Reverend Chuma Okoli of the IGBO tribe, is a native of Nigeria, in West Africa.  He is the grandson of Rev. Cannon Jeremiah Ekemezie Ikejiani who was one of the earliest converts to Christianity in the Igbo land.  He received his early education in Bendel State and Anambra State of Nigeria.  While studying the geography of the United States, he received a vision from God to leave Nigeria and come to the United States.

He matriculated from Texas Southern University, in Houston, TX, with degrees in Bachelors of Business Administration, Masters of Public Administration, and a Master’s of Science in Foods and Nutrition.  The highlight of his study was the NASA/TSU Research on The Effects of Freezing on Russian, French and Japanese foods for long duration mission in space.  This research work was presented at the Russian Space Agency and accepted for publication by the Japanese Space Agency.   He is currently seeking a Doctor of Ministry Degree at the Houston Graduate School of Theology.

Rev. Okoli was employed by Professional Service Management Inc. and served as Director of Operations at Prairie View A & M University.  As Director of Operations, he supervised twelve Managers, one hundred and seventy nine employees, four Campus Restaurants and a Food Catering Service.  He was also employed by Prairie View A&M University as Instructor of Nutrition.  He taught the following courses; Introduction of Nutrition, Meal Management, Family Resource Management, Physio-Chemical Aspects in Foods and Food Systems Management.

He was licensed to preach on March 5, 1995 and was ordained an Itinerant Deacon on October 12, 1997 and an Itinerant Elder on October 10, 1999, in the Texas Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.   He served as the Proud Pastor of the following Churches: Williams Chapel AME Church, Patterson, TX; East Orange AME Church, Houston, TX.  He has served the AME church in numerous leadership capacities:  Chairman of the Ministerial Efficiency Committee; Trustee of both Texas Annual conference and South West Texas Annual Conference; an Observer, Alternate Delegate and Delegate to the General Conferences of the AME Church; and Member of the South West Texas Board of Examiners.

In November 2007, Reverend Okoli was appointed to serve as the proud Pastor of the dynamic and diverse congregation of Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in San Antonio, TX.  In his short stay, he has established a vision for Economic Development that will create a debt free Church, double the membership, and build the Village at Emmanuel.  His ultimate vision is “to build up a regenerating, rejuvenating Kingdom People, who are empowered Spiritually, Physically, Socially, Economically and Politically.  He has hosted numerous Gospel Concerts and Political Forums at Emmanuel, and served as an active member of the East Side Planning Commission.  

Rev. Okoli is also a member of the Community of Churches for Social Action, an organization which focuses on empowering communities and revitalizing the neighborhoods.  He was the Speaker at the 20th Anniversary of the MLK Celebration sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha.  He was invited to open the Bexar County Commissioner Courts with prayer.  

Currently, under his leadership Emmanuel AME Church is in partnership with the Dellcrest Neighborhood Association (DANA), and with the University of Texas in San Antonio, School of Architecture to design the next level vision for Emmanuel.

Rev. Okoli is married to the love of his life, Ellen McDonald, a Teacher with the Judson Independent School District, Converse Texas.  They have three children: Ian, an employee at Chase Bank, Dallas TX;  Cris, a senior in Mechanical Engineering at Oklahoma University and Crystal, a senior in Psychology at the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio. Rev Okoli believes that God “rewards those who diligently seek Him.”  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!