ABOUT the

Statement of Purpose

We, the Apostolic Church stand at the ‘inflection point’ of new challenges and opportunities for wholistic change.

The current national and global climate has created an existential crisis and disruption in the ‘Business As Usual’ model of doing Church. As a result, the Church finds itself at an unfamiliar tipping point as it attempts to galvanize believers who are desperately seeking redefinition, renewable, recommitment, and reset.

We have been summoned into a deeper sphere of critical thinking and spiritual sensitivity that will reveal what the Holy Spirit is requiring for these times.

At this Summit we will engage in dialogues, discussions, and debates that are germane to our
identity, preservation, and ordained commission.

FOCUS TOPICS

The Character of the Times

We seek to understand the current age and the demand for a ‘comprehensive’ kingdom approach to healing and saving both the sacred and secular worlds.

The Church Themes

We seek to understand the ‘power of our past’ and our evolution using new approaches and applications designed for the gathering of the harvest and evangelizing the world.

The Construct

Our responsibility demands that we move beyond critique to contribution. Therefore, we will:

A. Convene the conversations,

B. Design the construct,

C. Manage the process of change,

D. Evaluate the performance, productivity, and progress of the process, and

E. Equip and empower others to be deployed into all of the mountains of society as we work to return the kingdoms of this world back to God.

The Kairos Calendar

We seek to understand the necessity of being intentionally saturated in God’s timing and our participation in His Devine plan in this moment.

The Commission

We are forever connected to a clear and crystallized interpretation of our foundational and fundamental precepts, principles, and praxises. We are persuaded by our ethos, ethics, and holy habits which are the Constitution for the end time Kingdom Counterculture.

OUR VISIONARIES

BISHOP CAROLYN SHOWELL

Carolyn D. Showell is the great niece of Bishop Joseph M. Turpin, one of the founding Bishops of The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. She is next to the youngest of ten children born to the Honorable Bishop Winfield and First Lady Genevieve Francis Showell. Her father, Bishop Winfield A. Showell was one of the four founding Bishops of the Bible Way Churches Worldwide. Nurtured in the spirit of excellence by her parents, Carolyn is committed to being a life-long student. She was awarded a B.A. Degree from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. She received her Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary of New York, with a concentration in Psychology and Theology. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the Carolina University of Theology. Carolyn is a certified licensed Therapist and Pastoral Counselor. She was a scholarship recipient to Columbia University School of Business in New York City. There she studied the Management of Not-For-Profit organizations. She has worked as a consultant for AT&T in Racism and Cultural Diversity, a mental health specialist, a psychometrist for the Baltimore City Public School System, and a program and special projects developer for the Johns Hopkins School of Business and Administration. Carolyn was one of four finalists (out of 13,000) chosen for HUD’s Community Builders Program and received certification in Faith-based Economic Development from the Harvard University Summer Leadership Institute (SLI). After which, she returned as a member of the SLI teaching staff. She was later selected as a member of the Steering Committee of the Black Alumni/ae Network of Harvard University-The Divinity School. She is the founder of Transformed, Inc., a private Christian counseling and family support service agency. Presently, she is completing her dissertation for a second doctorate in Judaic and Rabbinic studies at the Baltimore Hebrew University at Towson State University. She is the visionary and founder of God First Ministries, Inc., which focuses on ministerial preparedness and performance competence. She is the “Establishmentarian” of the Next Generation Pastors’ Symposium. She also serves as the President of the Leadership Institute For Faith and Society. Carolyn was ordained as an elder in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. where she served as president of “the Sacred College”, the leadership development arm of the organization. She attends First Apostolic Faith Church in Baltimore, Maryland where her brother, Bishop Franklin C. Showell, is the pastor. There she serves as the Executive Pastor. She is the recipient of numerous awards, honors, and scholarships. In 1999, 2002, and 2011, Carolyn was invited and awarded the privilege of addressing church leaders at the historical Hampton Ministers’ Conference. She has been selected as one of Baltimore’s Women of Distinction as she is a member of many social organizations and serves on several corporate boards. Carolyn is a gifted and anointed speaker who serves as a church transformation consultant to many of our country’s most dynamic ministries. She conducts and coordinates conferences, workshops and seminars on leadership and human development, spiritual formation, church growth and transformation, and the creation of Faith-based initiatives. On July 18, 2014 Dr. Carolyn D. Showell was consecrated Bishop in the Global United Fellowship under the visionary leadership of Bishop Neil C. Ellis. Under his leadership, Bishop Showell serves as one of four vice presiding bishops of the fellowship where she oversees the areas of Operational Programmatic Structuring, and Christian Education. Presently, Bishop Showell serves as Dean of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops. And, the President and Founder of The Institute of Lifelong Learning (TILL). Dr. Showell’s life mantra is, “Stay in awe of God . . . He is forever amazing”.

