Leroy Butler
Valdosta, GA
Leroy Butler, Jr.
was born in Valdosta, Georgia. He attended Valdosta public schools from 1955
to 1967. After graduation he attended Valdosta State College, Valdosta Area
Vocational Technical School, Southern Bible institute, Alabama Christian
School of Religion, University of Biblical Studies and Southwest Bible
College & Seminary.
Butler is a national and internationally known lecturer, revivalist and
workshop leader. He is in constant demand and conducts several workshops and
religious meetings each year. Butler speaks regularly on national and
regional, school and church lectureships. He has preached and held meetings
in the states of Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North
Carolina, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and
Virginia. He has participated in religious campaigns, and conducted radio
broadcasts in the countries of Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago in the West
Indies. He serves as an advisor to the National Lectureship of Churches of
Christ and is a Committeeman for the Southeastern Regional Lectureship and
Southeastern Youth Conference.
Butler has served as pulpit minister for Woodlawn Forrest Church of Christ
(formerly West Adair Church of Christ) since July of 1981. Butler was
Ordained as one of the Bishops of Woodlawn Forrest in March of 2000. The
church recently erected a much needed, 12,000 square foot, 1.2
million-dollar sanctuary on 17-acres to house a vibrant and rapidly growing
ministry. In 1983 Butler was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men in
America. In February 1990 the Black History Action Committee of Lowndes
County selected him as an outstanding spiritual leader in the community.
In May of 2000 Butler founded the F.A.I.T.H. Scholarship Foundation, which
has raised thousands of dollars to provide scholarships for prospective
preachers.
He is married to the former Gloria A. Bythwood; they have two daughters,
Tyrah and Desdamona.
W.F. Washington
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
W. F. Washington attended the Nashville Christian Institute under the tutelage of Marshall Keeble. He was one of the "Keeble boys" who preached and sang for Marshall Keeble in gospel meetings. He preached his first sermon at the age of 9. His first church ministry began when he was nineteen years of age at the Morning Star church of Christ located in Marshall, Texas, where he served for 17 years. Morning Star's membership grew from 25 members to more than 400 members under his leadership. Dr. Washington accepted the pulpit ministry of the Golden Heights church of Christ in 1974. He has led that congregation from 126 members to a membership of more than 4,000. Golden Heights has more than 16 otreach ministries, including a weekly television program and two daily radio programs. They have a Bible school staff of 47 teachers and a Christian youth ministry of more than 300 young people. Washington has preached all over the United States and abroad in a number of foreign countries. He is married to the former Deloris Dixon and has four children, Willie Jr., Antonio, MarQuite' and Soncyarai. He also has a daughter-in-law, Niermala, a son-in-law, Orpheus; and two grandchildren, Arielle and Gabrielle Washington.
Stafford North
Oklahoma City, OK
Stafford North has been at Oklahoma Christian University as a teacher and administrator since 1952. For 38 years he served in such roles as Academic Dean and Executive Vice President. In 1994 he retired from his administrative post and returned to full-time teaching in the College of Bible. Dr. North received his B.A. degree from Abilene Christian University, an M.A. from Louisiana State University, and a Ph. D from the University of Florida. Dr. North has preached since 1948 having done located work at congregations in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Florida. He specialized in Daniel, Revelation, eschatology, church doctrines, and church leadership. He has recently preached in Nigeria, Brazil, Poland, and England. Dr. North is married to Jo Anne North who has been an adjunct instructor at Oklahoma Christian University. Stafford and Jo Anne have four children and ten grandchildren. Stafford still enjoys playing golf and softball. He has a B.A. in Speech from Abilene Christian University, an M.A. in Speech from Louisiana State University, and a Ph.D. in Speech with a Religion minor from the University of Florida.
