RaSheed L. Lemon, Sr., M.Div.
Senior Pastor
Senior Pastor RaSheed Lamaar Lemon Sr. is the husband to Yolanda Lemon and father to four children - RaSheed II, Timothy, Rosa, and Victoria. He is originally from New York and currently lives in Northern Virginia. RaSheed has served in the ministry for over 20 years and achieved a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies from Regent University in 2022. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with Honors from American Military University. He is working towards his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Investment from Regent University. He aspires to attend Law School after retiring from the federal government.
RaSheed served in the United States Marine Corps and the US Army Reserves for a remarkable twenty-eight years; he retired as a Master Sergeant in March 2023. He serves in civil service with the Department of Homeland Security as the Regional Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge (RSAC), where he has worked for 23 years. RaSheed served under Apostle Steven W. Banks at Living Waters Christian Fellowship (LWCF) in Newport News, VA, from 2000-2002 and was ordained to the Ministry of the Deacon. At LWCF, he was actively involved in various ministries such as the Security Ministry, the Brotherhood Ministry (as a small group leader), the Youth Ministry, and as an Assistant Armorbearer.
In 2002, RaSheed moved to Douglasville, Georgia, where he attended Christ Abundant Life International Ministries (CALIM) under the leadership of Apostle Derrick E. Flanagan, Sr. He faithfully served at CALIM for eight years, where he was a ministry team leader for Divine Revelation MIME Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, and the Security Team. Additionally, he served as a youth and adult Teacher, Youth Ministry Leader, and Armorbearer to Apostle Flanagan.
Embassy Life Deliverance Ministries International (ELDMI)—a non-denominational ministry—was established in Herndon, Virginia, on March 7, 2015, after RaSheed and Yolanda moved to the Northern Virginia area. The ministry aims to transcend the “Seven Spheres of Influence” by raising Apostolic Ambassadors for Christ and sending them to the nations with dominion authority (2 Corinthians 5:20). RaSheed, together with his wife, established a dynamic apostolic, prophetic, and deliverance ministry. ELDMI is affiliated with Jehoshua Ministries International in Pensacola, FL (Apostle Earthy Gaskin, Jr.), Center of Hope Love in Orlando, FL (Apostle Alfred & Prophetess Barbara Gaines), and United Hands Ministry in Orlando, FL. (Apostle Jon & Prophet Ros Eason—they all serve as ministry accountability partners. Global Awakening (Dr. Randy Clark, Lancaster, PA) covered the ministry for three years, and RaSheed traveled with him on a mission trip to Brazil in October 2018. In 2022, the ELDMI was renamed “Embassy Life International Ministries” to reinforce its strong Kingdom mandate to church leadership and biblical teachings. The new name also reflects the ministry's expanded scope, which is no longer exclusive to deliverance.
RaSheed released his debut book, Sons of Purpose: A View of Biblical Heroes through the Eyes of 21st Century Men, in January 2023. He is working on several manuscripts, including Dominion, The Power and Place of Unity, Binding the Strongman: The Spirit of Poverty, P.U.R.P.O.S.E., and a book on ministry leadership co-written with his wife called ...Not Me! A Practical Guide to Servant Leadership. RaSheed confidently proclaims, “The best is yet to come!”
Yolanda N. Lemon
Pastor & Prophetess
Yolanda Necole Lemon is the wife of RaSheed Lemon Sr. and mother of RaSheed II, Timothy, Rosa, and Victoria. Yolanda has been serving in ministry for more than 20 years. She is a native of Panama City, FL, residing in Northern Virginia, and is an educator in the Loudoun County Public School System. She grew up in a family of ministry. Her mother, Rosa Armstead, was an ordained pastor, while her father, David Armstead Sr., was an ordained deacon. They instilled in her the foundations of knowing God and how to sing to the Lord without fear in a church setting from an early age. Yolanda holds a Master's in Business Administration from DeVry University, an Executive Certificate in School Administration and Supervision from Liberty University, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Troy State University.
In 2002, Yolanda accepted the Lord as her Savior; in 2003, she received the call to preach the Gospel. She was mentored by the late Mother Mildred Eason, Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Supervisor of Women of the Florida Central Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, who taught her how to serve leaders in ministry. In 2005, she received her Missionary License with COGIC. She went on to serve in various capacities such as Lead Intercessor, Armor-Bearer, Personal Assistant to the Pastor, Instructor of New Members Class, Church Administrator, and Worship Leader. She was ordained as an Elder in 2014.
Yolanda met the love of her life and got married in a small ceremony officiated by Apostle Alfred Gaines and Prophetess Barbara Gaines. After the wedding, Yolanda and her husband RaSheed moved to Northern Virginia and accepted God's calling to establish Embassy Life International Ministries, which they co-pastored together. 2018 Apostle Earthy Gaskin Jr. of Jehoshua Ministries International in Pensacola, FL, Apostle Alfred, and Prophetess Barbara Gaines of Center of Hope Life in Orlando, FL, affirmed her prophetic ministry.
Yolanda Lemon Ministries was founded on the heels of a life-changing moment Yolanda refers to as "The Assignment of the Spiritual Assassin!" This experience nearly caused her to lose sight of God’s plan for her life amid a toxic relationship. The enemy knew her weaknesses and sought to destroy her, but with faith and determination, Yolanda emerged victorious over his attacks. Today, her ministry is a beacon of hope to others struggling to overcome adversity.
Yolanda has a deep passion for spending time with the Lord, singing praises, preaching the Gospel, and witnessing people receive salvation, healing, and deliverance. Despite facing numerous painful life challenges, she has persevered, and God has transformed her scars into healing messages for others. Through these experiences, Yolanda has developed a deeper understanding of God and is committed to ministering to His people as commanded. She lives by two of her favorite ministry scriptures.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine…But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Timothy 4:2, 5
And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them.
1 Corinthians 2:4