Meet the Leadership
Rev. Neil J. Ferguson
Assistant Pastor
Morning Star is just the most recent stop on Assistant Pastor Ferguson’s long journey of religious commitment.
Rev. Ferguson was drawn toward his faith from an early age, accepting Jesus Christ at age 8 during a chapel service. He joined Elim International Fellowship in January 1988, making his presence known initially as a flutist in the music ministry.
His efforts led him to other ministries, including the finance department and the prison ministry. He was confirmed as a deacon at Elim in 1991, and accepted as a member of the Presbytery five years later – where he became a co-celebrant of the Eucharist. His other duties included baptizing and blessing infants.
Rev. Ferguson became an ordained pastor in March 2009, and joined Morning Star in 2014. He and his wife Tanisha are the parents of three daughters.
Mother Mary Mitchell
Deaconness
Mother Mary Mitchell is among Morning Star’s tried and truest believers.
She arrived at the Harlem church more than 30 years ago, staying through times good and bad, always motivated by her devotion to the Lord and the congregation. She has worked as both an usher and the church’s secretary, continuing her efforts even after retiring in 2004.
Mother Mitchell is a graduate of Westchester Community College, with an associate’s degree as a physical therapy assistant, and of E.T.C College in Connecticut with an associate’s degree in occupational therapy. She spent 36 years as a therapy assistant at Glen Allen Care Center. In her spare time, she keeps busy cooking and baking – with bread pudding a specialty
She has been married for 54 years to her husband Robert Mitchell, and together they raised two daughters – Cheryl and Toya. Mitchell is also the grandmother of five.
Sis. Tanisha Ferguson
Media Director
Sister Ferguson’s life was changed when she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior as a 12-year-old girl – and received the Holy Ghost four years later.
She is a graduate of the City College of New York in Manhattan, where Sis. Ferguson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. While serving at Elim International Fellowship in Brooklyn, she became a vital cog in the church – working with various auxiliaries such as First Impressions, Media Ministry, Worship Production and Children’s Church.
She also served as director of the Nursery Department. Sis. Ferguson, in additions to all those duties, works as a senior coordinator for a finance company. She joined the congregation at Morning Star in January 2015.
She and her husband Rev. Neil are the parents of three daughters.