Bishop James W. Marquis, Sr.

Bishop James W. Marquis, Sr., beloved husband of Pastor Joy Marquis, father of Rebekah (Rev. Sam) Brady, James (Morgan) Marquis, and Andrew (Tiffany) Marquis, papaw of ten grandchildren, founder of New Covenant Worship Center and New Covenant Global Outreach, veteran of the United States Navy, and faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, entered into the presence of his Savior on June 25, 2026, at the age of 64. For more than forty years, he faithfully loved his family, proclaimed the Gospel, and shepherded God's people.

Born April 19, 1962, to James and Norma Marquis in Hamilton, Ohio, his early childhood was spent following his father's naval career to duty stations on both coasts before the family returned to Wellston, where Bishop Marquis graduated from Wellston High School in 1980.

Upon graduating from high school, he followed in his father's footsteps by enlisting in the United States Navy. During his naval service, he served with distinction aboard the USS Nassau while stationed at Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk Virginia, rising to the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. It was during this time that he connected with Bishop John and Pastor Anne Gimenez of Rock Church International and began pastoring his first congregation, made up of fellow sailors aboard the Nassau. During that remarkable ministry, he was credited with leading more than 600 sailors to faith in Jesus Christ.

His years in uniform instilled discipline, courage, humility, and servant leadership—qualities that would later define his pastoral ministry. His ministry became unapologetically focused on advancing the Kingdom of God and seeing the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed to the four corners of the earth.

His salvation experience occurred on June 29, 1980, at the Wellston Church of God. It was not long afterward that he sensed God's unmistakable call to preach the Gospel. That calling was nurtured under the ministry of Pastor Donald Sheets. Throughout his life, Bishop Marquis held ministry credentials with the Church of God and the Pentecostal Church of God and was ultimately consecrated as a bishop through Global Harvest International Fellowship.

He planted New Covenant Worship Center in November 1990 and faithfully pastored the church until the end of his earthly life. In 2008, he founded New Covenant Global Outreach to fulfill his vision of a ministry that reaches the nations of the earth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, New Covenant Global Outreach credentials and provides spiritual covering for ministers serving in numerous states and multiple nations around the world.

Bishop Marquis' ministry was profoundly shaped following a mission trip to Guatemala in 2007. It was there that God birthed within him a deep love for the people of Central America and an unwavering passion for missions. He worked tirelessly to raise support and led numerous teams of missionaries alongside Pastor Jose Alvarez and the Love Kitchen, preaching the Gospel in impoverished communities, dangerous Guatemalan prisons, and rural villages throughout Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras. His love for the people of Guatemala was so genuine that many pastors throughout the nation affectionately referred to him as the "Father of Guatemala." His ministry eventually carried him coast to coast across the United States and throughout Europe and Africa.

He married the love of his life, Joy Lynn Stiffler, in January 1984. Together they built not only a family but a ministry partnership that faithfully served Southern Ohio and beyond for more than four decades. Pastor Joy stood faithfully beside him as they led churches, fed the hungry throughout Central America, and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with innumerable people around the world through a peculiar shepherd's love that became the hallmark of their ministry.

While the public face of his life was his ministry, the true joy of his life was his wife, three children and their spouses, and ten grandchildren. He loved his family with godly wisdom, an irreverent sense of humor, and unwavering fidelity to the Word of God. Whether it was his legendary ability to recall Scripture, his infamous 100-mile vacation screams, or his infectious laughter that filled every room he entered, he was often the center of every conversation.

A man of unwavering prayer who believed every day offered an opportunity to sow Kingdom seed, Bishop Marquis was known to keep special money in his wallet set aside for those whom God placed in his path to bless. Though he held the titles of bishop, founder, veteran, husband, father, and papaw, those who knew him best simply knew him as a man who loved Jesus without reservation and loved people without condition. He leaves behind a legacy of spiritual sons and daughters across the world who continue the work of advancing the Kingdom of God.

He was preceded in death by his father, James N. Marquis, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Herman J. and Mary J. Stiffler.

Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Rev. Norma Marquis; his beloved wife, Pastor Joy Marquis; his children, Rebekah (Rev. Sam) Brady, James (Morgan) Marquis, and Rev. Andrew (Tiffany) Marquis; his ten grandchildren, Aiden, Brandon, Andrew, Bethany, Samuel, Sullivan, Simon, Berklee, Briggston, and Bremmilyn; his brother, Chad (Tammy) Marquis; his brother- and sister-in-law, Tommy (Shirley) Stiffler; along with several nieces, nephews, extended family members, countless friends, and a worldwide family of ministers and believers whose lives were forever touched by his faithful ministry.

Calling hours will be held Monday, June 29, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home in Wellston. A Celebration of Life service will be held Tuesday, June 30, at 11:00 a.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home with Pastor Ken Schoonover officiating. Interment will follow at Ridgewood Cemetery with military honors.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com.

"Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain," Philippians 2:16 (NKJV)