I was born to William E. and Lorraine Carson on December 18th 1947 in Memphis, TN. Even as a small boy, I had this inward desire to live for God, and at the age of 10, I received the Holy Ghost and was baptized in the precious name of Jesus.

At the age of 17, I felt the call to preach the Gospel. I had just graduated from Central High School in Memphis and had already signed up for pre-med courses at Memphis State University. God had different plans for me. After changing my courses, I remained a student at the university and also studied theology under my pastor's mentorship. My very first sermon was preached at Christ Memorial Temple in Lafayette, IN pastored by Rev. Raymond Parnell. Little did I know, that years later I would become pastor of that same church!

In 1966, I began my full-time ministry as an evangelist with the Assemblies Of The Lord Jesus Christ. In August of that year, one of the most wonderful things in my life happened to me... I married Martha Lee Wilson. For the next five years, my wife and I traveled across the country doing evangelistic work. In July of 1971, we began our first pastorate in the little southern Indiana town of North Vernon. After sixteen years in North Vernon, we evangelized for two more years before accepting a pastorate in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Six years later we went back on the evangelistic field for a couple of years before moving to Pensacola, Florida to work in the Spoken Word Church as their church evangelist.

In August of 2000 we received a call from Pastor Raymond Parnell and Christ Memorial Temple to serve as Associate Pastor. Since that time, God has blessed us with a new 40x60 fellowship hall, a total interior remodeling, and many new souls. Thank God for His grace and mercy!

As of January 2004, Pastor Parnell has become Bishop, and I have become Pastor at CMT. We pray for wisdom and anointing to continue the wonderful job Bishop Parnell has done the past 40 years.

     

Born into a minister's home of Roy M. and Lilly Belle Davis Parnell, my life has always been focused on being a servant of God. While Dad was pastoring in Augusta, Georgia, God called me to preach at the early age of 12. My first revival was for Rev. J. L. Pipkin of Blue Mountain, Mississippi at the age of 14. After graduating from the Academy of Richmond County in 1956, we moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Dad took pastorship of a church. There I held a one month revival and then started my own full-time evangelistic ministry. Those early student-preaching days were exciting and invaluable. I learned much and realized what great possibilities lay ahead.