Dear Kingdom,
Welcome to the Real Estate & Homebuying Seminar at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church. We are glad to have you with us.
In today’s economic climate—where interest rates, housing costs, and financial pressures can feel uncertain—it is more important than ever to be informed and intentional about our financial decisions. Whether you are buying your first home, managing the responsibilities of ownership, or exploring opportunities to invest and build wealth, today’s sessions are designed to help you understand your options and move forward with confidence.
Led by our Faith & Finance Ministry in partnership with the Economic Empowerment & Innovation Center (EEIC), this event embodies our vision of a faith-filled community where people are spiritually strong, financially secure, and whole in every aspect of life. Homeownership is just one piece of that journey—because this work is ultimately about building stability, expanding opportunity, and leaving a legacy of faith and strength.
My prayer is that what you learn today will empower you to make wise choices, strengthen your financial foundation, and help others do the same. As we grow in faith, we also grow in our capacity to steward what God has placed in our hands—for our families, our community, and future generations.
Thank you for being part of this day of learning and empowerment. May it inspire you to dream bigger, act boldly, and continue building a legacy of faith and financial strength.
Kingdom…Focused!
Rev. Matthew L. Watley Senior Pastor Kingdom Fellowship AME Church
SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Real Estate & Homebuying Seminar
Saturday - November 8, 2025
9:00 AM Doors Open (Check-in QR codes)
9:15 AM Praise and Worship
9:30 AM
Opening Prayer & Welcome
• Rev. Loxley O’Connor Introduction of
• Keynote Speaker - Denise Johnson
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM Keynote Address
Speaker: Milan Griffin, Homefree USA Presentation: The Power of Financial Preparation
10:05 AM - 10:30 AM Financing for Real Estate
Speaker: Marcus Eligan-President/Co-Founder Presentation: Financing for Real Estate
10:30 AM - 10:40 AM Transition to Panel
10:40 AM - 11:15 AM All Things Real Estate (Panel)
Panelists: Asa Council, Denise Johnson, Karen Major Johnson, and Jessica Townsend Moderater: Milan Griffin
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM Transition to Breakout Sessions BREAKOUT SESSIONS
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM First-time Homebuyers - Learn about programs, down payment assistance, and the steps to buying your first home. Location: Lecture Hall Presenter: Alfreda Williams, HomeFree USAPresentation
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Current Homeowners: Access resources for maintaining your home, mortgage and credit programs, and foreclosure prevention. Location:Third Floor Worship Center Presenter: Patti Guerro, HomeFree USA - Presentation
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Aspiring Investors: Discover how to begin building wealth through real estate. Location: Ballroom Presenters: Rev. Loxley O’Connor, KFAME - Presentation Yolanda Muckle, Realtor - Presentation
1:00 PM
Resource Area Closes
First time home buyer and investor resource guide(PDF) First time home buyer and investor resource guide(Doc)
Asa Council is a seasoned mortgage professional with more than 20 years of industry expertise and over 35 years of experience in sales and leadership. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology, and an Associate Degree in Health Science. Throughout her distinguished career, Asa has earned a strong reputation for her unwavering commitment to making homeownership more accessible and affordable for families and individuals.
Asa currently chairs the Housing Affordability Committee for the Montgomery County Chapter of the NAACP and serves as Vice-Chair and Commissioner for the Montgomery County Remembrance and Reconciliation Commission. She is also a proud graduate of the Leadership Montgomery program, where she further honed her skills as a community leader and advocate.
Her professional service includes serving on the Prince George’s County Association of REALTORS® (PGCAR) Professional Enhancement Committee and previously chairing its Housing Affordability Committee. Asa also serves as a Facilitator for the Faith & Finance Committee at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church, where she empowers individuals and families to strengthen their financial foundations and build generational wealth.
In addition to her leadership roles, Asa has a long history of community service. Her volunteer work has included serving as a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Advocate, where she supported survivors with compassion, resources, and advocacy. She continues to lead monthly home buyer education workshops, collaborating with HUD-approved housing counselors, real estate professionals, and community organizations to provide critical knowledge on credit, savings, mortgage programs, and sustainable homeownership. Asa’s client-focused approach emphasizes education, tailored mortgage solutions, and long-term financial wellness. Known for her clear communication and collaborative spirit, she is a trusted partner to clients and real estate professionals alike.
A proud wife of 27 years, devoted mother of four adult children, and grandmother, Asa finds joy in spending time with her family and exploring the world. Her favorite travel destinations include Dubai, Aruba, and Los Cabos, Mexico. Passionate about lifelong learning and service, Asa remains dedicated to empowering others, strengthening communities, and advancing pathways to generational wealth through homeownership.
Marcus
Eligan, the
Co-Founder of Mortgage Experts and Founder of Money Experts
Marcus Eligan is the Co-Founder of Mortgage Experts and Founder of Money Experts, where he helps families build wealth and financial security through faith-based financial principles and smart real estate strategies.
With over 20 years in the mortgage industry and 15 years in financial services, Marcus has dedicated his life to helping families achieve homeownership, eliminate debt, and create generational wealth. His mission is to educate and empower people to be good stewards of their finances and to build a legacy rooted in faith and wisdom.
A proud father and man of God, Marcus believes financial success is not about what you earn, it’s about how you manage what God has blessed you with.
Milan
Griffin, Chief Operations Officer at HomeFree-USA
As Chief Operations Officer at HomeFree-USA, Milan Griffin is committed to amplifying the company’s mission -- to create new homebuyers, sustainable homeowners, develop affordable homes, and revitalize communities. She does this by driving production across the company, strengthening partnerships, and increasing community engagement.
In response to the low Black homeownership rate, the widening wealth gap, and the swift wave of gentrification in cities nationwide, Milan has led multiple campaigns to show marginalized communities how to become a homeowner; to teach homeowners how to prevent foreclosure; and to help emerging real estate developers grow their business.
Seeing the dire need to prepare people for homeownership and professional success at a younger age, Milan co-founded the Center for Financial Advancement (CFA), a national financial preparation, talent development and recruitment program at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In 7 years, CFA is now in 16 HBCUs and professionally developed 1,678 students.
Milan has a Bachelor of Arts from Spelman College and a Master of Arts from Tufts University. She holds Certificates in Executive Education from Stanford University, Columbia University, Georgetown University and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Denise Johnson is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in Mortgage Banking, specializing in Affordable Lending. Her career has been dedicated to expanding access to homeownership for underserved communities, with a strong focus on guiding first-time homebuyers through the complexities of the lending process.
After a successful tenure in Loan Originations, Denise transitioned into a mission-driven role as a Certified HUD Housing Counselor and Production Coach at HomeFreeUSA, where she continues to empower individuals and families on their journey to financial stability and homeownership. Her work is rooted in a deep passion for financial literacy and community upliftment, helping clients build the knowledge and confidence needed to achieve their housing goals.
Denise’s commitment to service, education, and equity has made her a trusted advocate and mentor in the housing industry.
Karen Major Johnson, Principal Consultant, KMajor
Karen Major Johnson is a recognized leader in community revitalization and equitable development, with more than 25 years of experience transforming disinvested neighborhoods into thriving, opportunity-rich communities. As Principal Consultant of KMajor Solutions, she partners with cities, community development corporations, developers, and Main Street programs to design and implement strategies that restore commercial corridors, stabilize housing, and expand economic opportunity. Her work is rooted in building collaborative partnerships across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to drive neighborhood change from revitalizing vacant properties and attracting small businesses to creating pathways for workforce participation and entrepreneurship.
Karen’s approach blends strategic vision with deep on-the-ground experience. As Chief Real Estate Officer for East Baltimore Development, Inc., she directed transformative urban renewal initiatives and oversaw comprehensive economic inclusion strategies, ensuring that participation goals for Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, and local labor were consistently met and often exceeded. Her leadership has advanced projects focused on affordable housing, small business incubation, workforce development, and equitable growth, all while ensuring that revitalization efforts deliver measurable, lasting benefits to residents and neighborhood-based enterprises. Through her consulting practice, she also supports Main Street programs in strengthening commercial corridors, aligning resources, and creating vibrant, inclusive business districts that reflect and serve their communities.
A certified technical assistance provider through Baltimore’s Vacants Reinvestment Initiative (BVRI), Karen is part of a select network of professionals supporting community developers and neighborhood organizations in expanding their impact. In this role, she provides tailored guidance to help local partners access funding, implement revitalization strategies, and scale their work. Whether advising on corridor revitalization, business development, housing stability, or equitable investment strategies, Karen is driven by a deep commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities and ensuring that historically overlooked neighborhoods have the tools, resources, and opportunities to thrive.
