On Delano Street in Houston's Third Ward, Williams Temple Church of God in Christ has stood as a Pentecostal anchor since 1919. The congregation belongs to the Church of God in Christ and the Texas Greater Southeast First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and its motto, "Preaching the Gospel and Changing Lives," points to a church built for the long ministry of a neighborhood. Sunday worship draws families, students, and longtime members to the sanctuary for anointed praise and a strong, expository Word.
A Lineage of Bishops, A Pastor Who Came Home
Williams Temple traces its pastoral legacy through Bishop C. H. Nelson, Bishop Robert E. Woodard Sr., and Bishop Robert E. Woodard Jr. The current pastor, Craig I. Carter, was appointed Senior Pastor on December 19, 2017, by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake. The call was a homecoming in more than one sense. Pastor Carter and his family had joined Williams Temple in April 1963, and he was ordained there in 1985 under Bishop Robert E. Woodard Sr.
Born in Huntsville and raised in Houston, Pastor Carter is a United States Army veteran who received an Honorable Discharge in 1987. Before returning to Williams Temple, he served five years in Tacoma, Washington, preaching and ministering in prisons and hospitals, and in February 2004 founded The Living Word Church of Houston, a Bible-teaching ministry known for its loving congregation. When he was named pastor of Williams Temple, members of The Living Word Church followed him and merged into the Williams Temple family. He is married to Angel Carter, the church's First Lady, and is the father of three children and grandfather of two. He sums up his work in a sentence: "Winning souls and changing lives by the preaching of the Gospel."
Sunday Mornings and Midweek Gatherings
The weekly rhythm at Williams Temple centers on four gatherings. Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by Sunday Morning Worship at 11:00 a.m. Both are held at 2524 Delano Street. Tuesdays bring a Prayer service at 7:30 p.m., and Wednesdays open the Bible at Bible Study at 7:00 p.m. Visitors can also join from anywhere, because services are streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.
Expect a traditional, gospel-rooted Pentecostal atmosphere: a choir and musicians leading worship, prayer that rises from the congregation, and preaching anchored in Scripture. The church's statement of faith runs from the inerrancy of the Bible through the Trinity, the redemptive work of Christ, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the sanctifying power of the Spirit, and the blessed hope of the Church's gathering at His return. It closes with the line, "Confess with your mouth, believe in your heart."
Ministries for Every Age and Stage
The church organizes its life around a wide bench of ministries. Music is led by Minister of Music Kathryn Riggins, with Elder David Hart serving as Music Director and musician. The Deacons Board is chaired by Darryl Thomas, with Weldon Meeks as Co-Chairman and Deacon Samuel Mayes as Treasurer, and Deacon Weldon Meeks also directs the Out Reach Ministry. A Welcoming Committee, Ushers (led by President Renee Anderson), and Greeters (with Versea Wells and Velena Williams) greet first-time visitors. New members are shepherded through a New Membership Coordinator.
Women's ministry is built around several councils. Judy Owens leads the Women's Ministry as President and serves as an Evangelist Missionary, with Dorothy Polk as Assistant. Shanda Walker heads the Young Women's Christian Council, Barbara Bailey the Christian Women's Council, and Linda White Women of Promise and Grace. The Men's Department is led by President Elder Stacy Hunter, with Timothy McKinney as Treasurer. Couples and Singles ministries are part of the church's family life, and Annie Giles serves as Church Mother and Mother's Board President.
Younger members are not an afterthought. Elder David and Sis. Leah Hart lead the Youth Ministry, with Sunday School taught under General Superintendent Norman Walker. A College Ministry under LeChieta Williams carries students from high school graduation into young adulthood, and Virginia Brown oversees the Academic & Scholarship ministry, which supports students as they pursue education. The church's children, youth, and college work is grounded in the words of Jesus: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Giving, Prayer, and Connection
Tithes and offerings can be given online through the church's giving page, which includes a PayPal option, and the giving ministry anchors the request in Malachi 3:8-10, asking members to "bring the full tithe into the storehouse." A confidential prayer request form is available for anyone who wants the pastors and prayer team to lift their needs. The Williams Temple is a member congregation of the Texas Greater Southeast First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and jurisdictional news and announcements flow to the church through that body.
Visiting Williams Temple
The church sits at 2524 Delano Street, Houston, Texas 77004, in the heart of the Third Ward. The office can be reached at 713.659.6594 or wtcogicinc@gmail.com. From the pastor's desk, the invitation is simple and personal: "We Welcome You. To all who walk through the doors here at Williams Temple, we are charged with the awesome responsibility of equipping you to live a victorious life in a troubled world. If you continue to visit here with us, your life will change for the better through the teaching and preaching of the gospel." That welcome has been the church's witness for more than a century, and remains the heart of its ministry today.