Original  Free Will Baptist

 Bishop LaVaughn Hughes, Sr., a native Floridian, was born on July 15, 1963 in the city of Crestview. On April 19, 1980, at the age of sixteen, the Lord saved him and filled him with His Holy Spirit. As a result of his obedience and love for the Gospel, God blessed him to lead many other young people to give their lives to Jesus. Bishop Hughes moved to the Washington metropolitan area in June of 1983. 

The following year he united with the Faith Temple No. 2 (FT#2), Original Free Will Baptist Church (OFWBC) in Capitol Heights, MD, under the leadership of Bishop L. N. Forbes. Hughes served as the YPCL President as well as a Bible Church school and Bible Study teacher for many years. In April 1988 he was ordained a deacon and served faithfully for 5 years. He married Felecia (now "First Lady") on June 18, 1988, and from this union they have 3 wonderful children--LaVaughn Jr., Alecia, and Crystal. And with Heavenly help, he preached his initial sermon entitled, "Due Season" in April 1993. God had been true to His promise and this would be the beginning of many wonderful things the Lord had in store for him. The Middle Eastern District of Original Free Will Baptist Conference is comprised of more than 40 churches, and Bishop Hughes holds several positions within this Organization. He served as President of the Northern District Union, which oversees 7 churches located between East Orange, NJ and Richmond, VA; he served on the OFWB Ordination Council. Additionally, he served on the Book of Discipline Committee for the General Original Free Will Baptist Conference of America (which consists of 4 Conference bodies). 

The Book of Discipline governs the aforementioned conference bodies and as a committee member, he was intricately involved with acquiring material; editing content; and composing text for the current Book of Discipline. The Lord remains steadfast in elevating His servant: In 2000, he was commissioned to pastor the Tabernacle of Praise OFWB Church, in Waldorf, MD, where he served for nine years until purposely summoned by Bishop Forbes to come back home to pastor Faith Temple No. 2.  In 2003, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree by the Breakthrough Bible College (Partnership of Oral Roberts University). In 2007 & 2012, Bishop Hughes along with others travelled to Liberia, West Africa, to receive and train pastors funder the OFWB Conference umbrella.  Currently, over 30 African churches and 3 schools have been established and the ministries are continually growing.

One of the schools is named in honor of Bishop Hughes and soon to be launched a Technical school.  In 2009, Bishop Hughes was inaugurated as the successor of Bishop L. N. Forbes as Pastor of FT#2. (After 47 years of dedicated and faithful service as Founder and Pastor, Bishop Forbes being lead of the Holy Spirit, retired as its Pastor.  Submissive to God, as well as a true testimony of his humility as a servant, Bishop Forbes passed his Pastor's mantle to Bishop Hughes).  In 2012, Bishop Hughes was honored by Washington, DC metropolitan radio station (WPRS-FM), Radio ONE, Inc., in a community-wide Prayer Breakfast, for outstanding programs and services beneficial in strengthening the community. 

February 1, 2013, Bishop LaVaughn Hughes, Sr., was appointed the successor of Bishop L. N. Forbes as the Presiding Prelate of the Middle Eastern District, Original Free Will Baptist Conference of America, Inc., where he previously served three years as First Vice Bishop.  The "Episcopal Confirmation and Installation Ceremony" for Bishop Hughes was held on November 2, 2013 at the    L. N. Forbes Tabernacle, Wilson, NC.  In 2013, Bishop Hughes was also appointed 2nd Vice Bishop of the General Original Free Will Baptist Conference of America, which oversees four Conference bodies, under the leadership of the General Bishop, James E. Tripp.

February 12, 2014, Bishop LaVaughn Hughes, Sr., was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree.  The Honorary Conferment Proclamation was presented by Dr. Alfred C. D. Vaughn, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Eastern Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, VA.  This  notable  and honorable recognition was given to Bishop Hughes during the (FT#2) 51st Church Anniversary celebration.