Pastor Autry Watkins IV is from East Orange, NJ.  He accepted Christ at a young age at Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Somerset, NJ.  There, his pastor and hero was Bishop Nehemiah Grier, Sr. Autry loved the preaching ministry of Bishop Grier, he recalls him always teaching his congregation, “don’t take my word for it, study the Bible for yourself!”  It was there that he cultivated a love for the local church and the preached Word.

 

Pastor Autry graduated in 2006 from Taylor University with a degree in Psychology where he was an all-conference football player.  After graduating, Autry spent much of his career working with people and doing ministry.  Whether it was helping families in New Orleans rebuild after hurricane Katrina or serving the youth at the James Jordan Boys & Girls Club on the west side of Chicago, he always looked at his work as part of his mission field.

 

In 2013, Pastor Autry received his undeniable call to ministry.  When telling this story, he likes to say that he, like Jesus, began his ministry at the age of 30.   In the Spring of 2015, the Lord led the Watkins family to Transformation Church and in 2016 the church licensed him for ministry.  After serving as an Elder at the church, the members unanimously voted him to be the church’s next Pastor in November of 2017.

 

Pastor Autry finds it to be an overwhelming honor and privilege to shepherd God’s people and steward His church.  Pastor Autry is the husband of Deanya Watkins and father of four sons: Autry V, Zion, Joshua, and Elijah.