Leadership

Charles Wright was born in Santa Monica, California in the 1960’s, and spent his childhood and early teenage years being raised in Los Angeles, California. He is the fourth of six siblings, all of whom are ministers of the gospel. His father, the late Rev. Eugene Wright, Sr., pastored several congregations across the Fifth District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and his mother, the late Ollye Martin Kinchion Wright, was an organist, pianist, and life-long member of the Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) of the A.M.E. Church, where she served in various offices & capacities from the Young People’s Division (YPD) to the senior WMS.
Charles accepted Christ as his Lord & Savior and was baptized at the age of 12. Charles’ early education took place in the California public school system, and he graduated from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas, where his father was pastoring at the time. In furthering his education, he received an Associate of Arts in Business and a Bachelor of Science in Human Services and Management from the University of Phoenix.  Prior to entering the full-time pastorate, he was employed as a Specialist for Pizza Hut Restaurants for over 34 years, where he was responsible for covering restaurants in seven of the western United States.
Charles Wright answered his call into the ministry on November 14, 1978, and later ordained an Itinerate Deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1985. Rev. Wright was appointed to serve as Pastor of Hubbard Chapel A.M.E. Church, La Junta, Colorado and when he relocated to Utah, served between the A.M.E. churches and later served on loan, as an Associate minister at Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah until being assigned to the pastorate of Embry Chapel A.M.E. Church in Ogden, Utah. While serving as Pastor of Embry Chapel A.M.E. Church in Ogden, Utah, Rev. Wright was ordained an Itinerate Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2008. Rev. Wright also served as Pastor of Holy Trinity A.M.E. Church, Las Vegas, Nevada from 2014, until being transferred to the Desert Mountain Conference and appointed to serve as Pastor at Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church, Denver, Colorado from October 2021 until being appointed as pastor of Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado August 19, 2023, at the seat of the 137th Session of the Desert Mountain Annual Conference by Bishop Clement W. Fugh.
Rev. Wright is the proud husband for more than 36 years to his precious wife, Evangelist Peggy Angel Jackson Wright formerly of Tallahassee, Florida, who is a powerful preacher, teacher, and songbird in her own right. Evangelist Peggy has special love for children and their development into mature Christians serving the Lord. Rev. Wright and Evangelist Peggy are the proud god parents to 13 lovely children. Rev. Wright loves the Lord, and his pride and joy is sharing the word of God and touching and watching God shape lives through his ministry.

Rev. Graham was born to the late Rev. Andrew E. Dawkins, Sr of Birmingham, AL, and the late Barbara Gene Blake Dawkins of Selma, AL in Ann Arbor, MI.  She spent her childhood between Selma and Montgomery, AL. She graduated from George Washington Carver High School in Montgomery, AL. She attended the University of Alabama for two years and, in 1987, joined the United States Army. She was stationed at Ft Jackson, SC; Ft Lewis, WA; and Giebelstadt, Germany where she served in Desert Storm/Desert Shield. Her last duty station was Ft Carson where she was honorably discharged in 1993. She returned to school and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. She has done some graduate work at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and she is presently working on her Master’s degree in Systems Engineering at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. She currently works for the United States Air Force as Senior Sustainment Engineer, where she has attained several civilian awards.
Rev. Graham gave her life to Christ on Christmas Day 1977 at Greater St. Paul AME Church, Montgomery, AL where she served in multiple capacities as a youth. When she was stationed at Ft Carson, she joined Payne Chapel AME Church where she served as a choir member and Sunday School teacher. Rev. Graham received her call to preach at an early age but after “running from the call” for several years, finally answered the call in 1997. She was ordained Itinerant Deacon in 1999 and Itinerant Elder in 2001. She is presently serving at Payne Chapel AME Church under the leadership of the Rev. Leslie R. White. Rev. Graham is married to Ralph Martin Graham US Army, Retired.  They have been married for 28 years and have raised two daughters, Barbara Michele (Graham) Rowell, and Aletha Karyn Graham.

