District Elder Donnie N. McGriff is the husband of the beautiful Dr. Shirley J. McGriff, for 45 years. The parents of six children, Donnie McGriff, Jr., Kimberly Jones (Elder Charlie Jones), DeNedra Bowdan (Kenneth Bowdan), Dwight McGriff, Cassandra Roy (Kenneth Roy), and Dionne Hubbard (Curtis Hubbard), four son-n-laws, twenty grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

District Elder McGriff was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Parents, Pastor Snelson and Lillian McGriff both deceased.

Pastor and founder of the Christ Temple Apostolic Church Inc., for 25 years and founder and CEO of the Christ Temple International Ministries for 12 years. Through the leadership of District Elder McGriff 22 ministries established at Christ Temple Apostolic Church and 14 ministers have received the call to Pastor all in the United States and 58 churches in India under the covering of District Elder McGriff.

In 1988, District Elder McGriff united with the World Won For Christ International Ministries for 5 years of which he was elevated to District Elder, Regional Elder. Having been faithful to the Lord, he was then elevated and consecrated as Bishop in the World Won For Christ International Ministries in June 1992, under the late Bishop Wayne S. Davis. In 1993 Bishop McGriff reestablished his fellowship with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, where he was appointed and consecrated as District Elder by the late Bishop Robert W. McMurray, of the California Hawaii District Council, where our Diocesan Bishop Henry L. Johnson, re-appointed him.

District Elder McGriff is a Graduate of Aenon Bible College 1978. He has earned his Bachelor’s degree in Theology and his Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of Biblical Studies in Bethany Oklahoma. He earned both his Christian Education and Doctor of Divinity degree’s from the International Apostolic University of Grace and Truth in Indianapolis, Indian. District Elder McGriff is the founder and President of the International Apostolic University of El Cajon, California, where Pastors, ministers, and leaders are trained and educated in Administration and Organization, Christian Education, Pastoral Counseling, Theology, all accredited in bachelor’s Master’s and Doctoral degrees. He has authored three books, “Your New Life” published in 1986, and “Don’t Mix Your Stuff with God’s Stuff”, published in 1999. "Ministries of Helps", published in 2006.

Christ Temple Family has truly been blessed with such a man of God that has been faithful, ministering to the spirit man, and as well as the natural man. Because of the progressive ministry that God has blessed District Elder McGriff with; he is one of the most sought-after speakers for leadership clinics and work shops for pastors, ministers, deacons and auxiliary leaders, preparing each total person to strive for excellence and impart purpose for Kingdom Building.