Bishop Mario D. Williams
Bishop Mario D Williams was born in Beckley West Virginia, on September 15, 1958. He graduated from Rome Free Academy and entered into the United States Marine Corps, where he served his country for 3 1/2 years. He later settled in Rome New York, and has been employed by the state of New York for 33 years.
Bishop Mario D. Williams was the Director of the Environmental Services Department at the Greater Binghamton Health Center and is an active member of various committees including the Employees Assistance Program. Mario ranked number one in the state of New York on the civil service exam for the position which he now holds. Bishop Williams recently retired in January 2014.
Bishop Williams was saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost on December 4, 1981 under Pastor Augustus Stovall. In 1985 Mario accepted the call to the ministry and continued his education by taking correspondence courses from Trinity Bible College where he received an Associate’s degree. In 1995 Mario was ordained as a licensed Elder under Pastor J.L. Griffin of St. Matthew’s Temple Church of God in Christ and finished number one in his graduating class.
The Lord sent Bishop Williams and his beautiful wife of 28 years, First Lady René D Williams with their three children Aaron, Ashante’, and Andrew to Binghamton New York in 2001. They also are blessed with four grandsons Amani Mario Lee Hayward, Joel Jacymill Concepcion, Aaron Jermaine Jr., Jovanni Elijah Concepcion, and a granddaughter Gia Marie Williams.
Bishop Williams served faithfully in the church in various capacities. He was the district number six Sunday school superintendent; and has also served as YPWW president and teacher, Sunday school teacher, and held positions on the usher board and brotherhood. During his earlier years as a saved individual, he served faithfully as a deacon, chaplain, and was always counted upon as a member of the Housekeeping department to make sure the church was ready for any service. He always found time for the outreach ministry. Other ministries close to his heart are youth ministries, Bishop Williams could always be found mentoring young people from the streets, working in the jail ministry, witnessing and praying for those who are incarcerated. He also enjoyed the hospital ministry, praying for those whom were sick and afflicted assured God would always deliver. Mario is very active in his community with opportunities for Broome Incorporated, the Broome County Council of Churches, and has worked with the Martin Luther King Commission. Bishop Williams and the River of life Ministries assisted the community with the cleanup from the devastating flood of 2010 and financially contributed to families that were impacted.
Bishop Williams received a vision from God and answered the call to pastor what is now the River of life Ministries. The church was founded on April 3, 2011; and had a membership of eight people. Under the divine leadership of Bishop Williams, the River of life Ministries has experienced steady growth to currently around 137 where souls are being saved, bodies are being healed, and people are being delivered.