Hope University & Theological Seminary Leadership

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Evangelist, Educator, Pastor 

& Administrator

Dr. Kulah was born August 10, 1962 in Boway, Panta Chiefdom, Bong County, Liberia.  He is married to Ruth Chea Kulah, and blessed with four children (3 boys and a girl): Joshua, Jonathan, Jerrut and Jerry P. Kulah, II.   Rev. Kulah  was Ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church, and served as an Elder in full connection in the Liberian Annual Conference, Liberian West Africa for more than28 years.  Today Jerry is leading the efforts at establishing the Global Methodist Church in Liberia as the Chairperson of the Transitional Committee Advisory Team.

Jerry received his Bachelor's of Science in Mathematics from the University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia in May 1989.  In May 1994, he earned his Bachelor's of Theology from ECWA Seminary, Igbaja, Kwara State, Nigeria.  In May 1997, he earned his Master's of Theology in Missiology from TCNN, Bukuru, Plateau State, Nigeria. Jerry received his Doctorate of Ministry in Leadership in May 2010 from the prestigious Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY, USA.  He received a Post Graduate Certificate in Research from Africa University in October 2020.  Jerry is currently a Ph.D Candidate at Anglia Ruskin University, UK. beginning that program in 2021.

Jerry has a distinguished professional record:    

Vice President, School of Graduate & Professional Studies, United Methodist University, UMU, June 2021-November 2024. In addition to his administrative role, Jerry taught courses in evangelism, discipleship, Wesley Theology, and leadership. He has recently led a team of scholars to develop curricula for the inclusion of some new programs vital to the educational needs of Liberia at the graduate level.   

Dean, Bishop John G. Innis Graduate School of Theology, United Methodist University. Ashmun Street, Monrovia; March 2019 to May 2021. He provided leadership of the college and taught some courses. The impact of his work has led to the expansion of the graduate school beyond theological education and now includes four additional colleges. 

Dean, Gbarnga School of Theology, United Methodist University, Liberia Annual Conference, UMC; March 2014 to February 2019. During his leadership at this undergraduate college of theology, he led a team to review and improve its curricula for additional five years.  

  District Superintendent, Monrovia District Conference, Liberia Annual Conference, the United Methodist Church, March 2007- February, 2014.  Jerry was responsible as the supervising pastor to over fifty clergy of the Monrovia District Conference. He provided training, coaching, and mentoring in ministry for several pastors.  He initiated specialized training programs for the organizations, Fellowships and Committees of the District, and led the District into undertaking many capital projects, including the construction of its first ministry headquarters in 2013. The availability of this facility continues to influence the various ministries of the District and expand its growth numerically and socio-economically.

Liberian Annual Conference Director of Evangelism & Missions from 2001-2007.

Associate Pastor, Stephen Trowen Nagbe UMC  from 1998-2001.  Lecturer, Gbarnga School of Theology from 1997-2019.

Jerry has serve on numerous boards and agencies of the Liberia Annual Conference of the UMC. Beyond the UMC Denomination, he serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Evangelical Seminary of West Africa (ESWA); Chair of the Board of Directors of Alpha-Liberia; and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Bible Society of Liberia.  During his studies at the Asbury Theology Seminary, 2006-2010, he served as Visiting Lecturer for West African History at the Sonoma Academy, Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, California, USA, 2007- 2009.

  Outside of his official responsibilities, Jerry currently runs a weekly radio ministry. It is a teaching program, aimed at discipleship. 

Jerry has published several articles and written numerous training manuals:   

Published articles

1. The Meaning and Power of the Resurrection: When a Dream Dies and Miraculously Resurrects (2019)
2. The Same God Throughout the Age (2018)
3. Admonitions for Christian Participation in National Elections (2023) 

Training Manuals

1. Triumph of Grace: A Membership Manual for United Methodist in Liberia (Co-authored by Julius Williams) Published 2015
2. Prayers for Liberia: Praying a Nation from Ashes to Beauty (published 2011)
3. METHODISM IN LIBERIA: Its Birth, Roots, And Growth (published 2004)
4. Evangelism, Mission and Discipleship: A Practical Guide for      Evangelization & Ch. Growth (2004)
5. Evangelistic and Spirit-filled Church Leaders (2004)
6. Church Administration: A Practical Guide for Leading God’s People (2004)
7. The Leadership of the UMC as a Prophetic Community for the Holistic Transformation of Post- Conflict Liberia. A Doctoral Dissertation (DMin, 2010):
8. Strategy for Missions and Evangelism in War-torn Liberia. A Master’s Thesis (MTh, 1997): 
9. Evangelization of Post-war Liberia: The Task of Evangelical Churches. A Bachelor’s Thesis (BTh., 1994):
10. The Next Methodism in Africa  (Chapter of a Book, 2021) 
11. Book: The Great Deception-Understanding the Regionalization Plan of the United Methodist Church

President of the Board/Executive Director- Hands of Hope Foundation, 

Lead General Overseer- Community of Faith Global & Directing Pastor- Community of Faith Church, Marion, IL USA.     

Troy is a 1984 graduate of Memphis University School a prestigious all male college preparatory academy. He attended Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn., and graduated with a honors degree in Economics and Finance. He attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University and graduated Cum Laude with a Master of Divinity degree in 1994. He received a Doctor of Ministry in the area of church marketing & development and evangelism from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 2000. 