BISHOP MONROE SAUNDERS

Bishop Monroe Saunders, Jr. a native of Baltimore, Maryland, furthered his formal educational pursuits at Morgan State University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Social Welfare and later received a Masters Degree from Howard University in Religion & Education and the Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Bishop Saunders has held two prior pastorates; First United Church of Jesus Christ in Detroit, Michigan and the Capitol Hill United Church of Jesus Christ in Washington DC. Currently he pastors the Transformation Ministries of the United Church of Jesus Christ, Baltimore, Maryland, a ministry founded by his father the late Bishop Monroe Saunders, Sr., D.Min. as the First United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) in 1965. Among his many accomplishments and responsibilities Bishop Saunders serves as: Presiding Prelate of the United Church of Jesus Christ. President of the Center for More Abundant Life which encompasses two Section\ 8 housing projects for the disabled and elderly Member of the Multi-cultural Prayer Movement Bishop Saunders is also very civic minded and strives to be active in community affairs. He has served in the following capacities: A board member of the Transplant Resource Center of Baltimore As an executive board member of the Howard County Housing Commission Member of the Board of Directors of the Mayfield Avenue Community Association Board Member of the National Conference of Christian Jews – State chapter Diocese Bishop for the 6 th Episcopal Diocese – Florida & 8 th Episcopal Diocese – Canada Executive Board member of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops Executive Board Member American Heart Association Executive Director of the Center for Creative Learning, an institution-providing academic excellence for children, grades pre-K through 5 th grade Bishop Saunders is the author of three books, A Journey to Faith Barren with a Promise, a book written to encourage those who are going through barren moments in their lives to build their faith, because out of barrenness, the seed of promise can break forth and A Journey to Transformation, Seeing the World Through a Different Lens. His recent publication released in June 2019 is Unbearable Truth Spirituality and Ministry in the 21 st Century. He was also featured in the Fall 2009 issue of “The African American Pulpit”, a quarterly journal that serves as a repository for the very best of African American preaching. All of his accomplishments and responsibilities are too numerous to mention here but one can see he is dedicated and committed to all that the Lord gives him to do. As the eldest son of one of the country’s most prominent Apostolic ministers, his call to the ministry at the age of 17 was neither unexpected nor unwelcomed. From 1980 until December 1992, Bishop Saunders, Jr. served as Executive Pastor of the First United Church and in March of 1993 he was officially installed as Pastor. Since becoming Pastor, Bishop Saunders, Jr. has strived to teach and preach the recovering of lost souls for the kingdom of God, and the equipping of saints for the work of the ministry. Pastor Saunders senses the urgency for unity in the body of Christ and the need for transformative spiritual development. He is endeavoring to move as the Spirit of the Lord directs him to enable their fulfillment. The Spirit of God’s anointing is felt by those around the world who are touched by his outstanding preaching and teaching ministry. His wife, Lady Winsome R. Saunders, and his family make the love and joy of his life complete. The Transformation Church is blessed to have as Pastor, Bishop Monroe Saunders, Jr., a visionary and leader of spiritual transformation during this critical time in our history.

APOSTLE THOMAS W. WEEKS SR.