Yolanda Muckle, Top-Producing Realtor I Long & Foster Real Estate I Serving Maryland & Washington, DC
With more than two decades of proven real estate success, Yolanda Muckle stands as one of the region’s most trusted and accomplished Realtors. As a Top-Producing Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate and Former President of Maryland Realtors (2023), Yolanda has built her reputation on integrity, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to client satisfaction. Recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as a Top Producer since 2016, Yolanda leads The Yolanda Muckle Team, a powerhouse group ranked among the area’s elite. Her leadership and resultsdriven approach have earned numerous accolades, including Realtor of the Year (2020, Prince George’s County Association of Realtors and Maryland Association of Realtors) and features on HGTV, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox for her market insight and professionalism. Specializing in residential sales throughout Maryland, Yolanda blends market knowledge with exceptional negotiation skills to deliver seamless, profitable outcomes for buyers, sellers, and investors alike.
Whether marketing a multi-million-dollar estate or guiding first-time homebuyers, Yolanda’s clients value her strategic marketing, personal attention, and conciergelevel service. Her deep local roots, Yolanda was born and raised in Baltimore City, and extensive networks ensure that every client benefits from her insider knowledge and genuine passion for helping others achieve their real estate goals.
Reverend Loxley O’Connor, affectionately known as Rev. Lox, is an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He is the proud husband to his wife, Denise, father to three Millennial daughters and two Gen Z granddaughter.
He is an experienced professional who has provided accounting, financial advisory, and deal structuring services to companies and individuals over 30+ years. His work includes identifying economically viable opportunities, structuring and negotiating acquisition deals, preparing business plans and financial packages, securing loans, as well as supporting the raising of capital. In the last five years he has been involved in land acquisitions for development, acquisition, renovation and operations of multiple commercial office buildings, construction and development ventures from $45 to $65 million. In that time he has also Chaired or served on three Community Development Corporations and other 501 C3 organizations. He had a thirteen-year professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Lybrand CPA’s. At these firms, he provided consulting and advisory services, financial and operational audits for both national and international clients. Loxley graduated from Howard University with a BBA in Accounting and the Capital Bible Seminary with a Master of Divinity.
Today, Rev. Lox serves as Chief Financial Officer and GIVE Lead for Kingdom Fellowship A.M.E. Church (KFAME).
Jessica Townsend is a highly accomplished real estate professional serving clients across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, with an extensive background spanning more than two decades in financial services, regulatory supervision, training, and residential real estate. Having personally bought, sold, and managed residential properties since 2009, Jessica offers firsthand insight into the complexities and emotional aspects of homeownership—helping clients navigate their real estate journeys with confidence and clarity. She approaches real estate with a rare blend of business acumen and personal dedication. Whether helping first-time buyers, seasoned investors, or sellers seeking to maximize value, Jessica is known for her analytical yet empathetic approach that consistently exceeds client expectations and reflects her dedication to “making her clients’ realty needs a reality.”
Before entering real estate, Jessica built a distinguished career in financial regulation and training, holding key leadership roles with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Her earlier experience with Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage, Northwestern Mutual, and Fidelity Investments strengthened her foundation in finance, client relations, and risk analysis.
A native Texan, Jessica is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and has been a member of Kingdom Fellowship AME Church since 2014.
Alfreda Williams, Director of Homeownership for HomeFree-USA
Alfreda Williams is the Director of Homeownership for HomeFree-USA, where she leads the Homeownership Programs Department. In this role, she oversees the daily operations and training of the homeownership advisors and client services specialists who provide pre-purchase education, counseling, and foreclosure prevention services. Alfreda serves as the primary liaison between HomeFreeUSA and its partner loan officers, working to meet the mortgage needs of HomeFree-USA clients.
With extensive experience in all aspects of mortgage banking, Alfreda has held her current role since 2008. Previously, she served as the Senior Mortgage Advisor for HomeFree Funding, Inc., a HomeFree-USA company, where she managed loan origination and servicing activities. Her responsibilities included staff training, implementation of new loan programs, and coordination with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and other financial institutions to create mortgage solutions for HomeFree-USA clients. As the central contact for all clients, she reviewed mortgage recommendations, performed due diligence on approved files, and coordinated submissions for final loan, refinance, and workout approvals.
Alfreda’s career in mortgage banking began at National Loan Servicenter, where she gained nine years of progressively responsible experience in mortgage servicing.
Freda is a lifelong resident of Washington, D.C., the mother of a daughter and frequently travels for pleasure.
