Our Ministers

Rev. Dr. Alphonso Counts, Sr.

Assistant to the Pastor

Reverend Dr. Alphonso Counts, Sr. is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. He is the son of the late Mr. James Calvin Counts and the late Mrs. Alberta Metze Counts

He received his public education in the schools of Richland County School District graduating from Booker T. Washington High School. Reverend Counts furthered his education at Benedict College, Columbia, SC receiving a B.S. Degree in Mathematic and Biology. He continued his education at Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama receiving a M. Ed, in Science Education and Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA receiving a M.S. in Chemistry. In 1980 he received an Ed.D in Education Administration from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.

Reverend Count has served as a teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal in the public schools of Greenwood, South Carolina and Richland County. He started and coordinated the Richland District Five Science Fair. In addition he coordinated the Adult and Continuous Education Program in the Lower Richland area, which allowed 400 plus adults to receive a high school diploma

A lifelong member of Saint John Baptist Church he has served as a Sunday School Teacher, Trustee, Deacon, President of the Brotherhood, a Vacation Bible School Teacher, Teacher of the Monday Night Bible Class and the Interim Pastor from 2000-2003.

He is married to the former Marian Washington who is a retired Educator. They are the parents of three children, Wyonna C. Counts, Alphonso Counts, Jr. and Byron Drew Counts. They have seven grand children.

His Motto: When a man will not speak for the Truth, The Truth wills Speak for the Man.