Our Pastors

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Elder Howwin Carter, Jr., was born May 9, 1959, in Washington, D.C. to the late Howwin Carter, Sr. and Mattie M. Anderson. He is the youngest of four children, two brothers and one sister. During his early childhood years, Howwin Carter Jr., learned the benefits and virtues of living a dedicated life and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Elder Carter was educated in D.C. Public Schools. He has also studied at Wilbur H. Walters School of Religion & Seminary and The Apostolate Christian College (ACC); both located in Washington, D.C. In 1986, while at the Gospel Ark Temple Bibleway Church, under the leadership of the late Bishop John Lamb, Howwin Carter received the gift of the Holy Ghost. In 1987, he began fellowship with the Way of the Cross Church of Christ, Int. under the leadership of Bishop Alfonzo D. Brooks, where he remained for thirteen (13) years.
 

In June 1989, Elder Carter married his lifetime friend Yvonne Desper who loved working for the Lord as much as he did. They were blessed with five wonderful children, two sons (Elder Derrick and Darnell) and three daughters (Lolonyo, Christine and Shekinah).

Elder Carter has participated in multiples outreach ministries such as prisons, convalescent homes, homeless, hospitals, and street ministries, just to name a few. He also served as the Visitation Minister for the Way of the Cross Church of Christ for many years at the side of the late Bishop Walter J. Thompson, Sr. Along with his wife and family, they labored for five (5) years in ministry with the Tower of Power Praise Temple under the leadership of the late Elder Johnny L. Desper.

The Spirit of God has blessed Elder Carter with many skills and talents to strengthen his widespread ministry in saving Souls. His message is that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “The Kingdom of God is At-Hand.”
 

In August 1999, Bishop A.D. Brooks officially installed Elder Carter as Pastor of the Agape 1 Church of Christ where he continues to serve faithfully until this day.
 

Elder Carter comes from a long bloodline of preachers, and Pastors. Over the years from childhood to manhood, Elder Carter knew he was called to preach the Gospel. He acknowledged his calling in 1991, delivering his first message titled “Faith, Either You Have it or You Don’t!” Hebrew 11:1.

On August 7, 2015, and after 16 years as an independent ministry, with much prayer and consideration God placed it upon the heart of the Carter’s to return to their roots, (The Way of the Cross Church of Christ, Int’l.) During their tenure as an independent ministry Elder Carter and the Agape 1 Church family always felt a part of the Way of the Cross because of the love showed them by his Spiritual Father, Bishop A.D. Brooks and the WOTCC family over the years.

On July 29, 2019 Elder Carter was elevated to the office of District Elder. Charged to serve District 3 of the Way of the Cross Church of Christ, Int’l. in the Washington Metropolitan area.

This full time Worker, Entrepreneur, Father, Husband, Preacher, Teacher, and now Pastor of twenty (20+) years at the Agape 1 Way of the Cross Church of Christ, Int’l., Dist. Elder Carter is still on FIRE for God and BURNING with desire to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Evangelist Yvonne Carter is a native of Washington, D.C. the daughter of the late Reverend John H. Desper and Evangelist Florence L. Desper. She is a third-generation preacher and the fourth child of seven siblings. From her childhood, Evangelist Carter was blessed to have save parents that taught her at an early age to reverence God, live a consecrated and dedicated life that was well pleasing and acceptable unto the Lord Jesus Christ. She was anointed and appointed by God to preach His Holy Word at the age of twenty-two.

Evangelist Carter was educated in the DC Public Schools. She continued her education at the Wilbur H. Walters School of Religion and Howard University Weekend Bible College in Washington, DC. In June of 1989, Evangelist Carter married an anointed and blessed man of God Pastor Howwin Carter, Jr. They were blessed with five wonderful children, two sons (Minister Derrick and Darnell) and three daughters (Lolonyo, Christine and Shekinah).
 

Inspired and anointed by the Holy Spirit, she was installed as a Social Missionary of the Way of the Cross Church under the Leadership of Bishop Alphonzo D. Brooks, where she served faithfully for ten years. God has used Evangelist Carter greatly in her life through many skills, talents and gifts.
 

In August of 1999, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Elder Howwin Carter, Jr. was instructed by God to start the Agape 1 Church of Christ in Southeast Washington D.C., where she was ordained as an Evangelist and has worked faithfully by his side over the various ministries of the Agape 1 Church of Christ.
 

Evangelist Yvonne Carter is anointed and loves the Lord with all of her heart, soul and spirit. She strongly believes in living the life she preaches about and giving God the praise. She is known for sending up the praise to God and has been on fire for Him every since God baptized her in the Holy Ghost and fire. One of her favorite scriptures is Psalms 107:2, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy”. She has so many favorite worship songs but some of her most recently sung: Lord I just want to thank you, I get joy when I think about”, Your latter will be greater than your past” and You are Holy”. Evangelist Yvonne Carter is a native of Washington, D.C. the daughter of the late Reverend John H. Desper and Evangelist Florence L. Desper. She is a third-generation preacher and the fourth child of seven siblings. From her childhood, Evangelist Carter was blessed to have save parents that taught her at an early age to reverence God, live a consecrated and dedicated life that was well pleasing and acceptable unto the Lord Jesus Christ. She was anointed and appointed by God to preach His Holy Word at the age of twenty-two.

Evangelist Carter was educated in the DC Public Schools. She continued her education at the Wilbur H. Walters School of Religion and Howard University Weekend Bible College in Washington, DC. In June of 1989, Evangelist Carter married an anointed and blessed man of God Pastor Howwin Carter, Jr. They were blessed with five wonderful children, two sons (Elder Derrick and Darnell) and three daughters (Lolonyo, Christine and Shekinah).
 

Inspired and anointed by the Holy Spirit, she was installed as a Social Missionary of the Way of the Cross Church under the Leadership of Bishop Alphonzo D. Brooks, where she served faithfully for ten years. God has used Evangelist Carter greatly in her life through many skills, talents and gifts.