Meet our Pastor and First Lady

***** God's Servant *****

An eminent leader, a man of profound integrity, Bishop Sherman L. Merritt is an extraordinary man of God. Bishop Merritt was born July 9, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee. April 3, 1967 he married Vera E. Smith. To this union three children were born, D'Anbrea, Sherman Jr. and Joselyn.

Educated in the Nashville city schools, he furthered his education by attending Tennessee State University and majoring in Mechanical Engineering. April 1994, he received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Pentecostal Bible College in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Bishop Merritt has over 35 productive years in the ministry. He was appointed assistant pastor of Greater Christ Temple Church, Nashville, Tennessee under the pastorate of District Elder W. W. Harris in 1973. He was ordained in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (PAW) in 1983.

Having served as a member of the National Evangelism Team, Bishop Merritt is active in the ministry of soul winning and establishing churches. In 1990, he was appointed District Elder in both Tennessee and Togo West Africa where he traveled teaching the gospel and ministering to the needs of the area people. He evangelizes the Nashville Community and surrounding areas spreading the gospel by way of radio broadcasts, community tutorial programs, fostering a program to secure grants that will assist in other community service outreach projects.

In 1992 he was elected Vice Chairman of the First Apostolic Council of Kentucky and Tennessee. After serving two terms he was elected and currently serves as Chairman. The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. (PAW) Executive Bishop's Board at the National Convention appointed him Suffragan Bishop in 1994.

In August of 2003, Bishop Merritt was consecrated Bishop during the Summer Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

A man of vision, Bishop Merritt stands firmly on the undisputed Word of God. He enters the next level as the Diocesan of the First Apostolic Council of Kentucky and Tennessee of the Eleventh Episcopal district of the P.A.W. confident in the certain promises of God (Isaiah 25:1) with

ANTICIPATION OF GREATER EXPECTATIONS (Jeremiah 29:11).

First Lady Vera E. Merritt has been a faithful supporter not only to her husband, but to the Greater Christ Temple church family. She was baptized in Jesus name on May 17, 1975 and filled with the Holy Ghost on the 18th of the same month under the leadership of the late District Elder W.W. Harris at Greater Christ Temple church.

In July of 1993, Sister Vera Merritt became the First Lady of Greater Christ Temple church. In years past she has held offices in the Young Adult choir, Young People's department, and a Sunday School teacher of 30 years. She is also advisor to the Marriage Enrichment Ministry and the Deacons, Trustees and Ministers Wives group. First Lady Merritt has recently joined the members of the Usherboard at the church. Along with all these other activities, First Lady Merritt has found it in her time to manager a puppeteering ministry. She has stated that she loves the puppeteering ministry because it allows the creativity in her to glean. She enjoys working with her staff of puppeteering professionals and looks forward to performing at various events to see the excitment it brings to young and old children alike.

First Lady Vera Merritt is also a member of the National Evangelism Team under the leadership of Bishop Robert Young.

The chairperson of the Upper Room staff, she works endlessly, sometimes staying all night with soul's receiving the Holy Spirit. She feels blessed to be a part of this ministry because bringing souls to the Lord is something she enjoys doing and she knows that she will receive great rewards in heaven for all her efforts.

She is the proud mother of three beautiful, saved children.

Minister D'Anbrea Miller, Brother Sherman, Jr. (choir), and Brother Joselyn (bass player for choirs). Also, in her and Bishop Merritt's care is little Sis. Tenia.