About the servant of God...

Pastor Hector G. Carpenter was born in Manchester, Jamaica, West Indies. At the age of 21, he was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. Shortly after, he became a member of the Shiloh Apostolic Church, located at Swaby’s Hope in Manchester, Jamaica.

In 1975, Elder Carpenter migrated to the United States and resided in Evanston, Illinois, where he worshiped at the Mt. Zion Tabernacle Apostolic Church. After a few years at Mt. Zion, he was appointed youth president and served faithfully under the pastorate of Pastor John W. Groves. In 1979, he shared the sacred vow of matrimony with his current and only wife Claudette. The union produced three beautiful children, two daughters and one son.

Elder Carpenter relocated to Kissimmee, Florida in 1990. After visiting many churches, he continued to experience a void, relative to the true Apostolic doctrine known to him; thus he began to seek the Lord for His direction, which was answered through a vision. The vision entailed the ringing of a doorbell which, when he answered, found two ladies dressed in white standing in the doorway who asked for one Minister Carpenter. His reply was “I am he,” followed by “How do you know my name?” The response from the ladies was “You do not know us, but we know you.” Their instruction to him was, “Come and start a Church with us”, after which they disappeared!

Through fervent prayer, Elder Carpenter met Elder Austin Wright. They proceeded to initiate the First United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic, in Kissimmee FL. In 1992 Elder Carpenter was ordained in England as a Minister by Bishop Edmund and later became the Assistant Pastor, under the pastorate of Austin Wright. Later, after the death of Elder Wright, Minister Carpenter continued the work started. He presently serves the ministry by pastoring First United Church of Jesus Christ, under the leadership of Bishop Leslie Barnes.

Elder Carpenter has a strong love for the Church and a passion for God’s people. He believes in winning and maintaining souls for the Kingdom and exhibits urgency in accomplishing this task by encouraging community outreach. It is his desire and hope that each member will take heed to the gospel of salvation in preparation for the Lord’s return.

God is truly blessing Elder Carpenter and the ministry of First United.