Jerry Houston
City, state
Jerry Houston
Gerald McGill
Kansas City, MO
Gerald McGill Gerald McGill is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He obeyed the gospel in 1974 in Altus, Oklahoma, and started his college education at Southwestern Christian College (SwCC)in Terrell, Texas where he majored in Bbible. While a student at SwCC he served as minister for the West Vickery congregation in Ft. Worth, Texas. In 1978, he received his A.A. Degree from Southwestern. In 1981, he obtained his B.A. in Criminal Justice from Texas Wesleyan University , Ft. Worth Texas. In 1990, he became assistant minister at the Berkeley Heights congregation in St. Louis, Missouri . In 1995, he became the ministering evangelist of the Swope Parkway congregation in Kansas City, Missouri, where he has served for the past ten years. Bro. McGill is currently in graduate school at Pepperdine University working toward his Masters in Ministry. He is married to Gloria and together they have two children Rachel and Maurice; and one grandson, Dontrell.
R.C. Wells
Harlem, NY
R. C. Wells is an international evangelist who has devoted his life to preaching the gospel. This pursuit has taken him throughout the United States and to 20 nations worldwide. He has hosted numerous radio programs, both in the U.S. and abroad. His academic background is extensive, including Southwestern Christian College, Midwestern Theological Seminary, Princeton Theology Seminary, Blackstone School of Law and Atlanta Law School, as well as several other schools. He is a prolific writer, having authored several books and tracts. He has served as a contributing writer and editor for a number of local and national publications, including The Christian Echo and The Restoration Pulpit. Dr. Wells has served as the minister of a number of congregations in the United States, most recently the Harlem church of Christ in New York City, where he labored for nearly four decades. He is the founder, president, and CEO of The Say Amen Multi-Ministries of Dr. R.C. Wells. Dr. Wells and his wife Dorothy, founder and director of the Easternaires a cappella youth chorus, live in New York City.
Photo not available
Samuel Pounds
City, State
Cornelius Heyward
Far Rockaway, NY
Cornelius Heyward
was born on March 29, 1946, in Charleston, S.C., to Ella and Nicky Heyward.
His family relocated to New Jersey in 1958 and later moved to New York City.
He is a graduate of Far Rockaway High School and in 1969 was drafted into
the United States Army. While in the military, he served in Vietnam and was
honorably discharged in 1972. Upon returning to the States, he enrolled in
New York City Community College. Brother Heyward worked for the New York
City Parks and Recreation Department, while attending New York City
Community College full time. It was during this time that he met and married
his lovely wife, Denise. Cornelius and Denise have been married for over 28
years and from their blessed union have three children, Josiah age 24, Ciara
age 22 and Asante age 17. He also has one brother, Jacob Heyward, who
presently resides in Queens, New York.
Brother Heyward also attended and graduated from Queens College with a
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Service. While he studied and prepared
himself to become a social worker, he had serious concern for his ability to
adequately support his family financially. After due consideration regarding
their future and well being and having passed the test for the New York
Metropolitan Transit Authority, he made a prudent decision to accept
employment with the MTA.
In October 1976, Brother Heyward was baptized into the Church of Christ at
the Roosevelt/Freeport congregation. After several months, Bro. Maxwell,
Minister of the Roosevelt/Freeport Church of Christ, realized that there was
a need for a congregation in Far Rockaway and sent Brother Steven Ludy,
along with Brother Heyward and several families, to work on starting a
church there. During the early years of the Far Rockaway Church of Christ,
Brother Cornelius Heyward served as assistant minister. Brother Heyward
loves to study the word of God and studied with the Sunset Extension School
and was also under the tutelage of Steven Ludy. After Brother Ludy relocated
to Detroit, Michigan, Brother Moses Johnson ministered unto the Far Rockaway
congregation for several years.
In 1990, Brother Heyward was ordained minister of the Far Rockaway Church of
Christ. Since that time, membership of the congregation has increased
substantially from a few families when he began, to well over 250 presently,
as a direct result of his outstanding teaching and leadership.
Bro. Heyward has stood, and continues to stand, as a Christian minister of
tremendous faith, determination and courage. His compassionate and
self-sacrificing leadership has led many to Christ and thus their soul
salvation over the years.
Since becoming the minister of the Far Rockaway Church of Christ, Brother
Heyward has established a number of ministries to assist the elderly,
youths, food program, clothing allocations for the disadvantaged and
information services for the disabled residents within the community.