“God can—but we do not always know how—because God can—in so many different ways.” L.S.
Chaplain Lonzie Symonette, Associate Minister Payne Chapel AMEC, Colorado Springs, CO, served as Coordinator for the Desert Mountain Conference Women In Ministry, Rocky Mountain District, and 5th Episcopal District Women In Ministry Executive Board as Secretary, Worship Leader and now as mentor/consultant for Chaplaincy. She is a Board Certified Chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) retired; served as Adjutant Faculty at Fuller Theological Seminary Colorado; founder and staff Chaplain of a Hospice Church that met 12 years every Sunday for worship; retired hospice and palliative care Chaplain, 15 years.
Preacher, Teacher, Mom, Nana, Published Author of many articles, and four books: He Calls Me By The Thunder Meditations on Freedom endorsed by Vinton Randolph Anderson 92nd Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, (deceased); Everyday Soaring Since My Emancipation Meditations on Inspirational Living, endorsed by John Richard Bryant 106th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (retired). She also served as Bishop John Bryant’s marshal for two years in the Desert Mountain Annual Conference. Rev. Lonzie has written lessons for the AMEC Church School, Adult Class and co-authored other writings in the AMEC Review and is currently working on a new book release. A praying woman, she was happily married for forty-nine years to Brother Norman. Norman served as the Pastor’s Steward and received the Man of the Year award in the Rocky Mountain District, Desert Mountain Conference before his home going in 2018.
Board Certified Chaplain Association of Professional Chaplains

The Steward Board Ministry is appointed annually by the pastor and confirmed by the Quarterly Conference. Stewardship is a theological belief that humans are responsible for the world and should take care and look after it. In the African Methodist Episcopal Church, stewardship refers to the way time, talents, material possessions, or wealth are used or given for the service of God by the local church.* The pastor appointed by the presiding bishop to the local church is the chairperson of the Steward Board. He may appoint a chairperson pro tem to act in his absence.  Al Lewis and Sharon Tunson are the current co-chairpersons of the Payne Chapel Steward Board.

*For more details and a full outline of duties, refer to “The Doctrine and Discipline of The African Methodist Episcopal Church”

Our Young People’s Mission and Purpose is to give their time and talents to bless others and share in the blessings they’ve received through Family, Fellowship, and Love. The YPD is part of the Women’s Missionary Society.  It is designed to help develop young people and children aged 2-26.  It has 3 groups: Allen Stars, Mother Sunbeams, and Young People’s Auxiliary.
It was started in 1916, and the goal was to grow, glow, and go for Christ by providing youth with foundational principles of the bible, living a life for Christ, and the AME church principles, and Richard and Sarah Allen. We believe in the Apostle’s Creed and are governed by the WMS.
Activities:

• October: Annual Coat Drive
• November: Fall Festival
• December: Holiday Service, Angel Tree  (Because of Jesus we Have)

Lisa Toney/YPD Director

Brief History
The Young Adult Ministry (Y.A.M.) was formed under the leadership of Reverend Leslie R. White on Thursday, February 20, 2020, with four members.

Mission and Purpose: The mission and purpose of the Young Adult Ministry are to discover/discern ways and means to reach other young adults, inactive members, and new members for Christ.

Current Activities:
Zoom Video Conference Meetings are held every 4th Saturday of the month at 11 a.m.

Understanding our role in history and exercising our responsibility to VOTE! Each Sunday a member of the Y.A.M. Welcome our Guest and provides a brief Mental Health tip to bring awareness and encouragement to our church family during these unprecedented times.

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Established 2016 by the Former Pastor Arthur Carter Jr. (deceased). for the purpose of establishing and ensuring community interaction with other churches, groups, etc. Also to promote fellowship opportunities such as Coffee Hours, Community Meals, Game Nights, and Sporting events. 

The Payne Chapel Adult Board has been in existence for over 50 years. The first Usher Board was created in the early 1900’s and now has a membership of twenty.
Our Mission and Purpose:
Our vision is to follow the leadership of our Pastor, Rev Lesley R. White. We are a body that works together towards the vision that God has given to our Pastor for the church. We are faithful in our position and duties required of Church Ushers.

• We greet the guests and members with a pleasant smile, a warm welcome, and direct them to comfortable seats.
• We try to ensure that perfect order is always kept in and around the church during the service.
• We make sure that fans, bulletins, church literature, collection envelopes, and all necessary items needed for an effective worship experience are distributed to the congregation.
• We always guard the doors to the Sanctuary during the service.
• We help our guests and members experience the sacredness and joy of worshiping God.

COME JOIN US! WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU WORSHIP WITH US!!