REV. DR. WILFORD L. ONEY JR., Senior Pastor of Bethlehem-Judah Ministries, founded BJM May 22, 2005, in order to unite the gospel ministry with a social ministry. 

Rev. Oney is a native Delawarean, and a 1978 graduate of Laurel High School, Laurel, Del.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Delaware State University in 1984, a Master of Education degree in elementary education from Wilmington College in 1995, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Logos Christian College and Graduate School in 1997.

Rev. Oney has taught fifth- and eighth-grade special education in the Seaford and Indian River School Districts of Sussex County, Del. He also served as an adjunct faculty member for the Developmental English Department, a full-time student enrichment coordinator for career services, and a part-time counselor at the Owens Campus of Delaware Technical & Community College in Georgetown, Del. Currently, he is employed as a counselor and instructor at the Wilmington Campus of Delaware Technical & Community College.

While maintaining a full-time position in the secular arena, Pastor Oney is very much dedicated, devoted and committed to the work of the Kingdom of God.  He has great passion for preaching and teaching the Word of God and leading others to Christ.  He was an active member of the A.M.E. Zion Church for more than 40 years. In 1992, he accepted the call and served as a minister at the Grow In Grace Christian Center, Salisbury, Md., under the leadership of Pastors Richard and Theresa Scott. In 1995, he returned to his roots, St. John A.M.E. Zion Church in Ross Point, Laurel, Del., and assisted the Rev. Oris P. Fields Sr. Rev. Oney was recommended for ordination by the Rev. Dr. Gloria M. Snipes, presiding elder of the Salisbury District, and was ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church by the late Presiding Prelate, Bishop Milton A. Williams. Rev. Oney served on several local, district and conference committees. He received his Deacon Orders on May 26, 1996.  In December of that year, Rev. Oney started a small society in his home of about 15 members.  It was there that he really began pastoring.  In May 1997, he attended the 168th annual session of the Philadelphia & Baltimore Conference and was given his first pastoral appointment, to Charles H. Foggie A.M.E. Zion Church in Bridgeville, Del.  Rev. Oney served Foggie for nearly nine years and made many accomplishments. He was elevated to the office of Elder on May 27, 2000. Through much prayer and fasting, on May 10, 2005, he sent a request to the Presiding Prelate, Bishop Warren M. Brown, asking that he accept his withdrawal from the A.M.E. Zion Church.  He had a greater work to do.  After much dialogue, the bishop finally accepted it.

Pastor Oney has two children, Whitney and Warren.  His favorite scripture is Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”