About

Pastor Dr. Colleen Bennett-Houston is a respected Christian leader, preacher, teacher, administrator, and advocate with more than 50 years of faithful service in Christian ministry and over 30 years of public speaking and preaching experience. She is widely known for her biblical clarity, anointed insight, and commitment to advancing the Kingdom of God, women empowerment, families continuity, and social justice through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

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Dr. Bennett-Houston is the co-founder of City of Refuge Ministries in Bloomington, Illinois, established in 1976 alongside her late husband, Pastor Andrew Bennett Sr.   Following his passing in 2003, she faithfully pastored the ministry for four years before transitioning senior leadership to Senior Pastor William A. Bennett and Assistant Pastor Andrew Bennett Jr., ensuring continuity, vision, and spiritual integrity. 

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She served with distinction as McLean County Chaplain for 11 years and Illinois State Chaplain for 10 years, becoming the first Black female to hold both of these positions. She also made history as the first female chaplain to serve in an all-male correctional facility at Lincoln Correctional Center, breaking barriers while ministering with compassion, authority, and excellence. 

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A sought-after speaker, Dr. Bennett-Houston, has conducted revivals and speaking engagements across the country and is a seasoned seminar and conference speaker for church, end-time prophecy, and community events . Her ministry emphasis includes biblical truth, understanding Revelation and Eschatology, spiritual growth and development, women's empowerment, leadership development, and social justice issues , all grounded in Scripture and led by the Holy Spirit. 

In addition to her preaching ministry, Dr. Bennett-Houston brings extensive leadership and administrative experience. She has served over 40 years as a religious administrator, 10 years as a volunteer coordinator, and supervisor of facility volunteers at a penal institution, and for more than a decade as Administrator and Director of G.R.O.U.P. (God Reaching Out Using People) Rehabilitation and Transition Center. She also served five years as Co-Director of True Believers Group Rehabilitation and Transition Center, working tirelessly aside her husband, Pastor Ray Houston to restore lives and support successful community reintegration. 

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Dr. Bennett-Houston holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Science from Illinois State University (Normal, Illinois), a Master of Theology from International Seminary (Plymouth, Florida), and a Masters of Revelation Studies and Doctorate of Biblical Eschatology from Wordwise Institute of Eschatology (Rancho Cucamonga, California) 

She is married to  Pastor Raymond Houston (since 2008) and was previously married to the late Pastor Andrew Bennett Sr. for 29 years. She is the proud mother of Elder Andrew Bennett Jr., and Pastor William A. Bennett, mother-in-love to First Lady Charlatta Bennett and Missionary Cora Bennett, and stepmother to Cheriamor Houston . Her family legacy includes seven biological grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and two step-great-grandchildren.  Pastor Dr. Colleen Bennett-Houston is an anointed preacher and teacher who ministers with wisdom, compassion, and the authority of the Holy Spirit, continuing to impact people, churches, institutions, and communities through faithful service and unwavering devotion to Christ.