Overseer Dr. Joni Nicole McAllister was born in Brooklyn, New York, to the late John Allen McAllister Sr. and the late Virginia Scott-McAllister. She is the second of eight children who grew up in the South Bronx. The author currently holds both Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in Business from Empire State University, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree from Liberty University, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Apex School of Theology.

In her forty years of ministry, she has a passion for training associate ministers who are called by God but have little or no adequate ministerial training to address the needs of their congregation or provide support to their senior pastor. Joni is the founder of Paideia University located in Greenville, North Carolina which assists in training pastors, associate ministers, and ministry leaders. Paideia: The Associate Minister's Training Manual is her first book. A second book, Paideia: The Associate Minister's Workbook will be released in 2024. Joni worked as a customer service representative and retired from Verizon Communications after twenty-six years of service.

Joni is the Senior Pastor of Healing Word Ministries which is located in Greenville, NC. She is an ordained Overseer who serves under the auspices of the Presiding Bishop Tibarry Nashaun Burkett, and Executive Pastor Krystal Burkett of the Progressive Fellowship of Churches, Corona, New York.

Joni loves the Lord and the church where she serves. She enjoys fun times with her family and friends, gospel music, classic black-and-white movies, concerts, and traveling. Her future goals are to learn to swim and play the violin. Joni currently lives in North Carolina.