PASTOR ILLONA W. DICKSON, is the wife of nationally acclaimed businessman Reginald Dickson for 51 years, she is the mother of 3, adoptive parent of 3, the grandmother of 7, and she is the Pastor and Founder of the Radiant Life in Christ Apostolic Church.  

Pastor Dickson holds a bachelor's degree from Harris Teacher’s College and a master's degree in education from the University of Missouri @ St. Louis.  

A recently retired teacher, having spent 33 years in the St. Louis Public School System, she is the recipient of six awards as outstanding teacher.  Mrs. Dickson also served as principal of the Pentecostal Christian Academy for 3 years.  

Saved in 1972, Evan. Dickson acknowledged her call to the ministry and served her home church faithfully in many leadership capacities including usher instructor, Sunday school teacher, Vice President of the Ministers Board, Pastor of the Children’s Church, director of the children’s choir & vice- president prison outreach for nineteen years.

Certified with honors in ministerial studies by the Aenon Bible College, St. Louis Extension licensed and ordained by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Evangelist Dickson has been summoned to speak all across the nation.

Under her leadership in Radiant Life Church, two hundred souls were baptized in Jesus’ name and over 150 filled with the Holy Ghost before the church left the basement sanctuary of her home.  The first Apostolic assembly to hold regular services in the Harbor Lighthouse of the Salvation Army, Radiant Life Church continued to minister monthly services and to provide for the homeless is involved in community service to orphans and the homeless, through the One Church One Child Program, the Post Dispatch One Hundred Neediest Cases and the Salvation Army Harbor Light House.  The church also gives support to an orphanage in Haiti and a church in Nairobi, Africa.

Pastor Dickson has also been given the mantle of training Ministers.  Pastors who were under her ministry have successfully established five churches.

In July of 1993 the Midwestern District Council, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World received the membership of the Radiant Life in Christ Apostolic Church.   Pastor Dickson has served this fine organization in many capacities of instruction and leadership including Auxiliary Director, Vice Chair and Chairman of the Pastor’s Advisory Board.   In the summer of 2007, Pastor Dickson was honored by her Diocesan, Bishop Alphonso Scott, with an appointment to the position of District Elder

.  District Elder Dickson (by elected vote) assumed the role of Chairman of the MDC- PAW.

In July of 2012, Bishop Larry Jones elevated her to the office of Suffragan Bishop.

She is the first female in the 70-year history of the council to serve in these six positions.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!