Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Williams.
Hi Angela, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Dr. Angela Williams was born in Orangeburg, S.C., daughter of the late Mrs. Lillie Reed and the late Mr. Herman Smalls. She is the second oldest of seven children. She attended the public schools of Orangeburg and graduated from Orangeburg Wilkinson High in 1977. She furthered her education at Orangeburg-Technical College and Voorhees College. An anointed teacher of the word, Dr. Williams’ childhood experiences coupled with her educational training from Benedict College in Business Administration, Columbia International University where she received a Master’s degree in Teaching and Master’s degree in Educational Administration, and Ed. S in Curriculum and Instruction from Cambridge College has given her ministry a special sensitivity to the needs of all people, especially the woman. She received her Bachelor of Biblical Studies from the International School of Religion. She also received her Masters and Doctor of Divinity from the Spirit of Truth Institute in Richmond, Virginia in 1995. Dr. Williams received her Doctor of Philosophy and Christian Education degree from the Institute of Christian Works in Seattle, Washington in 1997. The Lord has seen fit to use her to bring emotional healing to people who have been hurt, rejected, and deceived.
Dr. Williams is an educator, pastor, teacher, published author and poet, and national recording artist. She is the past pastor and founder of the thriving ministries of Rejoice Christian Center, Inc. Church in Columbia, South Carolina. She continues to contribute back to her hometown of Orangeburg, SC performing with The Celebration Choir, which is comprised of several area churches, sings with Rosemary Griffin and Company, the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses; Orangeburg Chapter under Min. Rosemary Griffin, and the recording group “SEASONED”, under the direction of Min. Louise Smith. Dr. Williams sang with “Bishop Udell and Chosen Community Chorale” a recording artist gospel group, and toured 8 cities performing 8 concerts in New York, concerts in Maryland, and North Carolina. She attended the Stellar Awards in 2017 and the group won 2nd place in the new artist division. My new cd music was entered in the gospel radio music awards show this year. Even though I didn’t place, I will enter it again on the next opportunity. I’ve been singing since I was a little girl, around 5 years old; tiny tot, junior choir, youth gospel choir, young adult choir, inspirational choir, and still singing.
She has been featured several times in “A Christian View magazine”, and hosted a show on Jamvibes Radio, and interviewed with Louise Smith / writer’s society radio again on Jamvibes radio.biz, interviewed with The Cheryl Boggs Show in Dallas, Texas and hosted her own podcasting show on internet radio with Ms. Bonita Claiborne on the Storm Talk 365 Show in Richmond, Virginia. She was featured on the show with Annie Salley WakeUp Call Show as she shared her book, Spiritual Abuse in the Church. She has participated in writing blogs for Minister Sarah Priester, PANARAMA Community Newspaper, and has her own podcast (One Word Gospel Show) on Spotofy.com.
Free! Not Locked Up Anymore is the title of her first book, released in 2016. She has completed her second book, Spiritual Abuse In The Church which was released in February 2017. Angela’s third book, “Inspired to Grow” has been released.. Her 4th and new book, “The Grieving Process,” will be published soon. She has another book, Behind the Mask,” ready to be printed. Her newest adventure is to publish another poetry book in the future. She has written 5 children’s books, ready for publication. Her first single gospel CD, “AWESOME GOD,” was released in Paris, France, in February, 2019. She has appeared in 4 concerts in Paris, France again in August and in Germany in January 2020. She has written a song called “Connect Us,” which has been recorded, videoed, and will be shared with the world. Angela joined the Jones Memorial AME Zion church under the leadership of Rev. Thelma Gordon. Her new spiritual direction moved fast. Angela was at Jones Memorial for a short period of time, then she was ordained and appointed as pastor to the Temple of God AME Zion Church in Cayce, SC on the same day. She is in her 2nd year of pastoring at the church. Angela went on her 1st mission trip to Jamaica in April, 2025 which she was able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ at several schools and minister to women in the evening . She is now writing small grants and ministering in song with the Church Women United group of Columbia, SC.
I am so excited to share my story to those who need positive affirmations, encouragements, real life testimonies of the goodness of God. I am proud to be a female preacher/ pastor, writer of 5 regular books and 5 children’s books. 2 major youth and children’s grants, a part of the Steminista Youth Academy grant program that just began at Jones Memorial AME Zion church. I’m torn between counseling and going to law school at the moment, but one of these degree programs will begin for me in January.
