Bread of Life Ministries originated in 1980 when Reverend Jay R. and Reverend Magdalene Leach moved to Seoul, Republic of South Korea. Shortly after arriving, at the urging of Reverend M.J. Leach a home prayer and Bible study fellowship meetings was started with a small group of Christians (American & Korean nationality) within their home. They fasted and prayed for the salvation of loved ones and for a move of God in Korea and around the world. In 1980 Reverend J.R. Leach accepted the call to "Preach the Gospel". "The teaching and training of the Gospel" ministry had come a decade earlier, in the Republic of Panama where the Leaches worked alongside a husband/wife missionary team, Reverend Samuel and Sister Lydia Sellick. God placed the Leaches right in the middle of an international Missionary Christian environment in Korea. By March 1981, the work had grown into a full-time ministry. Also at this time, Reverend Keith Shaw, a London England based missionary arrived in Seoul, Korea from the Republic of Bahrain. He came to the ministry and explained to Reverend Leach, how God had given him a vision of a black man in Seoul, Korea whom he was to teach the Word. For the next year, Reverend Leach and Reverend Shaw were inseparable as Reverend Shaw taught Reverend Leach one on one the Word of God. In June 1982, the Leaches departed from Korea headed for North Carolina. As a result of their powerful ministry in Korea, twenty-one ministers received the call into the Gospel Ministry and are now serving in the capacities of pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and church builders around America and the world. Reverend M.J. Leach had the opportunity to visit the ministry in Korea in August 1998. After arriving in Fort Bragg, North Carolina in July 1982, many families desired to be a part of the Leach Family Ministry. Serving as forerunner of the Bread of Life Ministries, the Leach Family was teaching, preaching, and using their musical talents in the ministry. From 1984-1988, while pastor of Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Fair Bluff, North Carolina, Reverend Leach taught for Heritage Bible College at Sandy Grove and Center Baptist of Bladenboro, North Carolina. This experience gave Reverend Leach the opportunity to be groomed for the Breach of Life Ministries. In August 1994, the Bread of Life workshop began when eight churches of St. John Baptist Association asked Reverend Leach to start a teaching ministry for their officers and congregation. In April 1998, class #1 consisting of 55 students received the Advanced Bible Diploma at the Oak Hill Baptist Church, Wagram, North Carolina. After four years of teaching the workshops offered on the thrid Saturday of each month had grown into a great workshop, which included different denominations. On the fourth Suday in August 1998, in the parking lot of the Cedar Grove Baptist church, the Reverend Ronnie Ford and Reverend Leach reminisced about prior fellowship of the Word. From this conversation the first class (class #2) of Bread of Life Bible Institute was born. October 5, 1998, Dr. J.R. and M.J. Leach began to teach in the dining facility of the Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Whiteville, North Carolina. In October 1999, the institute moved to a rental property at 115 Caldis Street, Whiteville. At the same time Oak Hill Center was established in Wagram, NC. In October 2001, the classes moved to our present location, a 7000 square foot former apparel factory at 624 Columbus Apparel Road in Whiteville, NC. The Lord blessed us to purchase this property on December 1, 2002. Since its inception in 1998 the Bread of Life Bible Institute has grown to 13 campuses located in five states. During this period The Bread of Life Ministries have planted 9 churches. The Reverend M. J. Leach summed it up neatly when she said, "Equipping God's saints for the work of the ministry is what we do. It's all we do!"
If you have any feedback on how we can make our new website better please do contact us. We would like to hear from you.