He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. As a youngster, Brother Kenneth N. Shelton played saxophone with the National Orchestra and worked around the church, more specifically in the Apostolic Parish House. It was there that Brother Shelton--the seventh son of Bishop S. McDowell Shelton, the late Pastor and General Overseer of the church--began to serve his father.
On his father's birthday in April 1976, the church witnessed and was introduced to the newly ordained of God, Elder Omega Yediduth Limmud (Hebrew meaning "beloved disciple") Shelton. During the ordination, Bishop Shelton prophesied about the promise of his youngest son, telling the congregation of the strength and faith of the one who would succeed him. Prior to his assuming the Bishopric, the younger Shelton served the church with distinction, holding the titles Administrative Elder for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Elder of Oversight for the National Young People's Department.
The prophecy of the late Bishop has come to fruition in his successor's leadership of the church organization. The death of Bishop Shelton in October 1991 proved to be a pivotal point in church history. Showing the strength and leadership the congregation needed, Elder Omega encouraged and comforted the membership, galvanizing the flock and maintaining the church's integrity. Subsequently, on May 24, 1992, seven months after the passing of his father, Elder Omega Y. L. Shelton was consecrated Bishop.
As the spiritual leader of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, the cornerstone of Bishop Omega's ministry is the edification of the congregation through the Word of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But the Bishop is not preaching only to those within the church organization; his is a ministry of inclusion, whose mission is to spread the ideals of Christianity throughout the world.
While working to enhance the spiritual development of his congregation, Bishop Omega began to spread the Gospel internationally. "Jesus Christ came that we might be saved, not to condemn," along with "Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us," served as the missionary axioms for Bishop Omega's travels.
In 1993, His Eminence met with former South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela, in Johannesburg. This historic meeting was a milestone in that Bishop Omega was the first clergyman to present a humanitarian award to Dr. Mandela for his heroic struggles against injustice and persecution.
In January 1995, Bishop Omega led an Apostolic delegation to the Holy Land of Israel; Amman, Jordan; and Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to bestow the prestigious International Apostolic Humanitarian Award upon Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin at the Knesset Building and King Hussein I of Jordan at the Royal Court. On January 20th, atop Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, Bishop Omega broadcasted a live sermon to the church congregation throughout the Continental United States. Later that year, Bishop Omega traveled to Rome, where he was granted a private audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican; he and the Pontiff discussed occasions for peace and the need to spread joy and love throughout the world.
In 1998, Bishop Omega accepted an invitation to come to London for a special live radio broadcast over CHOICE FM 96.9. He was the first pastor ever to preach live over the station's airways to a vast population in Britain.
Domestically, throughout his tenure as the leader of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Bishop Omega has been honored by national, state and local leaders for his efforts on behalf of mankind, which exemplifies the character of Christ and the generosity and dignity of our great nation. On the occasion of his 10th Anniversary, the President of the United States George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush recognized Bishop Omega in a ceremony held at the local edifice in Washington, D.C. In addition to citations for service from President Bush and the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the United States Navy Ceremonial Guard presented the Bishop with a U.S. flag that had been flown atop the U.S. Capitol in honor of his Pastoral Anniversary in 2002.
In the wake of the tragedies of September 11, 2001, Bishop Omega called the congregation together in unity around the diocese to support and assist communities across the nation, both emotionally and economically. For his efforts, in November 2001, during a Sunday service at the Delaware church, the Honorable Ruth Ann Minner, the Governor of Delaware, presented him with a tribute for nurturing the spiritual health of the people of her state. His Eminence has received commendations from the mayors of New York City, New York; Elizabeth City, North Carolina; and Cape Charles, Virginia.
In addition to reaching world leaders, His Eminence has a dynamic music ministry that resonates with today's youth. His music has been receiving national acclaim since the release of his first nationally distributed CD, "If It's Right... God Has Made It Right," in September 2001. Bishop Omega and Glorious Hope--the musical chorus that accompanies him in songs of praise and worship--joined "Grammy-Award winning Christian music artist, Fred Hammond, for an outdoor gospel summer concert in September 2005, on the church's 110-acre estate in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Bishop Omega continues to travel throughout the Continental United States and abroad, spreading God's Gospel and living a life that counts for Christ. He is a selfless preacher of the Word and teacher of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Elder Omega completed his high school education in 1975 at the accelerated learning institution, Penn Center Academy in Philadelphia. Shortly thereafter, he started undergraduate studies at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, before moving on to the American College of Switzerland at Leysin, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1982 and Master of Arts degrees in the areas of human behavior and political science in 1984. In 1985, Elder Omega earned an Alliance Français degree from Ecole Schulz in Switzerland, certifying him as an accomplished linguist. In addition to English, he is fluent in French and has a working knowledge of Spanish, Arabic and Portuguese. Bishop Omega returned to his alma mater, the American College of Switzerland, in 1995, where he received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his outstanding accomplishments. The distinguished Bishop was Keynote Speaker at that year's graduation ceremonies.
Bishop Omega Shelton is married to Lady Donna Marie Shelton. Together, they are the proud parents of a son and two daughters.