Pastor


Elders

Elders serve as overseers and trustees of all aspects of ministry at GCIC. They also preach and lead our worship services.

  • Rev. Lester Castro             
  • Rev. Marva Downes                                   
  • Rev. Tyrone Glaspie                     
  • Syliva Rios  
  • Rev. Victor Rodriguez

Deacons

Deacons lead the various ministries, care groups and outreaches of GCIC. They also preach and minister in prayer at our services.

  • Rev. Ruben Acosta
  • Rev. Hernan Alamo              
  • Rev. Vanessa Cruz   
  • Rev. Esther Gonzalez-Torres         
  • Rev. Luis Guerra                                    
  • Clifford Knight                 
  • Edra Knight              
  • Juliette Leith             
  • Rev. Saundra Melendez    
  • Jesus Morales                    
  • Richard Rodriguez                                             

Lady Willie Gonzalez

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​Guillermina “Lady Willie” Gonzalez, 76, of Hartford, beloved wife
for 42 years of the late Bishop Raul Gonzalez, went to be with
her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, surrounded
by her family at the UConn Medical Center in Farmington.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on August 21, 1946, daughter of the late
Carlos Cesar and Justa Rufina Ramos Cancel, she was raised in
Brooklyn, NY and was a graduate of Sarah J. Hale High School, Class of 1964. After high
school, Willie took a position in Manhattan for a publishing company as a typist. While
commuting to work one morning with her sister Maria, Willie struck up a conversation
with a young man, Raul Gonzalez and his friend Louie Collazo. Shortly after, Willie and
Raul started dating and were married a few years later on April 1, 1967 in Brooklyn, NY.
Lady Willie came to Hartford, Connecticut in 1971 with Bishop González to help start
the Youth Challenge Men’s Home, a Christ centered drug free program. She continued
her education and graduated from the Corinthian School of Urban Ministry with a
Bachelors Degree in Biblical Studies. Lady Willie was a licensed Minister with Youth
Challenge International and served as a Pastor at Glory Chapel International Cathedral,
the church founded by her husband. She supported and worked hand in hand and side
by side with Bishop since the early days of their ministry together. Their lives were living
testimonies that, with God, all things are possible.
Lady Willie ministered extensively to families, women and children. She was involved

in church educational programs, neighborhood children’s outreach, prayer, and Christ-
centered substance abuse support services including culinary and administrative functions.

Her dedication to family, the church and her ministry was unmatched. She was an
example of God’s keeping power and she served as a role model to all people of all ages.
She leaves to mourn her passing and to cherish her legacy, four children, Colonel Ret.
Raul E. Gonzalez, US Army and his wife Jennifer of El Paso, TX, Yvette M. Hopping and
her husband Jason of San Diego, CA, Esther I. Gonzalez-Torres and her husband Elias of
Hartford, and Braulio D. Gonzalez and his wife Lizandra of Windsor; eight grandchildren,
Jade A. Pucong and her husband Christian of Kona, HI, Jason “Ricardo” Hopping,
Daniel Raul Hopping, and Rey David Hopping all of San Diego, CA, Elijiah Samuel
Torres and Ezekiel Raul Torres both of Hartford, Kasmir Alan Breedlove and Gabriel
Manuel Gonzalez both of Windsor; four sisters, Maria E. Gongon and her husband Raul
Oquendo of Tallahassee, FL, Magdelena Y. Gongon and her husband Mario Rivera of
Dorado, PR, Matilda I. Gongon and her husband Luis Rodriguez of Trujillo Alto, PR,
and Anamaria Gongon and her husband Jose Crespo of Kissimmee, FL; two brothers,
Carlos Gongon and his wife Judith Fuentes of Tampa, FL, and Luis R. Gongon and his
wife Lucy Maldonado of Port St. Lucie, FL; a sister-in-law, Blanca Gongon of Hartford;
and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. In addition to her
husband, she was predeceased by four brothers, Michael, Gilbert, Manuel, and Carlos
Gongon; and a sister, Blanca R. Gongon.
Guillermina “Lady Willie” Gonzalez, 76, of Hartford, beloved wife
for 42 years of the late Bishop Raul Gonzalez, went to be with
her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, surrounded
by her family at the UConn Medical Center in Farmington.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on August 21, 1946, daughter of the late
Carlos Cesar and Justa Rufina Ramos Cancel, she was raised in
Brooklyn, NY and was a graduate of Sarah J. Hale High School, Class of 1964. After high
school, Willie took a position in Manhattan for a publishing company as a typist. While
commuting to work one morning with her sister Maria, Willie struck up a conversation
with a young man, Raul Gonzalez and his friend Louie Collazo. Shortly after, Willie and
Raul started dating and were married a few years later on April 1, 1967 in Brooklyn, NY.
Lady Willie came to Hartford, Connecticut in 1971 with Bishop González to help start
the Youth Challenge Men’s Home, a Christ centered drug free program. She continued
her education and graduated from the Corinthian School of Urban Ministry with a
Bachelors Degree in Biblical Studies. Lady Willie was a licensed Minister with Youth
Challenge International and served as a Pastor at Glory Chapel International Cathedral,
the church founded by her husband. She supported and worked hand in hand and side
by side with Bishop since the early days of their ministry together. Their lives were living
testimonies that, with God, all things are possible.
Lady Willie ministered extensively to families, women and children. She was involved

in church educational programs, neighborhood children’s outreach, prayer, and Christ-
centered substance abuse support services including culinary and administrative functions.

Her dedication to family, the church and her ministry was unmatched. She was an
example of God’s keeping power and she served as a role model to all people of all ages.
She leaves to mourn her passing and to cherish her legacy, four children, Colonel Ret.
Raul E. Gonzalez, US Army and his wife Jennifer of El Paso, TX, Yvette M. Hopping and
her husband Jason of San Diego, CA, Esther I. Gonzalez-Torres and her husband Elias of
Hartford, and Braulio D. Gonzalez and his wife Lizandra of Windsor; eight grandchildren,
Jade A. Pucong and her husband Christian of Kona, HI, Jason “Ricardo” Hopping,
Daniel Raul Hopping, and Rey David Hopping all of San Diego, CA, Elijiah Samuel
Torres and Ezekiel Raul Torres both of Hartford, Kasmir Alan Breedlove and Gabriel
Manuel Gonzalez both of Windsor; four sisters, Maria E. Gongon and her husband Raul
Oquendo of Tallahassee, FL, Magdelena Y. Gongon and her husband Mario Rivera of
Dorado, PR, Matilda I. Gongon and her husband Luis Rodriguez of Trujillo Alto, PR,
and Anamaria Gongon and her husband Jose Crespo of Kissimmee, FL; two brothers,
Carlos Gongon and his wife Judith Fuentes of Tampa, FL, and Luis R. Gongon and his
wife Lucy Maldonado of Port St. Lucie, FL; a sister-in-law, Blanca Gongon of Hartford;
and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. In addition to her
husband, she was predeceased by four brothers, Michael, Gilbert, Manuel, and Carlos
Gongon; and a sister, Blanca R. Gongon.