Obituary of Pastor Hosea Cannon, Jr.

Overseer Hosea Cannon. Jr. M. Min, D. Div. Overseer Hosea Cannon, Jr. was born March 5, 1965, in Monroe, Louisiana to Hosea Cannon, Sr. and Delores B. Cannon. Hosea was the older brother of Charles Cannon from his parent’s union. Hosea's parents raised him at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, where he participated in choir and drama productions; however, he did not have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Hosea often told stories of how he loved the chocolate chip cookies his mom would make, stealing a cookie after his mother said no. After which, Hosea stood boldly before his mother, denying it with chocolate residue around his mouth. Hosea also had fond memories of his father and his sayings, like, “Boy, you are going to be a man a lot longer than you will be a boy, so empty that trash & whenever you see it full, you take it out!” One of the family's favorite memories of him is his stealthiness. “He loves to sneak up on us and scare us with his famous saying, Boo-jo-lay,” leaving the victim of his antics wondering where he came from. Hosea attended Neville High School as an All-State Football player and Honor Roll student. After winning a full scholarship to a University in Arkansas, Hosea began to use drugs and drink heavily. After losing his father in June 1984, Hosea's grades dwindled, and he subsequently lost his scholarship and sight of his goal to play in the NFL and be a computer software engineer. A change in him that would last forever happened on a visit to Denver, Colorado, where his uncle, Pastor Leroy Lengyon Sr., pastored Solomons Temple Missionary Baptist Church. He often told how his uncle spent all night sharing the gospel of Christ Jesus and lovingly answering all his questions. His uncle and Evangelist Jessie Ricks, who attended Solomons Temple & became his mother-in-law, saw great potential in him and poured out their hearts while opening the Scriptures to him. In December 1984, Hosea gave his life to the Lord. He returned to his home in Monroe, Louisiana, where he was licensed to preach in June 1985 and ordained in October 1987. While on his life-changing visit to Denver, Hosea met the love of his life. On August 15, 1987, Hosea and Janice were united in marriage, to their union came two sons Hosea & Josiah. Hosea joined the Denver Sheriff’s Department in 1989. There, he served in many ways: as a Deputy, as the chaplain of the Fraternal Order of Police and Black Sheriff Protective Association, as an instructor in the Sheriff's Academy, and as a counselor to officers and inmates. In 1993 The Lord led a group of believers who had been having bible study to start a ministry worked called Disciples of Christ New Testament Church, now called Greater Faith Worship Center. There the group decided for Hosea to be their Pastor. Mother Mae Buchanan told him “Be a straight stick so others would see that theirs is crooked.” In October 1999, the Lord called him to full-time ministry and commanded him to resign from the Sheriff's Department and trust Him. Hosea resigned his commission as a deputy and was offered a part-time position as a Training Supervisor. He taught defensive tactics and hand-to-hand combat in addition to instructing hundreds of deputies and law enforcement officers over the years. Hosea obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies & a Masters of Pastoral Ministry from the Carolina University of Theology, and a Doctor of Divinity from Saint Thomas Christian University. Hosea has had the honor of serving as Chaplain of the American Jail Association, where he and his wife published many articles. Hosea has received numerous awards and commendations, including two times as employee of the month, commendations from both the Sheriff and Division Chiefs, a Community Service Award, a two-time PRIDE award winner, as well as The Presidents Gold Volunteer award for Community Service from the President of the United States of America. Overseer Cannon served as senior pastor of Greater Faith Worship Center, District Overseer of Judah District Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, Chaplain and Programs Coordinator of the Denver Sheriff Department, Chaplain of Lodge 27 of the Fraternal Order of Police, and Chaplain of the AJA (American Jail Association). Hosea leaves to mourn his wife of 37 years, Janice T. Cannon; two sons, Hosea Cannon III and Josiah Alexander Cannon; one niece, Monique Gay; the Greater Faith Worship Center; a host of family; co-workers and community of friends.