Biography of Bishop Dr. Taunya Marie Queen-Melendez, Ed.D.

Presiding Bishop & General Overseer

Taunya Queen-Melendez is the daughter of Dolores Marie McKissick-Queen and Robert Lee Queen Sr. She was raised in their home as the eldest to seven siblings: Robert, Michael, Michelle (deceased), Faith, Patricia, David, and Marcus. Each member of her family has contributed significantly and intricately to who she is—a faith-filled family who learned holiness and consistent commitment.

Dr. Queen-Melendez began her secular teaching experience as an elementary school teacher in 1982. Then in obedience to God’s divine call, Dr. Queen-Melendez left her secular employment to become the principal of Christ Crusader Academy, a school founded by the late Bishop Jesse Winley and the first principal Antoinette Buchanan. She continued to serve CCA for ten years.

In 1997, God spoke to Dr. Queen-Melendez allowing her to know that He was calling her to Ahoskie, NC. While in preparation to leave NY, God opened the door for Dr. Queen-Melendez to temporarily return to the New York City Board of Education to coordinate Mayor Giuliani’s citywide literacy initiative, “Partners in Reading”.

Dr. Queen-Melendez has taught in several colleges and universities, including Bronx Community College, The College of New Rochelle, Hunter College Graduate School, and Roanoke Chowan Community College in Ahoskie, North Carolina.

Dr. Queen-Melendez founded Rehoboth Educational Services and Rehoboth II. Both are faith-based, holistic, child-centered programs which offer childcare, child advocacy, and training for organizations and groups in child-related issues. Dr. Queen-Melendez is also the author of the workshop series “Feeding Your Child’s Spirit,” which has been presented to numerous audiences. She had a weekly radio program in Ahoskie for nine years.

In 2004, Dr. Queen-Melendez achieved an earned Doctorate of Education in the area of Instructional Leadership from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. This was her culminating degree after receiving a professional diploma in School Administration from the College of New Rochelle (New Rochelle, New York), a Master of Science degree in Counseling Education from Fordham University (New York City, New York), a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Point Park College (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), and an Associate of Science degree from Oklahoma City Southwestern Christian College (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma).

In 2007, Dr. Queen-Melendez completed the requirements to become a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and now serves as a therapist providing Christian Counseling and Play Therapy to children and families. Dr. Queen-Melendez has established Rehoboth Counseling Services, which is a North Carolina State-licensed mental health facility operating in several locations in North Carolina.

Taunya joyfully states that she fell in love with Jesus when she was four years old in Newfoundland, Canada. There she attended her first Daily Vacation Bible School and learned her favorite hymn, “Fairest Lord Jesus”. Later at the age of nine, she was introduced to Christ Soul Saving Station where the late Pastors Evelyn and Irving Bethel led her to the Lord.

The late Evangelist Dolores Queen took Taunya to her first Soul Saving Station Holy Convocation in New York City in 1967. It was there that Taunya became a “Soul girl”. She learned of Chief Apostle Billie Roberts’s vision and the nine young people who helped him evangelize the city. Taunya was able to witness first-hand the power of God flowing and before the convocation ended she was baptized by the late Jesse H. Winley.

Months later at the age of 12, Taunya was filled with the Holy Ghost under the ministry of the late Evangelist Elizabeth Andersen. At the age of sixteen, she spent a week with Mother Bessie Roberts in the Toledo, Ohio home of Bro. James and Sister Gladys Russell. This time was spent learning more about the founders of the Soul Saving Station.

In 1975, Taunya was also privileged to be one of the five students selected by Bishop Jesse and Mother Maria Winley to attend the Pentecostal Holiness College in Oklahoma City. It was there that she attended the six-week revival that Bishop Jesse conducted at Muse Memorial Pentecostal Holiness Church. That revival is still being talked about today, some fifty years later.

Taunya Marie Queen began in ministry teaching the nursery school class in Christ Soul Saving Station Sunday school at the age of 14. She later went on to become the director of the Vacation Bible School at the age of 18 following in the footsteps of the late Rita Branch. Taunya was credentialed as a Christian Worker under her Pastors Raymond and Wilhelmina Carter in Duquesne, PA. She continued teaching adult Sunday school classes in Duquesne and Harlem. She also served as an instructor in the Collegiate Bible College of Soul Saving Station in New York City under the late Dr. Gwendolyn Williams and the late Reverend Roosevelt Whitted.

Dr. Queen-Melendez was licensed in ministry under the late Bishop Alvin L. Tate and Mother Euodias Tate in 1987. In 2004, she was ordained in ministry under the late Bishop Valeriano and Co-founder Eleanor Melendez.

Dr. Taunya Queen-Melendez became the founder and Pastor of Well of Life Kingdom Ministries in Ahoskie/Rich Square, North Carolina in 2013 and continues to serve in that vineyard.

In 2017, Dr. Queen-Melendez was appointed to the Soul Saving Station Board of Presbyters (BOP) by Interim General Overseer Sondra Julien. She went on to serve as the Executive Secretary of the BOP under Presiding Bishop Dr. Robert L. Davis.

In 2019, Bishop Davis expressed the leading of the Holy Spirit to select Dr. Queen-Melendez as Assistant General Overseer to the Soul Saving Station Organization. The Board of Presbyters voted to ratify this appointment. In 2020, Bishop Davis, along with the BOP approval, stated his intent to elevate Dr. Queen-Melendez to the high office of Bishop.

After serving as Assistant General Overseer and Bishop for 6 years, the Soul Saving Station Board of Presbyters presented Bishop Queen-Melendez as their God-selected candidate to serve as the Presiding Bishop and General Overseer of the Soul Saving Station Christ Crusaders of America. This decision was further ratified by an over two-thirds vote of the Soul Saving Station Board of Elders. Thus, leading to Bishop Dr. Taunya Queen-Melendez becoming the Ninth Presiding Bishop and General Overseer, as well as the First Female to be fully installed in this prestigious office.

Bishop Queen-Melendez is very grateful to be so honored by God, to be blessed to accomplish much professionally and in ministry. However, she counts her greatest blessings ever to be her children Kimberly Valese Melendez, Valeriano Melendez the Fourth (Brittany Melendez), and her brand new grandson Valeriano Melendez the Fifth. When all is said and done, Taunya Marie Queen-Melendez wants to be known as a child of God and a good and faithful servant.