Life Story

of
Bishop Bernard S. Hibbert

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the
dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they
may rest from their labor; and their works do follow them.
Bernard S. Hibbert was born in Salisbury Plain, in the parish of St. Andrew,
Jamaica on August 25, 1938. He was one of ten children born to the late
Wilhelmena and Zacheriah Hibbert. He received his education in the
Jamaican public school system at Alman Hill All Age School in St. Andrew.
After leaving school, he pursued a career in men’s fashion designing as a
tailor. He was self-employed in the garment industry until he migrated to
the United States in 1976. Upon his arrival to the United States, he obtained
a job at Rolling Green Hospital which is now known as Elkins Park Hospital
in the Jefferson Health System. The duration of his employment spanned
approximately 30 years. -
Bishop Hibbert accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at an
early age in the Church of God of Prophecy Parks Road, Jamaica, under the
leadership of Elder Matthews and Evangelist Princess March. From the
initial stage of his conversion, one could see there was a call on his life and
he was empowered by the Holy Spirit in building the Kingdom of God here
on earth. He received his Theological training at the Bible Training
Institute in Jamaica in collaboration with the Tomlinson’s Bible College
Cleveland Tennessee and was awarded three certificates in theology.
As an ardent member of his church, young Brother Hibbert served in
various capacities in his local church. Bishop Hibbert was called to the
ministry in 1960 and in 1965 he became licensed as an ordained Evangelist.
As an Evangelist, he took the gospel throughout the parish of St. Andrew.
He evangelized mainly at Parks Road, Rose Hill, Cavaliers, Padmore,
Almond Hill, and beyond. Although he evangelized at the various locations,
his central location was at Cavaliers where he planted and pastored a
church for many years.
As he often said, he was an eligible bachelor so he prayed that God would
bless him with a committed Christian wife. In 1973, his prayers were
answered. He met and married the pearl of his life, Sister Monica Hibbert,
nee Matthews. She was a native of Jamaica who was residing in United

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States of America. The union produced no children. In 1976, Bernard
migrated to the United States to join his wife in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Upon his arrival to the US, he attended the Ridge Avenue Church of God of
Prophecy, where he was a member for approximately one year under
Bishop Jethro Bing.
As a licensed evangelist, the Holy Spirit inspired Bishop Hibbert along with
the assistance of Sister Rosiann Williams to launch a house-to-house prayer
meeting group in the West Philadelphia area in 1977. This effort grew from
a prayer meeting to a mission and from a mission to the birth of a local
church. On the 20 th of March 1981, the church was authenticated and
Bishop Hibbert was authorized to preach the gospel with all ministerial
liberty and duties as an Ordained Minister of Religion internationally.
On August 31, 1983, Bishop Hibbert was promoted to the office of an
Ordained Bishop in the Church of God of Prophecy International General
Assembly by the late General Overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy,
Bishop Milton A. Tomlinson. Bishop Hibbert was a visionary leader who
led by example, and was a pastor who could say, follow me as I follow
Christ.
Pastor Hibbert, as he was affectionately called by his parishioners, worked
uncompromisingly to build the work of the Lord. He planted the Spruce
Street Church of God of Prophecy. However, as the church grew, he was
able to move the church into a larger space. Pastor Hibbert purchased a
dilapidated old factory at 617 N. 41 st Street Philadelphia, PA. Then, with
hard work, dedication and determination, he transformed it into a beautiful
place of worship. The church was then known as 41 st Street Church of God
of Prophecy. Today it is known as the Grace Community Church of God of
Prophecy, now located at 4982 masters Street Philadelphia, PA.
July 1995, the trajectory of his ministry took a different direction. Due to an
unforeseen obstruction, Bishop Hibbert and some of the faithful members
exited the Church of God of Prophecy. But even in the face of adversaries,
nothing could stop him! He affirmed, “I know my calling, I knew who
called me, and I will abide by my calling”. Bishop Hibbert served in the
Church of God of Prophecy from 1965-1995.
In July 1995, Pastor Hibbert continued his ministry in the home of a
member until December 1995. In December 1995, Bishop Hibbert and

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Sister Monica Hibbert purchase the building and established the Solid Rock
Church of God. Solid Rock is located at 5805-7 Market Street in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where it still remains located today. Solid Rock
Church of God operated as an independent organization for 18 years.
Through love and allegiance, the District and Regional Overseer, the late
Bishop Felix Poyser, the district pastors, namely, the late Bishop Jabez
Barrett, Bishop Leonard Gibbs, Bishop Audley Thompson and others
pledge their support in an unwavering way. Bishop Hibbert was grateful to
the New Testament Church of God for their kind hospitality and
acceptance.
After several years of fasting, prayer, keen observation, and in agreement
with the Solid Rock congregation, Bishop Hibbert was privileged and
blessed to receive his second ordination as a bishop under the “Church of
God” Cleveland Tennessee in 2013. Three weeks later, Bishop Hibbert
brought the Church into fellowship with the Church of God under the
leadership the Administrative Bishop of Pennsylvania Overseer, Dr.
Kenneth Bell.
Bishop Hibbert was a man of valor; he was characterized by his strength,
courage, and passion in the service of the Lord. His ministry has spanned
over sixty years. He had preached over 5000 sermons, officiated
approximately 100 weddings, dedicated hundreds of infants, baptized
scores of people, taken into fellowship hundreds of people, appointed
Deacons, Evangelists, including the first female Ordained Minister in the
New Testament Church of God in the Westside District of churches in over
forty years.
On the last Sunday of August of 2022, due to health reasons, Bishop
Hibbert made the painful decision to step down from active duty as Senior
Pastor of Solid Rock Church of God. On the 19 th of November 2022, Bishop
Hibbert retired with full honors from the Church of God with raving
reviews by his colleague and a noteworthy retirement party with over 300
celebrants.
Solid Rock New Testament Church of God was blessed and highly favored
to have an undershepherd like Bishop Hibbert as our leader for twenty-
eight years. He was an excellent undershepherd, a spiritual father and
grandfather, a teacher, a mentor, a confidant, and friend who led by

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example. A prayer warrior who never ended a conversation without a
prayer when prayer was needed. His favorite quotation was, “Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in
the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58
Bishop Hibbert was a loving devoted husband. He was very proud of his
wife and was always ready to tell us that she was an answer to his prayer for
a wife. Their marriage spanned over fifty years and was a match made in
heaven. They were inseparable. Wherever you see one, you’d see the other.
We thanked God for Him and the service he provided to Solid Rock New
Testament Church of God and beyond.
We also thank God for his beautiful wife, Lady Monica Hibbert, who was
the unsung hero behind the scenes over the years. She worked hand-in-
hand with her husband as the matriarch of her family and the church
family. She provided care for her husband affectionally and loyally to the
end. Lady Hibbert, we pay homage to you today on a job well done! We will
always reciprocate our love to you.
On Monday, February 12, at 10:20 AM, Bishop Hibbert closed his eyes and
took his last breath as the song was played for him, “Precious Lord Take My
Hand Lead Me Home.” His parents, Zacheriah and Wilhelmena Hibbert,
preceded him in death, as did his siblings, three brothers and six sisters. He
is survived by his loving wife of fifty years Lady Monica Hibbert and
brother Clement, a host of nieces and nephews, grand and great
grandnieces and nephews, nieces and nephews-in-law, cousins, two
Godsons, his Solid Rock Church of God family, ministry colleagues,
brothers and sisters in the Lord, friends and neighbors.
Humbly submitted with joy and sorrow.

The Family.