding God's kingdom through your active participation in the Fellowship
• Commitment to provide ongoing financial support for the administration and the ministry initiatives of the Fellowship

How much authority will the Vision Fellowship have in our local church?
• The local church functions autonomously. The Fellowship works in concert with the Senior Pastor and local church leadership equipping them to develop and cast the vision of the local church. Vision Fellowship only gets involved in the affairs and authority structure of the local church at the request of the Senior Pastor

Will the Vision Fellowship provide licensing and ordination?
• Yes. One of the goals of the ministry is to provide biblical training, testing, licensure and/or ordination for qualified candidates

How is the ownership of local church property handled?
• Vision Fellowship does not own nor do we assume any rights to any church property.

Do we have to change our church name to identify with the Vision Fellowship?
• No. The name of your church or ministry does not have to be changed or altered in any way to be a part of the Vision Fellowship.

How does Vision Fellowship relate to the local church?
• The Vision Fellowship relates or connects to the local church through the Senior Pastor and key ministry leaders. We want provide pastors tools for biblical and effective governance of their local churches so that they function in line with the Word of God. Also, Vision Fellowship is available to provide valuable insight and assistance in the event of a church crisis or transition.

What are the financial requirements of Vision Fellowship members?
• At this time there will not be any financial requirements to be a member of the Vision Fellowship, but after the Fellowship has been established, we will prayerfully consider the appropriate level of financial commitment to fund Fellowship initiatives.