Bishop Andrew Ford II Passes Away at 66

Bishop Andrew Ford II, Pastor of Ford Memorial Temple in Philadelphia’s Nicetown community, passed away on Friday, July 19, 2019, at age 66.

From Bishop Ford’s Facebook page:
Bishop Andrew James Ford II is a visionary with a clear insight for the Next Generation and New Millennium church. He is the Senior Pastor of Ford Memorial Temple, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, as well as the establishmentarian and Presiding Prelate of the Next Generation Fellowship Ministries, Inc., a national interdenominational fellowship of churches, clergy, and church leaders from various ecumenical backgrounds. He’s a member of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops, under the leadership of the Metropolitan Bishop J. Delano Ellis, II. He’s an Associate member of Philadelphia Black Clergy. He is the recipient of several awards ranging from his ecumenical, professional, and community service careers. He has a successful local television program entitled “It’s Our Time” as well as a well recognized national radio broadcast.

He is also the Founder and Executive Producer of Sweet Rain Record Company, where he discovered, launched the careers of, and produced some of America’s gospel notable artist such as: Pastor Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, The Reverend Ernest Davis, Jr. and Wilmington/Chester Mass Choir featuring Rev. Daryl Coley, Southeast Inspirational Choir of Houston, TX introducing Yolanda Adams and many others.

During his tenure in the recording industry, he was considered “The Renaissance Man” of gospel music, because of his unique ability in recording live choir recordings. His production company was affectionately known as “The Choir Boys.” He has also trained and produced his “How Sweet the Sound” and “TV One / Sony Choir Competition” award-winning church choir –The Anointed Voices of Ford Memorial Temple.

More information is available from the Philadelphia Tribune.

The Journal of Gospel Music expresses its condolences to the family and many friends of Bishop Ford.