Our Leaders

James S. Hall Jr. was born in Marion, South Carolina, the son of a preacher James S. Hall Sr. and homemaker mother Eliza Thompson Hall. At an early age he realized that God had a special call on his life. The youngest of four children, (three sisters, one sister Dorothy Hall Canady survives), he recognized by age 9 that he was anointed to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ and by age 18 publicly surrendered to God. From that time forward, his spiritual life has been a journey of struggles, successes and an every growing faith in the Lord. Pastor Hall attended elementary and high school in Marion County, S. C. after which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Bachelor of Divinity degree in Theology at Morris College in Sumter, S.C. In high school, He was President of the NFA (New Farmers of America), as well as President of the Marion County High School Council. He is the recipient of honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Morris College, Fuller Normal School Greenville, S.C. and A.M.E. Seminary Monrovia, West Africa. He also attended special training at Temple University in Group Dynamics and Psychology. During his sixty-six years of preaching he has been greatly blessed serving as Pastor of Mount Rona Baptist Church Florence S.C. (1953-1957), Rafting Creek Baptist Church Sumter, S.C. (1953-1957), and Springfield Baptist Church Greenville, S.C. (1957-1963). He also was Pastor of Morris Chapel Baptist Church Philadelphia, PA (1963-1969).

In November 1969, Triumph Baptist Church was organized with sixty-three members at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. From that time, God has continued to honor the prayers of those Charter Members. As a result of his leadership and their faithfulness, Triumph Baptist Church has experienced tremendous growth in the study of God’s word, evangelistic outreach and economic empowerment. More than 5000 souls have been saved. Economically the church has impacted the community with the Credit Union, provided residential housing and a supermarket. Plans are underway for the development for Senior Housing and Family Life Center. During his spiritual pilgrimage, God has richly blessed Pastor with a loving family and congregation. He is the proud parent of four children; two daughters, Cathy and Wanda and two sons, James Anthony and Phillip. He also is the proud grandfather of three grandsons, four granddaughters and one great-granddaughter. Pastor s oldest daughter The Reverend Cathy Johnson serves as Assistant Pastor at Triumph Baptist Church and youngest son The Reverend Philip Hall serves as Pastor of Love Missionary Baptist Church of Philadelphia.

Pastor Hall has a long history of community involvement stemming back to his active participation in the Civil rights Movement. While pastoring in South Carolina, he served as President of Local PUSH, Vice President of South Carolina State Education and Missionary Convention, Vice President of South Carolina State NAACP, and local President of CORE Greenville, S.C. After moving to Philadelphia he was President of Little Neighborhood Schools, Treasure of Wade Cable Company, President of the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity and Moderator of the Eastern Keystone Baptist Association, Vice President and President of the Pennsylvania Baptist Convention. Currently he serves as CEO of Triumph Development Community Corporation and President of Victory Village. He has been the recipient of numerous awards most recently the Unity Global Award and Legend of Civil Rights Award. Pastor Hall’s testimony is simple yet special, to serve the Lord with all his strength and all his might.

Pastor looks to the future with great hope and expectation as the Lord moves he and his congregation from Victory to Victory. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.-1 Corinthians 15:57-58

A native of Sumter, South Carolina, Rev. Johnson is a graduate of the Philadelphia public school system and went on to receive a Bachelor's of Arts in Bible/Christian Education from Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina and a Master of Divinity from the Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, New York. She has also completed special studies at the Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge. MA. She plans to enter a Doctor of Ministry program in the near future.

Ordained to the gospel ministry in April 1981, Rev. Johnson became the fourth generation of preachers in her family. The oldest of four children she was born to the Reverend & Mrs. James and Elizabeth Hall.
She has served as:
-Assistant Pastor, Trinity Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
Rochester, NY

-Minister of Christian Education, St. Paul Community Baptist Church
Brooklyn, NY
-Principal
Triumph Christian School,
Philadelphia, PA

She is regarded among her peers and hearers as one of the most creative preachers of our time. She has an appeal that transcends gender, age, and culture. Her much loved exposition in preaching and teaching helps people to discover spiritual meaning in a way that makes sense of everyday life. She preaches with depth and clarity. For her outstanding service and distinction of dedication to the Kingdom of God, the church, and community, she has received well deserved recognition, accolades and citations.

Presently, she serves as the Assistant Pastor of the Triumph Missionary Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA.