2023 EMWI Holy Convocation Weekly Program

Harrison Mason Founder Church of God In Christ, Inc.

Bishop

Charles

The Late Pastor and Founder Bishop Columbus Williams 1929-1979

The Late Bishop W. Wesley Sanders

1979 to 2000

Church of God In Christ, Inc.

Second Assistant Presiding Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten

Prelate – Eastern Missouri Western Illinois

EBM- Mother Rosetta Watts – Jurisdictional Supervisor

June 19, 2023

Beloved Saints of the Most High God:

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As you know, each year I look forward to this time when we celebrate our Lord and Savior as a corporate body and also have the opportunity to fellowship with each other.

Some time ago there was a television series titled, “Mission Impossible.” In the show, the mission would be explained via a tape recording and afterward the voice on the recording would say, “this is your mission, if you choose to accept it.”

When we accepted Christ, we accepted the mission. As Saints our mission is to introduce other souls to salvation, to glorify God in our worship, life, and deeds. Although oftentimes we may feel inadequate, the job seems too big or a bit overwhelming. God knew we would have those feelings, so in His Word, in Zechariah 4:6, He says, … ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.’ He lets us know we cannot depend on our human abilities but that our success depends on His Spirit. Know that the power of the Holy Spirit will turn your mission impossible into mission possible.

I am asking each of you to join us this week, June 19 – 25, 2023. We have some great Bishops and our own Supervisor-DOW who will be sharing the Word of the Lord with us in the nightly 7:00PM worship service.

I thank God for each and every one of you, for your labor and your willingness to make this 61st Holy Convocation a success.

Lady Wooten and I always thank God for all of you, the Saints of EMWI, and continually mention you in our prayers. Be blessed and I’ll be looking forward to seeing you this week.

Your Humble Servant,

Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten

Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten

Second Assistant Presiding COGIC

General Supervisor COGIC

Mother

Barbara McCoo Lewis

Mother Rosetta Watts, D.D., Supervisor Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Department of Women

Holy Greetings from the Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Department of Women

Mother Rosetta Watts D.D. Jurisdictional Supervisor Executive Board Member

To God be the Glory and Holy Greetings to the Beloved People of God.

Please receive this Holy Greetings from the Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Department of Women.

I’m humbled through the mercies of our Lord and Savior, affording me this opportunity to congratulate our Jurisdictional Prelate & 2ndAssistance Presiding Bishop, on the commencement of our 61sst Holy Convocation.

Bishop Wooten, your visionary leadership is contagious; tt reaches beyond the borders of Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Jurisdiction, it is a source of encouragement and inspiration. Your system of visionary leadership is governed by the guidance of Godly Wisdom.

The Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Department of Women wholeheartedly embrace your purpose-filled visionary leadership. We thank God for a praying, fasting, and selfless leader, for such a time as this. We pray that God’s Dunamis transforming power saturate the atmosphere of our 61st Holy Convocation.

Our God reigns and His Glory shall fill the temple, In Jesus’s Name-

Holy Greetings from the Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Department of Women

Living to Serve, Mother Rosetta Watts

Jurisdictional Supervisor, Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Department of Women

The 61st ANNUAL HOLY CONVOCATION

Monday, June 19, 2023 – Evening Worship – 7:00 pm

THE ORDER OF DIVINE WORSHIP

Expeditor & Call to Worship, Superintendent Ronald Coleman

(+Where indicated, Please Stand)

Praise & Worship--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EMWI Praise Team

+The Invocation--------------------------------------------------------------Administrative Assistant John Grayson Greater House of Prayer COGIC

+The Old Testament Reading Pastor Lamont Flemon

The Word Fellowship Ministries COGIC

+The New Testament Reading Pastor Roderick Sanders Bethany COGIC

THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC – A & B SELECTION

THE EMWI JURISDICTIONAL MASS CHOIR – Sister April L. Reed – Minister of Music

Our Bishop’s Wife Speaks - - International Evangelist Shirley Wooten

Greetings - - - Mother Rosetta Watts

Jurisdictional Supervisor – Department of Women

THE VOICE OF OUR LEADER

BISHOP LAWRENCE M. WOOTEN SR., Ph.D., D.D.

Prelate & 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop, COGIC, Inc.

Worship in Giving-------------------------------------------Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Smith, Finance Committee

The Ministry of Music

Convocation Observations

The EMWI Jurisdiction Choir

International Evangelist Shirley Wooten Public Relations Director

Presentation of the Messenger Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, Sr.

Sermonic Selection

The Word of God

Call to Discipleship

EMWI Jurisdictional Mass Choir

Sis. April L. Reed, Minister of Music

Speaker – Admin. Assistant to Supervisor

Evangelist Sharon P. Williams, District Missionary

Benediction Elder David Wilson

The 61st ANNUAL HOLY CONVOCATION

Tuesday, June 20, 2023 – Evening Worship - 7:00 pm

THE ORDER OF DIVINE WORSHIP

Expeditor & Call to Worship, Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Smith

(+Where indicated, Please Stand)

Praise & Worship - - EMWI Praise Team

+The Invocation Administrative Asst. Ronald Moore Old Landmark COGIC

+The Old Testament Reading - Pastor Roy Williams Servant Ministries COGIC

+The New Testament Reading---------------------------------------------------------------------Pastor Eric Pulliam King of Kings COGIC

THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC – A & B SELECTION

THE EMWI JURISDICTIONAL MASS CHOIR – Sister April L. Reed – Minister of Music

Our Bishop’s Wife Speaks International Evangelist Shirley Wooten

Greetings---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mother Rosetta Watts Jurisdictional Supervisor – Department of Women

THE VOICE OF OUR LEADER

BISHOP LAWRENCE M. WOOTEN SR., Ph.D., D.D.

Prelate & 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop, COGIC Inc.

Praise Dancers------------------------------------------------------Praise In Motion EMWI Praise Dance Ministry

Worship in Giving Auxiliary Bishop Marvin Sanders

Convocation Observations------------------------------------------------International Evangelist Shirley Wooten Public Relations Director

Presentation of the Messenger

Sermonic Selection

The Word of God

Bishop J. Drew Sheard –

Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, Sr.

EMWI Jurisdictional Mass Choir Sis. April L. Reed, Minister of Music

Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Church of God In Christ

Call to Discipleship

Benediction

The 61st ANNUAL HOLY CONVOCATION

Wednesday, June 21, 2023 – Evening Worship - 7:00 pm

THE ORDER OF DIVINE WORSHIP

Expeditor & Call to Worship, Administrative Assistant Darnell Sanders

(+Where indicated, Please Stand)

Praise & Worship EMWI Praise Team

+The Invocation

Pastor George Brown Church Beyond The Walls COGIC

+The Old Testament Reading -- - - Elder David Wilson Williams Temple COGIC

The New Testament Reading - -- Pastor Luther Taylor Days of Noah COGIC

THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC – A & B SELECTION

THE EMWI JURISDICTIONAL MASS CHOIR – Sister April L. Reed – Minister of Music

Our Bishop’s Wife Speaks

Greetings

International Evangelist Shirley Wooten

Mother Rosetta Watts

Jurisdictional Supervisor – Department of Women

THE VOICE OF OUR LEADER

BISHOP LAWRENCE M. WOOTEN SR., Ph.D., D.D.

Prelate & 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop, COGIC Inc.

Youth & Young Adults In Action

Worship in Giving

The Ministry of Music

Convocation Observations

(5 mins) Miss’y Sarah Wooten –Evang. Rosalyn Sanders, President

Auxiliary Bishop Marvin Sanders Shiloh Temple COGIC

The EMWI Jurisdictional Choir

International Evangelist Shirley Wooten Public Relations Director

Presentation of the Messenger - Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, Sr.

Sermonic Selection-------------------------------------------------------------------------------EMWI Jurisdictional Mass Choir

Sis. April L. Reed, Minister of Music

The Word of God

Bishop Linwood Dillard – Citadel of Deliverance Chairman of AIM

Tennessee Central Jurisdiction COGIC

Call to Discipleship

Benediction Pastor Terry Montgomery

Taking The City To Jesus Christ Ministries

Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Jurisdiction

Department of Women

Holy Convocation

“Our Mission Made Possible by the Weapons of Prayer”

Zechariah 4:6; Luke 18:1

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Presiding ~ District Missionary Deborah Quarells

Expeditor ~ Evangelist Karla Wiggins

Praise & Worship……………………………………………………………….First Lady Sherry Coleman

§Call to Worship/Invocation…………………… Missionary Alfreda Burton

Alternate: Shepherdess Theresa Holt

§Old Testament Scripture Reading...…………………………………………... Missionary Toni Anderson

Alternate: Missionary Antoinette Barnes

§New Testament Scripture Reading………………...................................................Sister Ardia Henderson

Alternate: Missionary Tyra Louis

Selection …………….……… Women’s Chorus under the direction of President Sherry Coleman

Welcome……………………………………………… District Missionary Dr. Patricia Powell

Alternate: Missionary First Lady Cellastine Ousley

Our Bishop Wife Speaks……………………………………….... International Evangelist Shirley Wooten

Greetings………………………………………………………………………………...Lady Evelyn Smith & Lady Greta Vaughn-Watts

Acknowledgement of Guests (with words of expressions)

Evangelist Rosalind Sanders

Alternate: Sister Jessica Richmond

Selection Women’s Chorus under the direction of President Sherry Coleman

Focus on Theme (5 minutes)…………………………………………………….Missionary Robin Badwan

Alternate: Sister Cerese Pennington

Selection ……….…………………………………… … Bethel COGIC Senior Choir

Presentation of our Leader Auxiliary Bishop Nelson Watts, Jr.

Voice of our Leader Bishop Lawrence M Wooten, Sr. 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop & General Board Member

Ministry of Giving………………………………………..……………...Department of Women Financiers

Evangelist Caroline Gilbert ~Chairperson, DM Gale Sykes, ADM Eleanor Wagner, Evangelist Juanshena Watts-Nutall, AA Sharon Williams

Observations…………………………………… …Assistant District Missionary Angela Sanders

Alternate: Lady Janine Sanders

Presenting our Sainted Supervisor………………………………………………. Mother Gloria D. Sanders Assistant Supervisor of Women

Sermonic Selection………………………………………................... District Missionary Bernice Sanders

Alternate: Evangelist Staci Watts-Coleman ~ SPEAKER ~

§Prayer of Deliverance & Call to Christian Discipleship Evangelist Marquita Crigler & Evangelist Arica Allen

Benediction

Note: (§) Where indicated, please stand and do not walk

The 61st ANNUAL HOLY CONVOCATION

Friday, June 23, 2023 – Evening Worship – 7:00 pm

THE ORDER OF DIVINE WORSHIP

Expeditor & Call to Worship, Superintendent Avary Sanders

(+Where indicated, Please Stand)

Praise & Worship--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EMWI Praise Team

+The Invocation---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pastor Jimmy Burchfield Grace & Mercy COGIC

+The Old Testament Reading Pastor Artis Johnson Genesis New Beginning COGIC

+The New Testament Reading -- Pastor Willie Ousley

Greater Pentecostal Tabernacle COGIC

THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC – A SELECTION

THE EMWI JURISDICTIONAL MASS CHOIR – Sister April L. Reed – Minister of Music

Our Bishop’s Wife Speaks------------------------------------------------International Evangelist Shirley Wooten

Greetings---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mother Rosetta Watts Jurisdictional Supervisor – Department of Women

THE VOICE OF OUR LEADER

BISHOP LAWRENCE M. WOOTEN SR., Ph.D., D.D.

Prelate & 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop, COGIC, Inc.

EMWI Jurisdiction Banner March------------------Administrative Assistant Ronald & Lady Beatrice Moore

Worship in Giving----------------------------------------------------------------------Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Smith

The Ministry of Music---------------------------------------------------------------------The EMWI Jurisdiction Choir

Convocation Observations International Evangelist Shirley Wooten Public Relations Director

Presentation of the Messenger---------------------------------------------------Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, Sr.

Sermonic Selection-------------------------------------------------------------------EMWI Jurisdictional Mass Choir Sis. April L. Reed Minister of Music

The Word of God

Auxiliary Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. El Bethel Church of God In Christ

Call to Discipleship

Benediction Pastor Thomas Agnew The Way of Holiness COGIC

District Missionary Sharon Phillips Williams

Evangelist Sharon Phillips Williams is a graduate of St. Louis University with a degree in Accounting and Computer Science. She taught Accounting at the Forrest Park Junior College. level. For more than 32 years she was a Senior Database Administrator for AT&T.

She is the wife of Trustee Thomas Williams. The mother of four, stepmother of five, grandmother to 22 and great-grandmother to seven.

She is a Sunday School teacher and the Finance Chairman for the Williams Temple COGIC. On the District level, she is the District Missionary of the W. Wesley Sanders District. She is the Dean of the Sunday School Department and the Financial Secretary for Eastern Missouri Western Illinois where her pastor and prelate is Second Assistant Presiding Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten. She is the Administrator and Owner of the New Day Early Learning Center.

Evangelist Williams and International Evangelist Shirley Wooten evangelized nursing homes, hospitals, jails, mental institutions and churches. They have run crusades in Uganda, Africa where many received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. To God be the Glory!

BISHOPJ. DREW SHEARD

Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle

BIOGRAPHY Bishop J. Drew Sheard

J. Drew Sheard was born on January 1, 1959 to John Henry Sheard and Willie Mae Sheard in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised asa Pentecostal Christianin the Church of God in Christ with his younger brother, Ethan Blake Sheard, who is also a pastor in the COGIC denomination. Upon graduating high school, he attended the Wayne State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, and a Master of Education degree in Mathematics, and while balancing a career in Christian ministry as a clergyman, he also worked as a secondary school math teacher in the Detroit Public Schools District.

In 1984, he married Karen Clark Sheard, a Gospel singer and member of the famed Gospel vocal group, The Clark Sisters, who is also the daughter of the famed Gospel Choir director, Mattie Moss Clark, who served as one of the international music department presidents of the COGIC denomination. For several years, he helped Mattie Moss Clark manage the Clark Sisters' singing career throughout the 1980s until they parted their separate ways to endeavor on their own individual careers, and from then on became his wife Karen's personal music career manager.

Throughoutthe1980sand1990s,BishopSheardservedinvariouscapacitieswiththeCOGICdenomination under the tutelage of his father, Bishop John H. Sheard, including as a choir director, chairman of both local and state youth departments in the COGIC denomination, as a National Adjutant Overseer, and eventually as an Executive Secretary of the International Youth Department for the COGIC denomination. He also served in various civic capacities including Executive Director of the Michigan Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and as a board member of the Michigan Anti-Apartheid Council

in 1988, he became the senior pastor of the Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC in Detroit, Michigan, which at first started out as a very small all-African American church parish in Detroit. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the church grew to become what is now one of the largest and fastest growing COGIC churches in the state of Michigan, and although it is still predominantly African American in membership, the church has also become a very widely multi-ethnic Pentecostal church as well in recent years.

In 2008, Sheard received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree, and in 2007 was inducted into the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers. In 2009, Sheard and his wife, Karen, founded Karew Records, a Detroit-based Christian music record label focusing on various forms of Gospel and Inspirational music.

In 1996, he was appointed by the late Presiding Bishop Chandler David Owens, as the International President of the Youth Department, He served from 1996 to 2000. In 2001, he was appointed by the late PresidingBishopGilbert Earl PattersonasViceChairmanoftheAuxiliariesinMinistry(AIM) Department. He served until 2004. In 2004, he was appointed as the Chairman of AIM by the late Presiding Bishop G.E. Patterson. He served until 2012, until he was succeeded by Bishop Linwood Dillard of Memphis, Tennessee. In 2009, he was ratified and approved by the COGIC General Assembly to become the jurisdictional bishop of the Michigan North Central Jurisdiction diocese of the Church of God in Christ. In 2012, he was elected to the General Board, the twelve bishops who serve as the Board of Directors of the church, where he served two four-year terms from 2012 to 2016, and 2016 to 2020 respectively.

The scheduled election for the denomination in 2020 was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and was rescheduled as an all-virtual online election for March 2021, and on March 20, 2021, subsequently after being re-elected to the General Board of the church, the church had a run-off election between him and Bishop Jerry W. Macklin, of Hayward, California for the Office of Presiding Bishop. He defeated Bishop Macklin in the run-off election and became the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ worldwide, andthensubsequently appointed Bishop Macklin as his First Assistant Presiding Bishop, and Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten of St. Louis, Missouri as his Second Assistant Presiding Bishop. He was officially inaugurated and installed as the Presiding Bishop of the COGIC denomination on June 22, 2021.

Ministry of Bishop Linwood E. Dillard, Jr

WWW.LINWOODDILLARD.COM

Authentic, Compassionate, Organic, and Uniquely Gifted are only a small fraction of words that the dictionary provides as a verbal description of Linwood Elijah Dillard, Jr. This national evangelist, vision engineer, and 21st century ministry leader is changing the world with an impactful message of deliverance, hope, and success. His powerful preaching style, uncanny leadership skills, strategic planning ability, visionary leadership, and business-based background are seamlessly sown together to permit this ministry giant to succeed in any arena of life.

Dillard’s national reach emanates from the sanctuary of the Citadel of Deliverance in Memphis, Tennessee, where he leads and pastors one of the city’s fast-growing churches. Through his evangelistic and pastoral ministries, he has fostered a platform that transcends economical, racial, social, and religious barriers.

Dillard is the author of the inspirational literary gem, “Engineering Your Vision: Seven Principles For Obtaining Ultimate Area Of Your Life.” This book is a necessary life tool that ignites the fire of spiritual purpose, vision, and growth that is sure to change the lives of people and organizations in all areas and aspects of life. As the “Vision passion for leading others along the journey to building a sound life, that will ultimately change their lives and the lives of others, is an attribute that cannot be overlooked. He has an educated, anointed, and accomplished resume of monumental successes that are notable and numerous, past and present:

• Chairman, International COGIC AIM Convention

• Executive Secretary, COGIC International Youth Department

• President, COGIC International Youth Department

• Member, City of Memphis Faith In Action Steering Committee

• Member, Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change Advisory Board

• Recording Artist and Executive Producer – “Pastor Linwood Dillard Presents Churchin’ With The Citadel”

• Chaplain, Shelby County Board of Commissioners

• Chaplain, Memphis City Council

• Assistant Secretary, COGIC Tithing Fund

• Featured in EBONY Magazine as one of “30 Young Leaders Under 30″

• Coordinator, COGIC Founder’s Celebration

• COGIC Planning Coordinator, I AM 2018 (MLK50)

• Former Executive Assistant to the Bishop

• Chairman, Jurisdictional AIM Convention

• President, Jurisdictional Youth Department

• Member, Board of Ordination

• District Superintendent

• And many others

In November 2018, Dillard was consecrated to the Sacred Office of Bishop in the Church Of God In Christ and appointed as Prelate of the newly created Tennessee Metropolitan Jurisdiction by the Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake. Bishop Dillard also has an extensive background in engineering, administration, and management. He has served in local and regional chapter elected leadership roles in various social and community organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICE), and many more. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and also studied at Christian Brothers University pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management. Bishop Dillard has been the recipient of numerous awards, resolutions and proclamations, and citations for his ministerial, social, academic, and community involvement and achievements. Out of all of Bishop Dillard’s accomplishments, the greatest of these is that he is happily married to his wife and best friend, Stephanie Marie Dillard. They are the proud and loving parents of three beautiful children, Faith Marie, Joy Marie, and Linwood, III.

University pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management. Bishop Dillard has been the recipient of numerous awards, resolutions and proclamations, and citations for his ministerial, social, academic, and community involvement and achievements. Out of all of Bishop Dillard’s accomplishments, the greatest of these is that he is happily married to his wife and best friend, Stephanie Marie Dillard. They are the proud and loving parents of three beautiful children, Faith Marie, Joy Marie, and Linwood, III. Out of all of Bishop Dillard’s accomplishments, the greatest of these is that he is happily married to his wife and best friend, Stephanie Marie Dillard. They are the proud and loving parents of three beautiful children, Faith Marie, Joy Marie, and Linwood, III.

Mother Rosetta Watts, D.D., Supervisor Department of Women

Mother Watts is a visionary woman of God who has led the Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Jurisdiction (EMWI) Department of Women since the year of 2000. She served faithfully under the late Mother Saint Carrie Dinwiddie. Her leadership ability and faithfulness was noted by Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten Sr. Prelate, (General Board Member) and she was recommended to serve as Supervisor of the Jurisdictional Department of Women. She was appointed and installed by the General Supervisor of the Department of Women, Mother Willie Mae Rivers. She prayerfully sought God’s direction and immediately implemented plans to motivate and strengthen the department. She developed a structured, comprehensive training program designed to aid and assists those seeking to be licensed as missionaries. She also initiated a Grief and Crisis support group along with many other effective projects that lead to the growth of the EMWI Department of Women.

Mother Watts has been a member of COGIC for over 60 years. Prior experience as a servant Leader in the Jurisdiction included many years of Evangelism, Assistant District Missionary, District Missionary, Planning Committee and Leadership Training Committee Chairperson, Director of Home and Foreign Mission, Executive Board Member of EMWI Dept. of Women, Jurisdictional and National workshop presenter.

She also served as a former member on the Board of Directors of the Jurisdictional C.H. Mason Bible College. She currently serves as a member of the EMWI Jurisdictional Executive Board. On the National level, she was a former member of IDOW Executive Board under the Leadership of Mother Wille Mae Rivers. Currently she serves on the IDOW Executive Board, Special Convention Assistant Committee, Advocacy-Resolution Committee, Caregiver Support Committee and Co-Facilitator of Grief Recovery Prayer-Line. As well as many other subcommittees under the Leadership General Supervisor, Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis.

Mother Watts was married to Administrative Assistant (Pastor, Superintendent, Jurisdictional Secretary)

Nelson Watts Sr. for over 43 years. She is the mother of six children; four ordained elders and two licensed missionaries. She is the Co-Founder of El-Bethel COGIC where her youngest son, Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. is the Pastor

Mother Watts is a retired Licensed Health-Care Professional. She studied nursing at Bryan Institute, Florissant Valley College, (BJC, Shriners Hospitals); studied Religious Counseling at Lael Bible College and Graduate School; completed studies from Word of Prophecy Bible College; holds a Doctorate of Divinity from Malachai Bible College and also studied Theology from Midwest Bible College where she received a “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

Mother Watts has received many other local, state and civic awards including being honored as the 2018 “Mother of the Year” from the “Top Ladies of Distinction Inc.” St. Louis Chapter.

She is a woman of Faith and Prayer, and continues to serve the holistic needs of God’s people. Her motto; “Living to Serve”

Mother Watts is the Area Representative of Region 11 overseeing: (3) States; Missouri, Kansas, and Virginia & (2) Country's; Spain & Zambia, and includes the Continent of Africa.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. has served in Ministry for over 35 years and has reached 43 years of Salvation. He was born and raised at Shiloh Temple Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Bishop W. Wesley Sanders. He believes this is where he received his foundation of Holiness. He was saved at the age of 8, preaching at the age of 16, at Williams Temple Church of God in Christ under, now 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop & Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, and was later ordained as the youngest elder to be ordained in Eastern Missouri Western Illinois.

On November 12, 2017 he was consecrated to the sacred office of Bishop with the Episcopal Designation of Auxiliary by the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Charles E. Blake.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. is the youngest of 6 children born to the Late Administrative Assistant Nelson Watts Sr., and to Mother Rosetta Watts who serves on the Executive Board of the Women’s Department of the Churches of God in Christ Inc. and as Jurisdictional Supervisor of Eastern Missouri Western Illinois & Area Representative of Region 11. All of his siblings are in ministry.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. graduated from Berkley High School in the top 15 of his class and attended college at the same time in the Dual Enrollment Program. He attended Florissant Valley College after graduating from High School majored in Secondary Education and minored in counseling. He was a Student Teacher and Student at C. H. Mason Bible Institute in Eastern Missouri & Western Illinois He was also a Student teacher and Student at Malachi Bible College, majoring in Christian Counseling. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in 2005. He also attendant, Liberty University, and Midwest Bible College, majoring in Systematic Theology. He worked in Management and Hospitality during his career for over 25 years.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. has served in many roles in the Church of God in Christ. He has served as the Youth/YPWW President for EMWI and the AIM Chairman. He was honored nationally for his loyalty and dedication to the Church and as AIM President by, now Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard and National Aim Chairman, Bishop Linwood Dillard. He has taught classes in the National Conventions through Sunday School Department. He is also sought after across the world, for his knowledge of the history of the Church of God in Christ. He has served on many committees. He presently serves as one of the Assistant General Secretary in the area Episcopal Relations appointed by General Secretary of the Church of God in Christ by Bishop J. H. Lyles and approved by Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard and the General Board. He was a Member of the Constitution Committee of the Church of God in Christ appointed by Auxiliary Bishop Solomon Williams and also served under, Now General Board Member, Bishop David Hall. He is a member of the National Standard & Extensions Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ. This committee gives recommends all New Jurisdictions and Churches that want to become a part of the Church of God in Christ, in the April ,2023 Session of the General Assembly, he was recently appointed by Chairman L. F Thurston as the Secretary of this Committee. He works hard and faithfully serves as Jurisdictional Secretary of Eastern Missouri Western Illinois.

