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A.R. Bernard is the pastor, founder, and CEO of the Christian Cultural Center, a congregation of 45,000 members. Bernard has served as the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York, representing 1.5 million Protestants, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians. Bernard founded the Christian Community Relations Council, a NY based not-for-profit that serves as a central resource and coordinating body for congregations and community organizations. He is also currently on the Board of Directors for the Commission of Religious Leaders (CORL).
Bernard served on the NYC Economic Development Corporation Board for Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; on the NYC School Chancellor’s Advisory Cabinet; and on Mayor Bloomberg’s 2001 Transition Team as well as Mayor de Blasio’s 2014 Transition Team.
Bernard has a masters in urban studies and a masters in divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. He has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Wagner College and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Nyack College/Alliance Theological Seminary.
Dimas Salaberrios is the founding pastor of Infinity NY Church, located in the Bronx River Housing Projects. Bronx River holds the distinction of being the birthplace of hip hop, and it is located in a section of the South Bronx that has both the youngest residents in NY State, and has the poorest residents in the United States. In 2013, Infinity NY Church merged with Bronx Bible Church to become Infinity Bible Church. Today Dimas Salaberrios and Joe Fletcher co-pastor Infinity Bible Church in the Bronx River Community.
In 2004, Dimas was appointed by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to Co-Chair the Youth Committee of its 2005 Greater New York Crusade. One of his responsibilities as Co-Chairman was to coordinate the statewide Prayer Breakfast. A huge success, the breakfast was the largest Christian youth worker’s gathering ever held in New York City, and also the largest in Billy Graham Crusade’s 60-year history. Dimas was also chosen to serve as the Saturday-night opener for this historic event: Billy Graham’s final Crusade. Over 240,000 people participated.
In 2013, Concerts of Prayer Greater NY (COPGNY) unanimously chose Dimas as its new president. He has served on COPGNY’s Board of Directors for several years, and today that organization is the largest mobilizing force of pastors in the Tri-state area.
Dimas holds a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary.