I grew up in a God-fearing home in a very small town called DeRidder, Louisiana. I am the third of eight children born to the late Ms. Louella Jones Joseph. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at a very early age; however, my path to the ministry was certainly not a conventional one. After completing College in 1987, I moved from Louisiana to California. After spending about four years in the Military (I served in the USAF), I spent 11 years in California working in various universities includ­ing the University of California, Berkeley. During my time in California, I was a faithful member and steward of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond, CA under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Kevin B. Hall, Sr. At St. John, I served as a Sunday School teacher, the Youth Ministry Director, and as a speaker for the Women’s Ministry.

However, in September 2001, while our Nation’s heart recovered from the attacks of Sept. 11th, the Holy Spirit saw fit to move me to South Bend, Indiana. While working at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, I joined the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church located in the same city. As a dedicated member of Pilgrim, I taught Sunday School, served in the Mission­ary Society, and occasionally lent my voice to the Pilgrim Mass Choir. Three years later, after seeking the face of God and with the support of my Pastor and the congregation, I accepted the Lord’s call to the ministry.

On April 25, 2004, I preached my first sermon, was licensed, and became the first female minister in the history of that distinguished branch of Zion. I was very happy at Pilgrim, but I quickly learned that the Lord really does move in mysterious ways. In February 2005 the Lord moved me to Ithaca, New York, and in 2009, the Holy Spirit moved me once again. In August of that year, I took a new position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Shortly after, I joined Morning Star Baptist Church. At Morning Star, I have served as a member of the Pastoral Team, I have served as the Ministry Leader for Ambassadors Ministry for new members, and I have chaired the MSBC Nominating Committee.  My service at Morning Star inspired me to do even more. In January 2012, under the direction of the Holy Spirit and with the blessing of our Bishop and Pastor, Rev. Dr. John M. Borders, III, I founded DiOnetta Jones Ministries. DiOnetta Jones Ministries enables me to fulfill the evangelistic call on my life by offering sermons and devotions to the masses.  Last, but certainly not least, on June 21, 2013, I married a man of God in the person of Tracy Neal Crayton. I am so grateful to God for the things he has done, and I understand that everything I am and everything that I ever will be is because of the Lord. My life is truly a testimony to the goodness of God!