Engaging the Community

Rev. Dr. Lori (Lo) Banfield is a native of Philadelphia, PA, with interdisciplinary expertise in psychology and practical theology. Her lineage is steeped with trailblazing atmosphere changers, spiritual and physical chain breakers, and truth tellers like her great-grandmother, Bishop Lena Thomas. With a love for studying and enhancing the sacred human experience, Dr. Banfield has dedicated her life, research, and service to fostering spiritual resilience and liberation paths in marginalized communities, especially those returning home from incarceration.

Over the years, she has honed her skills as an instructional designer, curriculum, and program developer consistently lauded for her transformative classroom practices and a pedagogy rooted in capacity scaffolding and sacred space setting. An Associate Elder at Word Formed Church, she also serves as Lecturer of Psychology at Eastern University, Assistant Director of Instructional Design for Palmer Theological Seminary and College, and Mamher of Practical Theology at Meachum School of Haymanot. Dr. Lo remains dedicated to local service as an executive director at Redemption Housing – Reentry Services. A wife and mother of two children, Dr. Lo endeavors to build atmosphere changers and restore sacred space within and beyond church, school, and prison walls.

Fuller Seminary is an evangelical, multidenominational graduate institution committed to forming global leaders for kingdom vocations. Responding to changes in the church and world, Fuller is transforming the seminary experience for both traditional students and those beyond the classroom: providing theological formation that helps Christ-followers serve as faithful, courageous, innovative, collaborative, and fruitful leaders in all of life, in any setting.

The Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith International (PCAFI) was founded by Bishop Samuel N. Hancock in 1957 and officially incorporated on November 20, 1957. Established from its inception as a Oneness Pentecostal organization practicing baptism by full water immersion, the group sought to create an organization that stood for the highest standards of holiness. It is one of twelve major organizations born from the womb of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World between 1919 and 1960. Today, with churches across the globe, the PCAFI remains committed to its trademark of spiritual excellence and integrity on behalf of the Apostolic faith. Bishop Lambert W. Gates, Sr. is the current presiding bishop.