My story is quite unique. I went through spiritual abuse with a church for25 years and God delivered me out of that church. I know what it is like to be abused by a pastor, but my faith in God helped me to overcome the hurt, pain, and damaged. I wrote the book “Spiritual Abuse in the Church” after I left that church. My mom passed in 2007 and that was a hard hit for me. I have grown physically and spiritually over the past 18 years. I’m now pouringback into theolder folks that helped me t get where I am. I write blogs and podcasts. I’m learning AI material now to getbetterat theskills and gifts placed in me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Some of the struggles along the way was my church experiences. I was abused in a church for 25 years, being intimidated, manipulated, embarrassed, interrogated, lied on, talked about, misused, and probably some other things happened. My life was miserable. I stayed because I trusted God to get me thru or out of the situation. I was a middle school teacher for 30 years teaching math. The pastor had people spying on me on my job, making phone calls to them of my every move. the spy worked with me and would call the pastor every time someone called me or came to visit me on the job. I had to report the spy to stop the situation at work, but it didn’t help the situation at church. I got shunned, rebuked from the pulpit in front of the congregation many times for no reason. I took it, kept learning and kept my head up.
Other struggles was getting my family to support me in my endeavors. I graduated from college and my siblings didn’t come, from the masters program twice and my siblings didn’t show, and finally from the Ed.S program and no family came to the graduation ceremony. I was hurt, but kept moving forward. I have a habit of depending on God to see me through.
In 1982, I was stood up at the altar by my fiance’. That was one of the most embarrassing moments in my life. My church was packed and everybody invited showed up. An elderly lady came to talk with me in our children’s nursery at my home church. She alerted me that my fiance’s moma wanted to kill me to stop the wedding. She couldn’t get to me, so she poisoned her son, then rushed him to the hospital to have his stomach pumped. This was an event that horrified me for a moment of time in my life, but I overcame it. I then moved to Columbia, SC where I now have resided for the past 43 years.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
MY SISTER CALLS ME ASELF MADE WOMAN. i HAVE A BACHELOR IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, A MASTERS IN EDUCATION AND A MASTER’S IN LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISION, AND AN EDUCATION SPECIALIST DEGREE IN ADMINISTRATION. I AM A RETIRED MIDDLE SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHER OF 30 YEARS CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE. I LOVED MY STUDENTS AND THE TEACHING/LEARNING EXPERIENCE IT AFFORDED ME.
I AM MOST PROUD OF MY PREACHING, TEACHING, AND SINGING CAREER. I CHOOSE SONGSTHAT LIFT PEOPLE UP AND BRING ENCOURAGEMENT TO THEIR LIVES. I TEACH AND PREACH THE GOSPEL EVERY SUNDAY WITH SBJECTS THAT PERTAIN TOWHERE WE ARE AT IN THE SOCIETY IN WHICH WE LIVE TODAY. I PURPOSELY TEACH BIBLE STUDY ON ZOOM FOR JONES MEMORIALAT TIMES ANS WELLAS SHARE TEACHING SUNDAY SCHOOL WITH MY CONGREGATION.
IN MY SINGING CAREER, I HAVETRAVELED TO ISRAEL, PARIS,FRANCE, AND HEIDELBURG, GERMANY TO SING. I HAVE SUNGBACKGROUND IN MY YOUTH DAYS BEHINDSHIRLEY CAESAR, SANG AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF GOSPEL CHOIRS AND CHORUSES, INC. ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. WHILE INISRAEL , I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HELPING BAPTIZE OVER 15 PEOPLE IN THE RED SEA. MYLIFEHASBEEN EXCITING FOR ME. NEVER WOULD I THINK THAT ALL THIS COULD HAPPEN IN MY LIFE.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
SUCCESS TO ME IS GETTING VALUE OUT OF WHAT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE INSIDE OF MEAND BEING VICTORIUS AND THANKFUL THAT IWAS CHOSENFOR THE JOB. BEINGABLETO COMPLETE THE TASK BEFORE ME ANDSEEING THE POSITIVE EFFECT IT HAS ON OTHERS.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: PASTORANGELA ON FACEBOOK
- Youtube: angwilliams52@yahoo.com
