OUR FOUNDERS

Edith Marie Clark was born to the union of the late Emmanuel Clark, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Clark on August 25, 1942, in Baton Rouge, LA. She was a graduate of McKinley High School in Baton Rouge, LA and Word of Faith Bible College under the leadership of Sister Valerie Owens of Irving, TX. She received Christ at an early age and was baptized by her grandfather, the late Superintendent James Stampley, Sr. of Baton Rouge #2 Church of God in Christ, who before departing this life passed the mantle to his granddaughter, Edith Marie Clark.

In 1972, at the age of 30, she encountered the resurrected Lord and was commissioned into the five-fold ministry according to Luke 4:18-19 “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” She was a pioneer in the establishment of one of the first independent interdenominational ministries founded upon the word of God. Ephesians 4:11-12 “and he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” She was equipped in the five-fold ministry and the manifestation of the nine gifts of the Spirit was in full operation in her life.

In 1975, God united two families by joining Edith Marie Clark in marriage to Jim Henry Howard. Together, they worked hand and hand to raise nine children and nurtured by the Heart of God, the Body of Christ. By profession, they were caregivers, and by the Spirit, shared the best of themselves and their substance with their family and anyone they came into contact with. Pastor Howard’s character captured the very essence of the gift of love. Her embrace was an extension of God’s love and unmerited favor toward us. She was passionate about life and encouraged all to experience all that God has given: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1).

Pastor Howard was a woman of spiritual excellence and integrity with a powerful prophetic anointing unlike anyone else we’ve ever encountered. As an inspired speaker of faith, healing, and prosperity, the miraculous frequented our services, our homes, and our fellowships. She has seeded into countless lives and the fruits of her labor can be seen in many ministries throughout Baton Rouge, various states, and some foreign countries. She stood as a bold preacher by the anointing of God and declared the uncompromised word of Life. Pastor Howard was inspired to develop classes and programs to encourage spiritual maturity and to educate believers of all ages and all walks of life. She was the founder of the Achieve to Succeed Adult Day Care Center for the elderly. Under her guidance, many extensions were birthed: Spiritual Development, Free and Not in Bondage, Evangelistic Ministry, God’s Children with a Destiny, and Sign Language.

She fulfilled her commission according to Matthew 28:19-20 “wherein God commanded her to Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Senior Pastor, Jim Howard is the son of the late Ms. Nannie Guess. In 1975, he was united with the love of his life and partner in Christ, the late Edith Marie Clark. Together, they worked hand and hand to raise nine children and traveled extensively to foreign countries and numerous states in the U.S. sharing the “Good News of the Gospel.”

Under the direction of the Holy Ghost, Pastor Howard worked alongside his wife to nurture the Body of Christ. Pastor Howard is best noted for salvation, love, faith, healing, and deliverance messages, which have touched the hearts of thousands.

Endeavoring to feast upon the word that we may grow…go…and glow in the things of God that the works of our hands may be established in Him, Pastor Howard passed the mantle to Pastor Guevara Johnson.

A wise man will increase learning… and a man of understanding will attain unto wise counsel…Proverbs 1:5

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