Superintendent Van W. Wells was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi to Mr. & Mrs. Honor Wells. He is a veteran who served his country in the U.S. Army. He married Joyce Naomi Dickerson, they are very proud parents, grandparents & great grandparents, who believe that the family that prays together, stays together. They begin each day with prayer together.

Superintendent Wells was called to the ministry, and attended C.H. Mason Bible College where he received his degree in Religion. He served as Assistant Pastor to Bishop G.B. Pickens at St. Paul Mission C.O.G.I.C. Following the demise of Bishop Pickens, and at the request of his wife, Mother Rosetta Pickens, Superintendent Wells consented to serve as Pastor of the church. The name of the church was later changed to Bishop G.B. Pickens Memorial Temple C.O.G.I.C. in honor of the founder. One great wish of Superintendent Wells was to build a church for his Pastor. This vision was accomplished as he spearheaded construction of the new Pickens Memorial Temple C.O.G.I.C. in 1989 located 5659 S. Union. The new church was dedicated in 1990.

The teachings and leadership of our Jurisdictional Prelates—the late Bishop Louis Henry Ford, the late Bishop Shepherd Little, and our most honored Bishop Ocie Booker have helped make our Pastor the great leader he is today.

Pastor Wells has served as Assistant Superintendent, and currently as Superintendent of Cain Scott Emmanuel District (now U.E. Miller/St. L.T. Buchanan District). The district went from 4 churches to its present 10 churches under his leadership.

Superintendent Wells serves as Pastor of Bishop G.B. Pickens Memorial Temple C.O.G.I.C. in Chicago, IL and L.T. Buchanan Memorial Temple C.O.G.I.C. in LaGrange, IL. This ministry consists of a Head Start Program, Monday through Friday Drug and Alcohol Ministry, Daily Prayer, Food give-away every Friday, Television Broadcast (The Good News Hour every Sunday evening at 5pm & every Friday morning at 6am on T.L.N.-Total Living Network), Couples Ministry, Counseling, Youth Services, and all regular church services designed to win souls for the kingdom of God. Everyone is welcome.

Superintendent Wells serves as 1^st Administrative Assistant to Bishop Ocie Booker of 1^st Jurisdiction, IL; he was listed in the 2000 edition of Who’s-Who of America; a board member of MARC (Ministers Aligned to Revitalize Corporation); developers and builders of low income housing and providers of jobs for the Englewood Community.

He and his wife faithfully serve the church, and are striving to fulfill the vision that the Lord has given them. His future plans is to have a WELLS CITY OF HOPE—Rehabilitation of the Englewood Community is a vital part of the vision that the Lord has given Pastor Wells. This consists of construction of shopping malls, senior housing, medical facilities, low-income housing, grocery stores, laundry mats, cleaning up our streets, and teaching people about a better quality of life.