Maranatha Ministries is led by Priest Jorel Shophar, Minister Raphah Shophar, and Psalmist Grace Shophar . This Work of the Lord Jesus Christ is rooted in the family Levitical and Pastoral spiritual lineage, and bloodline of the Faith that continued with Joseph LaFleur, known as “the preacher,” who was born around 1890 in Nassau, Bahamas. Joseph LaFleur was born into a family of 9 children. His Father John LaFleur was also a man of the clothe. From this family alone came Bishop's and Pastor's who preached the Gospel in the Americas, and Carribean Islands. The bloodline of the family would go on and continue the Gospel to the Carribeans, England, Canada, and America. Joseph LaFleur was the grandfather of Sir Pastor York LaFleur, Joseph LaFleur was also Sir Pastor York's teacher of the Gospel, a counselor and Father figure to Sir York from childhood to adulthood. Sir York's grandfather was a great influence on Sir York's walk with Christ. Sir Pastor York LaFleur would ultimately live a life as a Pastor, becoming the Founder of Maranatha Ministries.
As a child, Sir York learned the Gospel from his grandfather, who taught him the Bible from an early age. Sir York loved spending time with his grandfather, and their days together grew into years of learning and fellowship in the Gospel. Through Joseph LaFleur, the seed of the Gospel was planted in Sir York from childhood into adulthood. Sir York later married Rubie Stein at the early age of 19 and continued the legacy by passing the Gospel on to his children. His youngest son, Jorel, has served the Lord throughout his entire life.
Jorel, the youngest son, is also the 7th generation of the original son of the Faith that was brought to America in April of 1800. Sir York continued the Levitical appointments of the Gospel and taught his children the Holy Word. Jorel was anointed as a minister at Maranatha Ministries’ by his Father, in the first church, on Fielding in Brigtmoor, at the age 17, after years of helping his father teach young children the fundamentals of the Holy Bible in Sunday School. He also served as his father’s drummer, playing for the church from the age of ten. The first element of leadership is service. Priest Shophar cut the church grass, including the large field where the new church now stands on West Outer Drive. He also cared for the church on Fielding, keeping the grass and bushes trimmed. Every Saturday, he went to the church to prepare the building and grounds for Sunday morning worship. He continued this work for 10 years, until the final groundbreaking when Sir York began building the new church. Priest Shophar also helped build the new church, laying bricks as part of its memorial foundation. While Mother Rubie Stein led the church’s design and construction with professional contractors, many brothers in the church, including Priest Shophar, laid bricks and helped with the foundation of the new church.
The Priesthood and Pastoralship of the church includes Priest Jorel Shophar, and his children Minister Raphah Shophar, and Psalmist Grace Shophar , both of whom have studied the Bible from beginning to end. Minister Raphah Shophar is the firstborn, and Psalmist Grace Shophar is the second born. They serve with their father through prayer, fasting, and seeking the face of Christ. Priest Shophar’s children have served with their father for five years, preparing to minister to the sheep of Christ’s pasture. Pastor York passed the mantle to his youngest son, Priest Shophar, as Scripture says in Numbers 18:7: “Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for everything of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift:” Sir Pastor York taught his disciples to pray for the sick with oil, with laying on of hands, to cast of demons, and heal the sick in the name of Jesus Christ. We press in the same doctrine of Christ to compel the lost and broken to come into the house of prayer to receive deliverance and salvation. We have been taught that the greatest of all, is that all peoples and Nations will come to the full knowledge of Christ Jesus for the remission of sins, to enter into an everlasting covenant with the Father in Heavenm through the Grace of the Son of the Living God, our Lord.