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astor Destin Lateef Williams began his faithful walk in preaching the WORD of GOD in the Spring of 2009, counting it all joy to take on this awesome task. GOD does things in HIS timing and all things are pre-destined, so in 1979 the ninth month and the eighth day, Pastor Williams was born to Gilbert Williams and Aida Wiggins in Memphis, Tennessee. He was baptized at the tender age of 12 into the body of CHRIST at Princeton Avenue Baptist Church. He is a graduate of the Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tennessee) 2002 and received a Bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems. In 2004, Pastor Williams decided to further his career and worked on his Master's degree attending Union University (Jackson, Tennessee) receiving a Master's degree in Business Administration in 2005.

Upon returning back to Memphis after undergraduate school, Pastor Williams reconnected with the fellowship at his home church, Princeton Avenue Baptist Church. At this time, Pastor Williams held various positions, serving as a deacon, trustee, Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, associate minister, armor bearer, and Youth leader.

In 2002, Pastor Williams worked in human resources at the State Department of Tennessee. This career has strengthened and deepened his commitment to mankind. After four years of employment with the State of Tennessee, Pastor Williams, became employed with Nationwide Insurance Company in 2007 where he began in the Claims Department as a Claims Adjuster and then became a Commercial Underwriter. Pastor Williams has grown and developed through various experiences and trainings afforded to him by Nationwide Insurance Company.

Notification was given that the Nationwide Insurance Company offices would be closing in Memphis, Tennessee and employees would have to relocate to Gainesville, Florida. In 2010, Pastor Williams and his family moved (journeyed) to Gainesville, Florida. Mt. Carmel became their church family in February of 2011. Since joining this fellowship, Pastor Williams has held various positions, serving as Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Associate Minister, and Youth leader.

On March 29, 2014, Pastor Williams received the call to become the Senior Pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and was installed as the 17th Senior Pastor on April 27, 2014. The following year, May, 2015, guided by the Holy Spirit, Pastor Williams left employment with Nationwide Insurance Company. Pastor Williams received his Masters of Art in Christian Education on May 7, 2022 and is currently pursuing his DEdMin at Dallas Theological University.

2025 At A Glance

(Notable Items: What We’ve Been Up To)

1. Continued partnership with East Gainesville Initiative (EGI)

2. Continued with Choice Neighborhoods Initiative for Pine Meadows, & Lake Terrace Apartments

Revitalization

3. Partnership with UF Health Cancer Disparities Research Collaborative, January 2025

4. Upgrade of audio equipment-Fellowship Hall March 2025

5. Pastor’s 11th Anniversary Celebration, April 2025

6. Community Service Projects (as part of Pastor’s Anniversary Celebration), April 2025

7. Phase 1 of Lawn Upgrade, May 12, 2025

8. Hosted Jerusalem Congress of Christian Education, June 10th -June 13th, 2025

9. Hosted Power over Pain Workshop (UF College of Nursing), September 6, 2025

10. Celebrated 129th Church Anniversary, September 2025

11. Church-wide picnic (Camp Cuscowilla), September 20, 2025

12. Community service throughout the community (as part of Church Anniversary), to include “Serve Sunday”-Worship Service at two Nursing Homes, September 2025

13. Members purchased Church T-shirts (to be worn at church events), September 2025

14. Hosted Pastors for Pastor’s Appreciation Dinner, October 2025

15. Partnership with Cross Connect Sports, October 24, 2025 (K-8)

16. Relaunch of Young Adult Ministry, November 2025

17. Thanksgiving Fellowship/Meal, November 2025

18. Updated TV in Youth Wing for Toddlers Room November 2025

19. Upgrade of computers in administrative & finance area, November 2025

20. Christmas Fellowship/Meal, December 2025

21. Holiday Promise (provided gifts for families through Peaceful Paths & Partnership for Strong Families), Total Family Members 17, December 2025

Statistics (Membership)

• Christian Experience-8

• Baptisms-21 (2 for baptism only, did not join)

• Deaths-3 members. Also 1 who attended with wife

Major Repairs/Projects 2025

• Repair and painting of Van (Project began February and completed in September 2025)

• Power washing of church/sidewalks, March 2025

• Upgrade of sound system in Fellowship Hall, March 2025

• Phase 1 of Lawn Upgrade, (Project began May 2025, Completed August 2025)

• Irrigation for lawn upgrade, (Project began July 2025, Completed August 2025)

• Upgrade of computers in office and media area, December 2025

Leader: Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the end of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.

Congregation: He giveth power to the faint: and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Leader: Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall.

ALL: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Elder Karl V. Smith, Sr.

Reverend Karl V. Smith is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and the 5th of 7 children born to the late James F. Smith, Sr. and Mary K. Smith. He answered the call to ministry in 1980 and was ordained as an Itinerant Deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1982 by Bishop S. S. Morris and as an Itinerant Elder in 1984 by Bishop Philip R. Cousin.

God has blessed Reverend Smith with many gifts and talents and allowed him to work in corporate America for 37 years where he was recognized as an outstanding business leader. He is a certified trainer in many leadership and management disciplines, and is regularly called upon to conduct training sessions and to facilitate team development seminars.

Reverend Smith has been afforded the opportunity to pastor four (4) churches. He was appointed Pastor of Gregg Temple A.M.E. Church, November 1984February 1986. Upon arrival to this assignment, he found a church that had been closed for several years with no active membership. With the support of family and friends, the church was completely restored and began having regular services in April, 1985. The church grew in membership to 40+ during his short tenure.

In March of 1986, Reverend Smith was assigned as the Pastor of Macedonia A.M.E. Church in Fernandina Beach, FL. Under his leadership, the church grew considerably and became a beaconoflightserving many needs of the community.

Bishop Philip R. Cousin appointed Reverend Smith to the A.M.E. Church of the Master in November 1987, where he served as Pastor for 19 years. During his tenure, the membership grew spiritually, numerically, and financially. It is here where God blessed Reverend Smith to lead the congregation in building a new Worship and Praise Center.

In 2006, Reverend Smith was assigned to Greater Bethel A. M. E. Church in Gainesville, Florida. Under his leadership, the church moved from zero to overflow. Now, there is abundance in spirit, ministry, members, and finances.

As a servant- leader, Reverend Smith engages himself in the activities of the community by working cooperatively and collaboratively with the leadership in both the public and private sector, to improve the quality of life for all.

In October 2014, Pastor Smith’s community leadership was recognized when he was presented with The Alachua County NAACP Community Service Award. The City of Gainesville proclaimed October 16, 2015, as ReverendKarlV.Smith,Sr.Dayin recognition of his servant leadership.

On October 30, 2020, Pastor Smith was appointed Presiding Elder of the South District in the East Annual Conference by Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Jr.

Pastor Smith is an honor graduate of New Stanton High School, Edward Waters College, and University of Chicago Kellogg School of Business for Executive Leadership. He has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Divinity by The Central Florida Theological Seminary.

In spite of all of his accomplishments, Pastor Smith admits, without a loving, supportive and understanding family, none of this would be possible. He is a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is married for fifty (52) years to his “Queen”, Diane. They have 2 children: Karl Jr.(Nikki) and Kimberly, and 4 grandchildren (Kennedy, Taylor, A.J., Malcolm.