Additionally, he along with several members of the congregation is involved
with missionary work necessitating travel to and from South Africa, to
support congregations there. The Churches of Christ are international and
Brother Heyward is proving to be one of the most renowned and prolific
ministers in the brotherhood.
In February 2003, Brother Heyward retired from the New York City
Metropolitan Transit Authority. Since his retirement. Brother Heyward has
been able to devote himself runtime to the growth and development of the
church. With the leaders of the Far Rockaway Church of Christ, he is
presently making plans to build the first edifice on the land that was
purchased and is presently being utilized by the congregation.
Brother Heyward's passion is sharing the word of God with others.
Cedrick Thomas
Lubbock, TX
Michael Crusoe
Memphis, TN
Michael Crusoe
is a native of Dayton, Ohio. He has been preaching the gospel for 27 years.
Bro. Crusoe has served churches in Tucson, Arizona; Kansas City, Kansas;
Hopewell, Virginia. Since July of 2001, Bro. Crusoe has served as minister
of Church of Christ at Norris Road in Memphis, Tennessee.
Bro. Crusoe conducts a number of gospel meetings and revivals each year,
along with conducting family workshops and revivals. He speaks regularly on
National and Regional church lectureships. He is the host of the nationally
cable broadcast, "Amensomebody", shown on MBC digital cable network. He
holds a B.A. degree in Sociology; a M.S. in Ministry & Evangelism;has
completed post-graduate study in Christian Education. He and his wife Debra,
have three children and one grandchild.
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Peter Martin
Compton, CA
Peter Martin, Jr. was born on March 9, 1978 in Indianapolis, IN, to Peter and Hope Martin. He has been preaching the gospel for 14 years, and attended Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, IN where he received his diploma. He then went on to Southwestern Christian College where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible. He has served as minister of the North 10th and Treadway church of Christ in Abilene, TX. In addition, he has served as minister of evangelism at the West End church of Christ in Terrell, TX. He is presently the minister of the Watts-Willowbrook church of Christ in Compton, CA. Peter has participated in a number of gospel meetings, revival meetings, and youth meetings throughout the brotherhood. He is a firm believer in preaching and defending the simple, unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. Peter has been married to his lovely wife Nichelle Cassandra Songs for 2-1/2 years.
Jamel K. Hamilton
Dallas, TX
Jamell K. Hamilton
is a native of Brooklyn, New York, being born and reared around and in the
church of Christ. He grew up attending the Nostrand Avenue church of Christ
where he obeyed the gospel at the tender age of 7. Subsequently he began his
pilgrimage into the ministry under the direction and tutelage of his
parents, John & Hazel Hamilton, by preaching at different area-wide events,
lectureships, youth conferences and dinner days often having to be placed on
milk crates and boxes just to be able to see over the podium. After high
school, Jamell moved to Terrell, Texas where he attended Southwestern
Christian College. It was there he met and married his life partner and
wife, (formerly) Carole Burnett. During his tenure at Southwestern, he was
involved in various on campus activities and engaged in internships and
interims in Paducah, Kentucky (9th Street Church of Christ) and Tulsa,
Oklahoma (North Peoria). Brother Hamilton completed his work at Southwestern
Christian College and received his Bachelors Degree in Bible (1997). Shortly
after, he began to work with Sheppard Street church of Christ in Mt.
Pleasant Texas as their full-time minister. He served as the Minister to the
Sheppard street church of Christ in Mt. Pleasant, Texas for 4 years
(1996-2000). He has been happily married to Carole Hamilton for 7 years. To
their union they have three daughters Jayla (6yrs old), Jordan (4), and
Janyece (2). Brother Hamilton just recently graduated from Dallas Baptist
University where he received his Masters Degree in Professional Development
in Counseling.
Brother Hamilton currently serves as the Minister the Mountain View Church
of Christ in Dallas, Texas for the past 4 years where the late Brother
Melvin Lee Chappell served as minister.