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. is the Pastor of the El Bethel Church of God in Christ. He is the Superintendent of the great Nelson Watts Senior District. He is the founder of the Last Days Deliverance Outreach. He has been honored by the Senate and the House of Representatives for His Service. Bishop Watts Jr. has received many awards and recognition for Outreach Services and Community involvement. He is the founder of the Prayer for Peace with the Police, Politicians, and the People He is also the Founder and CEO of the Adopt A Family Program. These Community Programs has caught the attention of the Governor, the Mayor, and a lot of the Community leaders in the St Louis Metropolitan Area. This vision has received a lot of support because of the work and the results that has occurred to help the Families and the Community. Bishop Watts and El Bethel Church are the Founder & Host of The Anointed Prayer Line Ministry, which consist of daily prayer, Monday through Friday, 4:45am & 11:45 and a Monthly All-Night Prayer and a Monthly, Christian Prayer of Unity which this ministry faithfully has prayer warriors from nearly 27 states from different Christ centered denominations around the country

Bishop Nelson Watts Jr. is married to the beautiful, supportive, and intuitive Lady Greta Vaughn- Watts that works right by his side. He has 3 handsome sons, that he calls his Levites: Nelson III, Elder Samuel Lawrence, and Timothy. His family wholeheartedly assists in Ministry! He is an anointed Prayer Warrior, Prophet, Preacher, Teacher, Pastor and Leader.

Biography of Bishop Lawrence M.

Wooten, Sr.

Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, Ph.D., DD., a native of Saint Louis, is an alumnus of Saint Louis University and served as an educator and administrator in the public school system for 30 years. Bishop Wooten was installed as the Pastor of Williams Temple Church of God in Christ in 1979 following the death of Bishop Columbus Williams. Bishop Wooten was saved at the age of 15 and has been a Faithful and committed servant in the Church of God In Christ for over 59 years. Standing by his side and in the gap for him is his much beloved wife, International Evangelist Shirley A. Wooten, who is recognized as an ultimate “God Chaser”, Soul Winner, Evangelist and Prayer Warrior. They are the parents of six (6) children and ten (10) grandchildren and (7) great grandchildren. The local ministry has thrived under the leadership of Bishop Wooten. At this time the Williams Temple complex is valued at over $5 million dollars. His local church contains over 50 ministries i.e., Drug Rehabilitation, Health and Nutrition Programs, Housing, Financial Management, Feed the Hungry, Adult Day Care, Family Life Center recreation complex, Family Life Center recreation complex, Family and Marital Counseling and more.

He has served as Chaplain of the 7th District Police Department and the Board of Directors for both the Father Support Group and the Billy Graham Crusade. He is the President of Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri; a member of the St. Louis Black Caucus and is involved in many community improvements projects within metropolitan St. Louis. This is demonstrated by his efforts to rehabilitate the property surrounding the intersection of Union and Dr. M.L. King Dr. in February, 2014, Bishop Wooten won a unanimous appointment to the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners.

In the year 2000, he was appointed as the Bishop of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Eastern Missouri/Western Illinois. Under the leadership of Bishop Wooten, both the local Church and the Jurisdiction have thrived. In 2005, he was appointed Regional Bishop, with the responsibility of providing oversight for five (5) other Ecclesiastical Prelates. In 2012, Bishop Wooten was elected as a member to the General Board (governing board) of the 6.5 million member Church of God In Christ and currently sits on the General Board COGIC. In 2021 Bishop Wooten was appointed by President Bishop J. Drew Sheard as the 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop, COGIC.

He has ministered internationally in Uganda East Africa, Trinidad/Tobago and the Virgin Islands. For years, Bishop Wooten has sponsored many orphans in East Africa. He and his wife adopted two beautiful orphans, as their youngest daughters, from Uganda and yet they continue to fully support other orphans and a village. Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten is a visionary of great consequence. However, his greatest vision is for souls. Bishop Wooten is often heard to say, “it’s all about souls”.