Apostle Thomas Wesley Weeks, Sr., was born in Boston, MA to the late Bishop and Mrs. Thomas J. Weeks. After graduating from English High School in Boston, MA, he furthered his education receiving a BA in Business Administration and a MA in Urban Affairs from Boston University, a Master of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary, Atlanta, GA; and later receiving an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Aenon Bible College. Apostle Weeks is a well-known seminarist and speaker on both the national and international levels. He loves to minister in the areas of leadership, marriage and relationships. Apostle Weeks is well sought after in these realms of ministry. Apostle Weeks is the Presiding Prelate Emeritus and Founder of New Destiny Fellowship International (N.D.F.I.) and he is the Pastor of New Destiny Fellowship. As a great man of faith and Father in the Gospel, Apostle Weeks heeded to the call of God to start a church in Wilmington, DE, where he has been pastoring for nearly four decades. As Presiding Prelate, Apostle Weeks’ passion is to train and mentor leaders, ministers and new pastors and their spouses. Apostle Weeks’ personal ministry, Praise Power Celebration, Inc., has annual Ministerial and Leadership Conferences that address these concerns and interests. Praise Power Celebration, Inc. is also well known for hosting the Praise Power Celebration Conferences. Apostle Weeks is an administrative and mentoring genius. He has exhibited this special gift from God throughout his life. Apostle Weeks began his career in Boston, Massachusetts accepting the role of Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director of the Ecumenical Center after graduating from Boston University. The Ecumenical Center was a community anti-poverty center funded by grants provided by President Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on poverty. He departed the Ecumenical Center to become Executive Director of the Bromley Heath Tenant Management Corporation that became the first tenant management corporation of a public housing development in the nation. After three years serving Bromley Heath, he accepted the position of Assistant Deputy Director of the Wilmington Housing Authority Urban Renewal Program in the 1970s. He became Delaware’s first Director of the State’s Office of Minority Enterprise, working in that capacity until 1974, when he accepted the position of Deputy Site Manager for the Rand Corporation of the Housing Allowance Program in South Bend, IN. This program was the United States government’s trial to decide whether to proceed with the now famous Section 8 program. After serving one year, he became the Site Manager for the Rand Corporation and Chairman of the Board of the Housing Allowance Program. While pastoring in Wilmington, DE, Mayor Jim Sills asked Apostle Weeks to chair the Wilmington Housing Authority Board of Commissioners who was faced with a major transition of leadership and restoration in the financial integrity of the Authority. He served as Chairman for seven years. In the community, he is a well-respected leader who has touched the lives of other leaders in church as well as the State. He has attained many honorary proclamations and awards from colleges and church organizations, as well as government and community organizations. Apostle Weeks recently received the Alumni Achievement Award from Boston University, and served as their 2003 Graduation Speaker. Apostle Weeks served on the Advisory Board for Met College of Boston University, Boston, MA for 15 years. He was called upon to serve as President of the Inter-denominational Ministerial Action Council (IMAC) on three different occasions that amounted to 14 years as President. Under the umbrella of the International Organization, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (P.A.W.), he was ordained as a bishop in 1987. He first became Diocesan of the Caribbean District in 1987; then as Diocesan of the New Jersey District Council from 1988 through 1996. From 1996 through 2000, he served as Diocesan of the DC, Delaware and Maryland District Council. He also served the P.A.W. as the International Young People’s President (1976-1982), Assistant General Treasurer (1982-1987) and served as Assistant Presiding Bishop of the P.A.W. (1996-1998) and President of Aenon Bible College (1984-1992). In the year 2000, Apostle Weeks founded New Destiny Fellowship International (N.D.F.I.); a fellowship of churches both nationally and internationally. New Destiny Fellowship International consists of almost one hundred churches in the United States, and over 300 churches overseas. At the 2003 NDFI Gathering, Apostle Weeks was ordained an Apostle by his Father in the Gospel, Apostle Mark Hanby and Bishop T. D. Jakes. As an author, Apostle Weeks has written several books: A Set Time, Don’t Leave, Cleave, Pagan Holidays, Altar Survivor: The Road to Greatness, Start Strong, Finish Stronger: Proven Power Principles to Get Things Done and his current release, Transformed. Apostle Weeks has a vision for energizing the entire Christian world for global soul saving. He is a man from very humble beginnings who has risen to greatness and success. Through it all he still remains father, pastor, leader, mentor and a good friend. He has the greatest wife on this side of Glory, Dr. Leona Brown Weeks. She never complains and has been by his side from the very beginning. Apostle Weeks states, “She is the reason for my success—she is the apple of my eye.” Apostle and Dr. Weeks have been married for over 50 years. From this union they have two sons, Thomas and Abdullah Azeez. Apostle and his wife have three very lovely grandchildren: Sydnie, BaDia SaFa, and Zion.