Greater Bible Way Temple of Jackson, MI

BISHOP IRA COMBS Jr., D.D.
• Founder and Pastor of the Greater Bible Way Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, Jackson, Mich.
• Founder and Executive Director of Christ Centered Homes, Inc., Jackson
• President and Chairman of IRCO Housing Development, Inc., Jackson
Bishop Combs, D.D., is the founding and senior pastor of Greater Bible Way Temple, with a weekend attendance of 963. He also is the founder and executive director of Christ Centered Homes, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides community housing and more for the developmentally disabled; and the president and chairman of IRCO Housing Development, Inc., which provides affordable apartments and single-family homes, all in Jackson, Mich.
His degrees in theology, his role as a pastor, and his experience as an executive trained in finance present a rare combination of qualifications that enable him to lead with insight, compassion and business savvy. An exceptional Bible teacher, community leader and entrepreneur, Bishop Combs has received many awards and accolades.
He has held career positions with Ford Motor Company, Dearborn (Quality Control Management); Xerox Corporation, Lansing (Sales and Service); National City Bank of Lansing; and Primerica Insurance Company.
Acknowledging the call of God on his life to the ministry, Bishop Combs redirected his energies toward founding the Greater Bible Way Temple. The church, which began as a 400-square foot building, developed over 30 years to the current 42,000-square foot campus on 322 Madison St. He was elevated to Bishop with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., (P.A.W.) in 2010. He has served as a member of the Northern District Council for over 30 years.
In 1989, Bishop Combs founded Christ Centered Homes, Inc., a non-profit organization serving developmentally disabled and mentally challenged adults. He also has actively served the community at large, contributing to many professional boards and committees in the areas of health, housing and protection of the vulnerable. Examples include the Jackson-Hillsdale Community Mental Health’s Committee to Develop Fee for Service Contracts and the Michigan Department of Human Services Adult Foster Care Licensing Advisory Council.
In addition, Bishop Combs has served as Vice-Chair of Outreach for the Michigan Republican Party during the leadership terms of Presidents Saul Anuzis and Betsy DeVos; State Delegate for the Michigan Republican Party and Co-chair of the Jackson Area Committee to Re-Elect George W. Bush; and former Chairman of the Recruitment Committee of the Jackson Republican Party. He received the Republican National Committee (RNC) “Entrepreneur of the Year” award in 2000 and was appointed to the RNC as representative of African-American issues in 2004.
Bishop Combs’ educational pursuits began at Michigan State University where he studied business marketing from 1976-79, was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and worked with academic advisor Dr. Robert L. Green (Dean and Professor Emeritus, MSU College of Urban Development and former Education Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for Dr. Martin Luther King). Bishop Combs then matriculated to Indiana Bible College, Indianapolis, Ind., where he received a Bachelor of Theology degree. He received a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Aenon Bible College, Indianapolis, Ind. He also has several honorary degrees: Honorary Doctorate of Divinity and Honorary Doctorate from Aenon Bible College, Indianapolis; and Honorary Doctorate of Theology and Divinity degree from St. Thomas Christian College, Jacksonville, Fla. and Grace Bible College, Louisville, Ky.
Bishop Combs and his wife, Kimberly, have two children and reside in Jackson.