Staff

David Randolph Holder is a fourth generation pastor, raised in Jamaica Queens, New York. He graduated from Talent Unlimited High School in NYC where he majored in voice. He was raised in the Presbyterian Church, spent his early adult years in both the Baptist Church and the Church of God In Christ, ordained in the A.M.E. Church and planted an Evangelical Covenant Church. Dr. Holder is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A. Neuroscience 1987), UCLA (M.B.A. Entertainment Management 1991), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div. 1995), Harvard University (Th.M. Community Development 1996), and Princeton Theological Seminary (D.Min. 2005). Dr. Holder served as an associate minister at First A.M.E. Church in Pasadena, CA, St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Cambridge, MA and as the Assistant Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Bloomfield, CT. While at Bethel he founded Bethel Day Care Center as the Executive Director of Bethel Center for Humane Services.
 
Dr. Holder founded New York Covenant Church (NYCC) on July 19,1998 and has been the Senior Pastor since its inception. In 2004, New York Covenant purchased the old REI building at 500 Main Street in downtown New Rochelle as their new location. NYCC and BRP Developers built a 26-floor, 477 apartment building and new church at our location, 119 of which will be at about half the rent. Church will own the church portion of the building that features a full-court basketball gym, our own school - Crosstrainers Academy, retail space, recording and dance studios and a commericial kitchen. Dr. Holder has been married to his wife Tarshia for over 30 years. Tarshia is a Reading Specialist at White Plains Middle School and a graduate of Spelman College and Teachers College, Columbia University. They have two adult children -- Delaney, a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is working in public sector financial consulting in the D.C. area. Jeremiah is a student-athlete at Villanova University majoring in Political Science and pitching on the baseball team.
 
Dr. Holder has a huge heart for mercy and justice. He sings, loves music and theater that tell impactful stories. He is a suffering Mets fan.

Pastor Greg Millings is our Disciple Team Pastor. He has dedicated his life to following Jesus and maturing as a disciple through extensive biblical study, seminary education, ministry, and service. Presently, Pastor Greg leads the Disciple Team, whose mission is to make disciples by training people for righteousness through ministry.

Pastor Greg is passionate about preaching and teaching God's transformative Word and leading believers toward spiritual maturity and formation. He holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree with a concentration in Church Development, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in School Counseling, and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Psychology.

Pastor Greg is married to his lovely wife, Alana, and they have two beautiful children, Cameron and Arielle.

"I long to help people experience the love of Christ and to be transformed by the power of His Grace and Mercy. My calling is rooted in being a voice for the voiceless, an advocate for the disenfranchised, and a servant leader to the lost in need of the freedom found in Christ.”

John Udochi Esq. is the Training Pastor at New York Covenant Church and has served in this capacity since January 2014. John had his rebirth and found salvation in Christ on the 4th day of January 2004. John’s rebirth generated his vision to collate his past experiences and use his God given gifts in the fulfillment of God’s purpose in his life.

John has had the opportunity to gain his educational and professional experience in two major continents of the world: Africa and North America. Through this experience, John has developed an understanding of the inescapable network of human relationships as being fundamental to the human existence. This experience has significantly been fueled by his Christian faith and belief in God.  John has been brought alive by the light of Christ and has embraced a vision to pursue justice with a spirit of compassion and reconciliation.

John is currently leading the New York Covenant Training Team and Justice Institute. He adheres to the strong belief and conviction that the church should be a depository for God’s divine truth and knowledge. John is an attorney at law and also has his Master of Divinity (Honors) degree from Alliance Theological Seminary. He is a recipient of the Luis A. Carlo Award for scholarship, leadership, and excellence in urban ministry award from Alliance.

John is married to his beautiful wife, Abbe. They are blessed to have and care for two lovely children – Julius and Naomi.

We should strive to have a mind that seeks God, a heart that loves God, and a will to obey God."

Before Greg got his calling to become a minister, shortly after getting saved, he immediately hit the ground running and began his ministry in the perpetual praise dance ministry, which led to a men’s perpetual praise. He then saw a need for young adults (18-25) in the church and created a ministry called Real Word to help transition young into the church body and encourage them in their walk with God. He also created a youth program called Remember M.E. (Music & Education) at the church which taught high school students about business and music. It wasn’t until he became part of the launch team for our Manhattan Campus that his passion and creativity for church building increased. After a Church Planting Retreat for pastors by the Evangelical Covenant Church in Texas, and wrestling with God regarding his calling, he was ultimately led to attend Alliance Theology Seminary and knew he wanted to be used by God and became an associate minister. Greg has a passion for sharing God’s word, loves to put ideas together as it pertains to the church. This is why he is utilizing his gifts for Church administration and organizational structure, to ensure that church operations run smoothly and effectively. He hopes that this will help with all processes as it pertains to church ministries and the body.

Greg received his Bachelor degree in Mass Communications and Broadcasting at the State University of Oswego, and is happily married to his wife Lydia who is our Ignite (High School) Ministry Leader and they have 2 beautiful children - Samuel and Samara. Greg loves to workout, loves music, dancing and word brain games.

"Youth Ministry is about teaching our kids about the word of God and journeying side by side in their faith walk as we help them explore what it means to be a Christian in the world they live in. We know that our witness as teachers to our youth will prayerfully impact their young lives going into adulthood, strengthening their reading of the word, their faith and living like Christ. "

The Welcome Team is representative of the father in the parable of the lost son found in Luke 15. Like the father the Embrace Team watches and waits with hopeful expectation for The Father’s beloved sons and daughters to return home. We joyfully demonstrate Christ love and godly affection and seek to make disciples by embracing all those who “Come Home” by designing processes that help move people into the core of the church.

"Let my life be the evidence of Christ’s love, life, suffering, death, and great resurrective power for all to see so that He be glorified."