Lloyd Harris
Little Rock, AR
Lloyd Harris
was born in Homer, Louisiana on May 21, 1949, to Henry Clyde and Myrtle
Beatrice Harris. He married Ora Mae Newsome on June 1, 1969, thus entering
into a loving relationship that produced three children: Clay Maloyd, Dexter
Wayne and Orena LaCay. After completing secondary education in the local
schools of Springhill, LA, Loyd attended Jarvis Christian College in
Hawkins, TX with emphasis in Religion and Math. In 1972, he received the
B.S. Degree in Business and Economics from Stephen F. Austin State
University in Nacogdoches, TX and later worked on his MBA at East Texas
State University in Commerce, TX. In 1981 he received the M.Th and in 1984
the MAR from Harding Graduate School. The Doctor of Christian Education was
conferred on him in 1987.
Harris began preaching at age nine in 1959, and was ordained to the ministry
in 1960. As a teenage preacher, Harris served churches in Cullen, LA,
Emerson, AR and did intern at Perrin Street in Shreveport, LA. He served as
assistant minister at Lyle St in Big Sandy, TX and from 1968-74 served as
minister of the Shawnee Church in Nacogdoches, TX. From 1974-77 he served
Shepherd Street in Mt. Pleasant, TX and from 1977 to 1986 served the Highway
82 church in Greenville, MS. From October 1986 till December 27, 1998, he
has served the Meridian Street church in Moss Point, MS. And since January
1, 1999 he has served the McAlmont Church of Christ in North Little Rock,
AR.
Harris is the founder of the School of Religious Studies, co-founder of the
Christian Retreat in Hot Springs, AR, and co-founder of the Bible Chair at
Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, MS. Harris began the
Answering Voice Radio programs in Nacogdoches, TX in 1971 and the Answering
Voice Television programs in 1972 and has been conducting Answering Voice
broadcasts for over thirty-one years. In 1974 he carried the Answering Voice
ministry to daily broadcasts. He has been on the air daily for some
twenty-eight years. He is a Newspaper publisher, author, lecturer and
educator. He is known as the Analytical Preacher.
Jack Evans, Jr.
Fort Worth, TX
Jack Evans, Jr.
Eugene Lawton
Newark, NJ
Eugene Lawton is
the minister of the Newark Church of Christ in Newark, New Jersey, having
served in capacity for thirty-five years. He is an international evangelist,
radio and television evangelist, a defender of the faith, a preacher’s
preacher and a successful author of four books. Dr. Lawton, a native of St.
Petersburg, Florida, was baptized into Christ as a teenager by the late S.
J. Dudley at the Twentieth Street Church of Christ, St. Petersburg, Florida.
He commenced preaching the glorious gospel while a student at Southwestern
Christian College, Terrell, Texas.
His academic credentials include Southwestern Christian College, Terrell,
Texas - Associate of Arts degree; Pepperdine University, Los Angeles,
California - Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees; advanced work at
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey; and a Doctor of
Ministry degree from Trinity Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana. Dr. Lawton has
been preaching the gospel forty-six years and his experiences are numerous.
He served with distinction as minister of the East 7th Street Church of
Christ, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1959-1961. He has been the minister of the
Newark Church of Christ, Newark, New Jersey for thirty-five years. He worked
as field representative of Southwestern Christian College, 1961-63. He was
the Academic Dean of Southwestern Christian College, Terrell, Texas 1969-71.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of Southwestern Christian College.
In 1978, the Newark Church of Christ for the first time was among the
twenty-four churches that baptized one hundred or more persons into Christ
during the year of 1978. Under the dynamic leadership of evangelist Eugene
Lawton, the Newark Church of Christ is a rapid-growing church. Over 2000
persons have been baptized into Christ during his ministry at the Newark
church. God has smiled on this great church. Brother Lawton has been
preaching on the Liberation Hour, a weekly radio, for twenty-seven years. He
has been preaching on cable television eight years. Both programs have been
instrumental in baptizing some 156 persons.
He has
preached in the West Indies, East and West Africa, South Africa and in
Jerusalem. He is married to the former Diane Trone, and they have three children:
Fitzgerald, Cedric and Kathleen; and three grandchildren.