Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, Inc.
Randy Carter
Pastor Randy has been an ordained minister with the PFWB for 45 years. During that time, he has served as a foreign missionary in Guadalajara Mexico where he oversaw the planting of eight churches and the establishment of a Bible institute. He has also served as pastor of the North Haven PFWB church for 12 years, and founding pastor of Rolesville Community Church which he started and served for eight years. Randy is a graduate of Heritage Bible College where he earned his Bachelor of Religious Education with a concentration in Christian Education. He has also neared completion of a Masters of Arts in Christian Ministries from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Randy and his wife, Gwen, have been married for 42 years and have three children. All three of there children are married and together with their spouses are serving the Lord in the local churches where they attend. Randy and Gwen have five grandchildren. After thirty years of full time active ministry as a missionary, pastor, and church planter for the PFWB, Randy joined the staff at their PFWB Resource Center as Director of Christian Life Ministries. In 2016 he was elected as General Superintendent of his denomination and has served in that capacity for the past seven years.
What is the ministry challenge keeping you up at night?
The stated purpose of our organization is to help our pastors be better leaders and to help our churches accomplish more for His Kingdom. The challenge that keeps me up at night is determining how to best do this in an ever changing world.
What is the greatest hope for God’s work in 2023 you’re dreaming about?
What I’m dreaming about in 2023 is how to transition our denomination into an effective network of churches that are making a difference throughout the United States and in the seventeen foreign countries where we currently serve.
What is a non-ministry activity that brings you joy and energy?
I find joy and energy just sitting on my back porch watching the birds, playing with my five (soon to be seven) grandchildren. I enjoy working in my yard and garden. I also love reading God’s word.
What are the top 1-3 essentials for the Church in America to address to reach those who are spiritually open, but not yet following Jesus?
This statement isn’t original with me. I heard Bill Hybels say it many years ago. But it stuck with me, that “the church must become culturally relevant while remaining Biblically pure.”The church needs to come up with new models/methods for effective ministry in an ever changing world. Along with that, we’ve got to become better change agents, better at effecting change within the local church in order to adapt. The church needs to come up with ways to engage the culture…what does scripture have to say about the social issues of our day, issues which seem to matter more to the unchurched than to the churched. And how can we begin a dialogue with society on those issues in a way that weaves in the gospel.