Before going into the ministry, Troy worked as a ramp agent for Federal Express in Memphis, TN. He worked in the restaurant business in Memphis. Just prior to entering the ministry, Troy became a registered mutual fund & insurance professional who owned his own Insurance & Investment agency in Herrin, IL. Troy began his candidacy for ministry at the Herrin UMC. He has served the Energy & Hope Chapel UM Churches in Southern Illinois, St. James & Chalybeate Springs UM Churches in Manchester, GA, Immanuel & Noble UM Churches in the Southeastern Illinois. In 1995, he planted a new congregation in Highland, Illinois, called Highland Hope. In 1999, he was assigned to start a 2nd church in Waterloo, Illinois called, Table of Grace. In mid-2001, he was appointed to be the pastor of the Pawnee UMC, serving that cutting-edge congregation until March 2010. On April 1, 2010, Troy made a ministry change, withdrawing from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the UMC to become the Directing Pastor of Community of Faith Church, a large independent and spirit-filled congregation located in Southern Illinois.  Community of Faith Church is “Growing Faithful Followers of Christ regionally and globally through prayer, outreach, evangelism, worship and discipleship.” In March 2023, Troy became an Elder in the Global Methodist Church. Troy has been involved in numerous new church development projects and NGO launches in the USA, Honduras, Central America, Liberia-West Africa, Bulgaria, and Thailand. Troy became a probationary member of the Southern Illinois Conference of the UMC in 1994 and was ordained an Elder on May 30, 1996. He served as the chairperson of the Mississippi River District’s task force on New Congregational Development within the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. He was the project coordinator for The Spectrum 2000 Report, a global study conducted by the GBGM. In March of 1999, Troy was invited and inducted into the World Evangelism/World Methodist Council “Order of the FLAME” -Faithful Leaders as Mission Evangelists. At the 1999, Illinois Great Rivers Conference he was honored to receive the Harry S. Denman Award for Evangelism. In 2004, his church received the Rural Witness Award from the IGRC for creative and unique work in missions and outreach to the community.  He served as an alternate delegate to the 2000 and as delegate to the 2008 North Central Jurisdiction Conference of the UMC.  He has served on the Sangamon River District Board of Ordained Ministry, The District Connectional Table, The Illinois Great Rivers Connectional Table and as the Chair of the IGRC Evangelism Committee 2006-2010. Over the last 35 years, Troy continues to serve as an advisory board member to No Greater Love Ministries, an international ministry that seeks to equip and train leaders in the work of evangelism and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ locally, nationally, and internationally. He has served as the Chair of the Board of Southern Illinois Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He is the founding board member for the Herrin House of Hope, Herrin, IL that has served over 500,000 clients since launching in 2012. In 2013, he received the honor of being gowned as a Paramount Chief to the people of Margibi County, Liberia, West Africa, to whom he serves as “The Chief of Hope." He is also the founder & executive director of the Hands of Hope Foundation, an international ministry with a mission of “Offering Hope in Christ” through both Word and Deed according to 1 Peter 3:15. Pastor Troy launched a podcast called “On The Dock with Pastor Troy” in August 2021 to continue his work of offering Hope in Christ. (Onthedock.org) In 2023, Community of Faith formed a “Denominational body & network” to become Community of Faith Global, networking other local Community of Faith Associate, Affiliate and Partner Churches together. Troy’s personal mission statement is to “Dream dreams and plan plans so grand that if God is not in them, they are doomed to fail!”   Troy recently is helping launch Hope University & Theological Seminary in Liberia, West Africa and is serving as the Chair of the Trustees and International Advisory Board. (www.HopeUTS.org).

Troy shares, “My heart’s desire is to be involved in leading the church in the area of new church starts and church development. I consider myself to be an apostolic-evangelist.” Troy has led numerous camps, conferences, revivals, crusades, and seminars on church development and is the author of the book Making a Church from Scratch published by Bristol House Ltd. He is also working on a new book entitled The Essence of Ministry. Troy enjoys cooking, hunting and served as a youth football coach for over 25 years. Troy shares that the most influential books in his ministry, other than the Bible, include Father Arseny 1893-1973 Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father, Jesus CEO by Laurie Beth Jones, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell, most recently Church as a Team Sport by Jim Puttman and Oswald Chamber’s My Utmost for His Highest. His favorite long-standing writer is TD Jakes. Troy & Beth have four beautiful children: Heather, Joshua, Caleb and Megan.  Heather, our oldest, resides in the Memphis Metro Area, along with our first grand-daughter, Addison. Troy’s son, Joshua, also married his childhood sweetheart, Sarah Nations in July 2011 and has two granddaughters, Ezra & Alexandra. Josh is a graduate of McKendree University and has become as successful pastor and serves today as the owner of Crown Brew Coffee Co. Troy’s son, Caleb has his Doctor of Pharmacy degree (2018) from the prestigious St. Louis College of Pharmacy and married Jessica Kowalski, also a graduate from STLCOP, in 2018. They live & work in Seattle, WA with our 4th granddaughter, Hazel. His daughter, Megan, who is still daddy’s little princess, graduated from McKendree University in 2019, she received her master’s degree from Southern Illinois University and is working as manager of a resort in Breckenridge, Colorado.