Our Pastor

Rev. Dr. Carol W. Echols is the founder and pastor of Visions AME Church in Missouri City/Stafford, TX, faithfully serving for more than 30 years. She is also President and founder of Crossroads Community Development Corporation, which impacts the Southwest Houston area.

 

Dr. Echols holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a B.S. in Physician Assistant Studies from Howard University, and both a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership from the Houston Graduate School of Theology. She also completed the Executive Leadership for Ministers Program at Howard University School of Business. After 37 years as a board-certified Physician Assistant—30 of them at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center—she retired from medical service in Houston.

 

An AME member since 1979, Dr. Echols accepted her call to preach in 1987, was ordained an itinerant deacon in 1990, and elder in 1992 under Bishop John R. Bryant. She has served as a delegate or alternate to the General Conference since 2000 and co-hosted the 1994 Texas Annual Conference as one of the historic Umoja Four. She has hosted numerous conferences and served in key leadership roles, including Worship Leader, Treasurer, and now President of the Tenth District Women in Ministry. She also chairs the Ministerial Efficiency Committee, serves as Dean of the Tenth District Board of Examiners, and has held leadership roles in Christian Education, Judiciary, and Theological Scholarship Committees.

 

Dr. Echols embraces a call to teaching, deliverance, and healing ministry, with a passion for strong families and healthy communities. She is known as a shepherd, servant, and ambassador for Christ whose ministry uplifts the disenfranchised and empowers transformation. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter.