Pastor Byron G. Carter grew up in a Christian home and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at an early age. Pastor Carter’s formative years were surd with a Christian education. As a child, his family was actively involved in the Methodist Church. Pastor Carter candidly states his belief about God and church growing up was as simple as, “Going to church was what good people do”…but his personal relationship with the Lord was yet to be developed.

As a teen, throughout high school and college, Pastor Carter excelled in multiple sports; however, his true passion was baseball. Pastor Carter learned valuable skills from sports, such as self-discipline, being a team player, a good follower, and ultimately leadership skills as a team captain. His heart was fixed on being a professional baseball player…pastoral ministry was the furthest thing from his thoughts or desires.

In his early twenties, Pastor Carter’s body was afflicted with a debilitating and life-altering attack of Rheumatoid Arthritis. As a result, he questioned how God could allow this to happen to him, causing him to become angry and bitter. His mobility became limited which required him the need for the use of a wheelchair. During this time, his family moved their membership to Christ Memorial COGIC, under the leadership of Bishop Benjamin J. Crouch.  

Realizing that baseball would not be his destiny left Pastor Carter with little hope for the future which furthered his bitterness with God.  Many mornings Pastor Carter’s mother would wheel him into morning prayer where the saints would lay hands and pray for his healing, as well as for a spiritual breakthrough. Again, not being completely healed and realizing that baseball would not be his destiny left him little reason for hope in the future. 

Shortly afterward, Elder James Purdom under the anointing and power of the Holy Ghost sat with Pastor Carter and shared the gospel in the most precious and precise loving way, making it clear all that God’s love meant for him. This talk had a lasting result sparking a deeper curiosity in him to know God in a new way.

Pastor Carter soon after joined Christ Memorial COGIC, and later married and welcomed the birth of his son, Isaiah Carter. The marriage was short-lived leaving him a single-parent, trying desperately to understand his purpose and why his life was unfolding in the manner it was.  Through the biblical teachings of Sunday School, as well as a Bible study, Pastor Carter developed a thirst for the wisdom and understanding of God’s Word. Pastor Carter was content with attending Bible Study and Sunday School, but not interested in becoming an acting part of a ministry.

After the passing of their pastor, Bishop Crouch, his parents Elder James Purdom and Evangelist H. Cathy Purdom founded Rock of the Valley COGIC (ROTV COGIC).  Pastor Carter in an effort to help Elder Purdom, joined Rock of the Valley and submitted to being licensed as a minister, but in his heart had not truly accepted the call to ministry.  Pastor Purdom however recognized the call of leadership upon him and began to groom him under the steady hand of God. Pastor Carter continued to grow spiritually through the Word and was elevated to an Elder, however, this elevation for him was more about pleasing his parents than it was a certainty of his calling.  

In 2005, Pastor Carter married his partner for life Donnyelle Motely.  Soon after, Pastor Purdom began pushing Pastor Carter to mature in his role. In 2010 as Pastor Purdom began his transition to glory, his final words to Pastor Carter were “Boy You Know What You Need to Do.”

Soon after the passing of Pastor Purdom, Pastor Carter reluctantly began to realize that God was calling him into pastoral leadership. Three years after the death of his father during a prayer breakfast Pastor Carter was fully and undeniably baptized in the Holy Spirit. Thereafter his mother, Evangelist H. Cathy Purdom, who had become the pastor of ROTV, and the members began to speak to him about being the successor of the ministry.  To prepare him for this role, his mother appointed him as Assistant Pastor of ROTV, and his Superintendent ordained him as the Assistant Pastor. However, he was yet to be convinced that he was suited for this call.  

In December 2016, Pastor. H. Cathy Purdom began what would be nearly a 3-year battle with cancer, and again the question of “was he ready to pastor” was being laid at his feet by everyone he knew. 

In July 2019, the Lord assured Pastor Carter with undeniable certainty that he was to be the Pastor of Rock of the Valley Church of God In Christ. 

In September 2019, his mother, Pastor Evangelist H. Cathy Purdom took her rest, and soon thereafter, Pastor Byron G. Carter was installed as Pastor.  

Pastor Carter can now attest that his call into pastoral leadership was carefully navigated by God. Every situation and every circumstance he experienced ultimately shaped his relationship and destiny with God, using it for such a time as this.

Through his challenging preaching and teaching of the Word, Pastor Carter is developing a ministry that empowers the people of God for Kingdom living.