About BCA

The assembly
is new.
The work is not.

We are a small, remote assembly seeking to know truth, live it faithfully, and care for one another.

Our story Our mission

Our story

A continuing work.

Bantu Chosen Assembly was born out of Spirit of Truth Redemption Center — the ministry of uMdala Julius Nelson — and the people who studied alongside him. He passed in October 2025. Rather than let the room go quiet, we chose to keep gathering, under a new name, carrying his teaching forward together.

Those who lead do so as servants of the assembly, with humility and shared responsibility. We’re still learning — and we’d rather say that plainly than pretend otherwise.

  1. Before

    Spirit of Truth Redemption Center

    uMdala Julius Nelson’s ministry, and the assembly that gathered around his teaching.

  2. Then

    A deeper search

    Embracing a Hebrew-truth framework focused on Scripture and our people.

  3. Then

    A Bantu perspective

    Growing in truth through study, re-education, and a return to our roots.

  4. October 2025

    uMdala passes

    uMdala Julius Nelson returns to the Most High.

  5. Today

    Bantu Chosen Assembly

    Born out of Spirit of Truth, carrying the teaching forward.

Who teaches

Jaylon Ballard

Jaylon Ballard (Brother Jaylon) serves as minister of Bantu Chosen Assembly and teaches the weekly Samba service. He grew up in Miami and attended several churches there, singing in choirs from childhood and later serving on worship teams. In his twenties he and his wife settled at one congregation, where he joined the worship team and entered its ministry training.

During those years he began asking questions about the Messiah, the biblical calendar, and the identity of the people of Scripture. He raised them with his pastor, continued studying on his own, and eventually stopped attending church.

In 2019 a coworker who kept the biblical feast days introduced him to the Hebrew faith. He studied for the next two years with his wife, his mother, and his father. In 2021 his mother reconnected with Julius Nelson, an old friend from the Miami police choir, who was leading an assembly called Spirit of Truth Redemption Center. Brother Jaylon joined and studied under him. The assembly knew Nelson as uMdala.

In October 2025 uMdala asked him to teach a feast day service. uMdala passed the following week. Sister Shiela asked Brother Jaylon to lead the next Samba, and he has taught every Samba since, working from the teaching outline uMdala left him. He lives in Orlando with his wife.

Our mission

Rooted in our inheritance.
Focused on our calling.

To teach truth, live righteously, and build our people. We gather weekly for Samba, study Scripture, and support one another in living righteous, purpose-filled lives.

Our beliefs

Teach truth

Study Scripture and share what we learn with care.

Live righteously

Practice the commandments in daily life.

Build community

Encourage and care for our people.

Glorify uSoNINI NaNINI

Give ultimate honor to the Most High.

Our names

One Most High.
Known by many names.

uSoNINI NaNINI
BCA’s primary name for the Most High — “I AM THAT I AM” in isiXhosa.
uSomandla
Another name the assembly uses for the same Most High.
uMsindisi
The Savior — human born, designated by uSoNINI NaNINI, called as His son and His prophet. Not a deity.
Explore our beliefs

Why Bantu Chosen Assembly?

Bantu — Our people, languages, heritage, and the African perspective that shapes how we study.

Chosen — Not because we’re better. Because we were called, and calling is a responsibility, not a rank.

Assembly — A gathered people, learning and walking together.

Join us

You are welcome here.

We gather remotely, and we mean it when we say anyone seeking to walk this path is welcome. Write to us — we’re a small assembly, and every message is read and answered.

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