Monday, April 21, 2025
Deeper Life Deliverance Fellowship and Deliverance Center marked a significant milestone last Saturday, celebrating the 27th pastoral anniversary of Overseer Regina Johnson with a grand celebration that was preceded by a month of fellowship with allied churches.
The gathering took place at the church’s temporary location, the Mount Cavalry Baptist Church in Westbury, which has been sharing its space with Deeper Life as members await the construction of their own church, their first, on Ocean Ave in Freeport, dubbed by the ministry as the City of Refuge.
“It was an awesome, awesome celebration throughout the month of March, where various pastors came in, along with their churches, and rendered services,” Johnson said. “And it was something that, personally, I will never forget — the love that was shown by so many individuals that were in attendance.”
Alongside Deeper Life, NCEM includes True Foundation Church in upstate Glen Falls, led by Overseer Darrel Perkins; Greater Jerusalem Baptist Church in Brooklyn, led by Overseer Anthony Nisbett; and Greater Faith Christian Church in Schenectady, led by Overseer Harold West. Pastors from these churches joined in the celebration.
“NCEM conference is something, a work that God established and (led) me to establish in 1990,” Johnson said. “The purpose was, of course, to win souls to the kingdom, to equip the body of Christ to do effective ministries, to bring together unity in both men and women in the ministry of all denominations, and to assist ministry leaders and pastors, spiritually and as well as financially.”
Over the years, NCEM has provided mentorship and support to churches under its umbrella, creating a network of fellowship and ministry.
Originally there were chapters all across the nation, in states from Alabama to Oregon, but Johnson said she realized that in order to devote her time and attention to expanding Deeper Life, which she established in 1998 after a call from God, those chapters would best be served by going independent. Now the four New York churches that Johnson continues to oversee remain in fellowship in NCEM, and on Saturday came together to celebrate.
The gathering featured guest sermons by clergy members including Bishop Jason Corbett, of the Phebe Christian Center in Central Islip. Representative of Second Baptist Church of Freeport, St. John’s Baptist Church of West Hempstead, and the United Methodist Church of Glen Cove also attended, as did Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Schneider.
Deeper Life Elder Valerie Montgomery described the event as a “high praise celebration,” adding, “It was spirit-filled. It was all about celebrating God and the wonderful things that God has done.”
Following the service, attendees gathered for a gala dinner coordinated by Deeper Life Deaconess Beverly Mitchell. “We had chicken, we had ham, we had oxtails, we had beans and rice, we had green beans, we had various salads, macaroni and cheese,” Montgomery said. “There was a variety of Southern-cooked food. It was provided in-house by our very own deaconess, and various people in the congregation donated.”
“We had an awesome time of celebration and fellowship, and I couldn’t think of a better way to close out the month of celebration,” Deaconess Harriet Carter, a member of Deeper Life for 19 years, said.
Construction of the ministry’s new church is set to begin this month. The congregation’s commitment to community outreach remains a priority, and Johnson emphasized that the City of Refuge will expand those efforts.
