Our Founder

     Bishop Dr. Barbara Lewis King

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Bishop Dr. Barbara Lewis King - Nana Yaa Twumwaa I, Ghana
Dr. Barbara, as she is affectionately called, is the Founder of Hillside International Truth Center, Inc., a New Thought, inclusive, healing ministry open to all people, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.  She is the founder and served as the first president of the Barbara King School of Ministry which opened in 1971.
EDUCATION
  • BS, Texas Southern University
  • MSW, Atlanta University School of Social Work (now the Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work at Clark Atlanta University)
  • DMin, Ecumenical Theological Seminary at age 81
  • Awarded several honorary degrees including Doctorates of Divinity from Bethune Cookman University, the Christian Church of Universal Philosophy, and the University of Metaphysics
HONORS / AWARDS / RECOGNITION
  • Received three highest honors of the New Thought Movement: International New Thought Alliance (INTA) Life Achievement Award; the Ernest Holmes Religious Science Award; and Unity’s The Light of God Expressing Award
  • Personal collection of writings, photographs, awards, and memorabilia archived at Atlanta’s Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History on August 17, 2019
  • Interfaith Chapel in the world’s busiest passenger airport—Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport renamed and dedicated as the Dr. Barbara Lewis King Interfaith Chapel on March 29, 2019
  • 2019 Foundation for Therapeutic and Spiritual Services Living Legend Mental Health Award
  • 2016 Georgia Institute on Aging Positive Aging Icon Award 
  • Shoes added to the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia for her work in Dr. Martin Luther King’s Chicago movement on January 28, 2011
  • Received “Beautiful Are Their Feet” award at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference in February 2011
  • Consecrated as Bishop becoming the first New Thought minister so honored on September 26, 2010
  • Inducted into the Board of Preachers of Martin Luther King Jr. International College of Ministers and Laity 
  • Portrait hangs in the International Hall of Honor at Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College
  • Interview included in the “History Makers” Digital Archives and Library of Congress permanent collection
  • Enstooled in 2001 as first female chief at Assin Nsuta Ghana, West Africa of the Ashante tribe; her stool name is Nana Yaa Twumwaa I
  • Barbara Lewis King Scholarship Fund established in her honor in 1997 and continues today as Barbara Lewis King Scholarship Foundation 
  • Received countless other honors, awards, plaques, proclamations, and recognition throughout the years