Dr. Dana Carson

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The Apostle Dr. Dana Carson
Born	Dana Carson (1960-05-08) May 8, 1960 Englewood District, Chicago, Illinois, Chicago, U.S.
🏡 Residence	Houston, Texas, U.S.
💼 Occupation	Pastor Author Entrepreneur Theologian
👩 Spouse(s)	Rachelle Hill ()

Dr. Dana Carson (born December 25, 1960) is a pastor, author, theologian, church growth specialist, leadership development consultant and professor. He is the Senior Pastor The ROCK WOI, a non-denominational American megachurch. Carson's church services sermons are broadcast on, The WLPC-CD, The WJYS and The Word Network.

Early life

Dr. Dana Carson was born on December 25, 1960, in Chicago, IL to former Mississippi sharecroppers, John, and Geneva Carson, who moved north for freedom and equality in the Great Migration. Carson was raised in the inner city and recalls seeing warring street-gangs in his neighborhood as early as the second grade. By the time he reached the fourth grade, in order to escape some of the hardships of the crime-infested streets, his family decided to make a move from the back of the projects to the front of the projects. Though the environment was a slightly safer one, Carson still found himself in dangerous and life-threatening situations. In the midst of all the chaos, however, his parents didn't allow him to fall victim to his circumstances. An avid baseball player, Carson taught himself how to play basketball and used his love of the game as a means of escape from the harsh realities of his inner-city upbringing; the gangs tended to leave the athletes alone. During his senior year, however, he was cut from his high school basketball team because he did not meet the academic grade requirement. Discouraged by this, he dropped out of school and stayed home for a while. Fortunately, his mother gave him a choice to either begin working full-time or go back to school; not feeling ready to work, Carson returned to his schooling. When he returned, he lacked the necessary credits to graduate, so Carson went to summer school during the day and attended night school at the Dawson Skills Center to earn his high school diploma. Over the summer, a mentor encouraged Carson to leave Chicago and go to college at HBCU Wiley College in Texas. Thus, against the odds, Carson went on to study at some of the top schools in the nation such as Boston University, Harvard University, and Duke University. He now holds seven earned degrees including three masters and three doctorates. He is currently on his way to achieving his eighth master from the University of Houston.

Life in Ministry

On December 5, 1986, Dr. Carson began his first church, Praise Tabernacle, in Austin, TX. A man of humble beginnings, he began his ministry in the home of his dear friends Kenneth and Marie Hargrove starting with only nine people in a house. Over the next 10 years, with the help of God, Carson grew that same ministry into a mega-church with a congregation of over 5,000, building from the ground up, the largest church under African-American leadership in the capital city of Texas. As his success grew, he soon became a household name appearing on major networks like Black Entertainment Television and The Word Network. With abundant fame and success, things seemed to be going well, he was loved by his congregation and well respected in his community. His leadership had acquired 26 acres of land and built an 1800-seat sanctuary, gymnatorium and cafeteria, Christian bookstore, pre-school, elementary, and middle school, Christian education classrooms, 32 track digital recording studio, and administrative offices. But things would soon change when in 2002 Dr. Carson heard the voice of God telling him to pack up all of his things, and leave all of his success and move to Houston for revival. Being a true man of God, he was obedient and left everything behind to follow to God. He was followed by 300 hundred families who believed not only in him but also in the call of God that was on his life. In a short amount of time, he and his family went from living a comfortable and wealthy life, to living in the back of a church in rural Alvin, Texas, a small city on the outskirts of Houston. To Carson's dismay, he soon came to discover that Alvin, Texas was a city with deep roots in its racist past, located only a few miles away from the former KKK Headquarters. The odds seem to be against him, but being a man of faith he obeyed God and stayed put. Within a couple years Dr. Carson was the proud leader of a thriving ministry that had tripled its membership in less than three years, The ROCK WOI, and it too like Praise Tabernacle, was the largest church in the city, drawing people from both near and far to hear his unique message on the Kingdom of God. This new ministry had a new focus, one with an emphasis on building Bible-centered, Spirit-filled, community-building, Kingdom-minded churches and planting them across the world to reflect the racially and culturally diverse design of the Kingdom of God. While in Alvin, Texas Dr. Carson not only grew a thriving ministry, he also began expanding both his vision and his capabilities, authoring over 200 , raising up leaders and planting churches on three continents - North America, Africa, and Asia. In the midst of all this however, he never forgot that the Lord had told him to move to Houston. So, in 2014, Dr. Carson once again packed up his things and moved his ministry to Southeast Houston. Unlike the first move, however, this time he was much more seasoned and established. He wasn't simply a pastor with a mega-church, he was an Apostle with a global organization that reached across the world. Carson has now been in Houston going on 5 years. As his ministry continues to grow, he continues planting churches, writing books, training leaders, and acquiring real-estate like the 221 acres of land located in Rosharon, Texas off of highway 288 that was acquired under his leadership in order to advance the Gods Kingdom and empower younger generations. Dr. Carson is also the proud founder of The Christian Academy for Kingdom Excellence (C.A.K.E) located in Nakuru Kwon Jinga, Kenya where 500 unserved children are given access to food, education, and teachings on the Kingdom of God. As his ministry continues to grow, we can only wait and see what more God has in store for him.

Career

In 1986, Dr. Carson first church Praise Tabernacle was established in Austin, TX: constructed 1800-seat sanctuary, gymnasium, day care – 12th grade, recording studio and bookstore. The Church grew from 9 members in 1986 to over 5000 in 2003. Hired and developed over 40 full-time church staff members, providing jobs for individuals through program development.

In 1997, started ACTS Youth Sport Mentoring Initiative that mentored hundreds of at risk children in the Austin area through character building and strategic decision-making skills.

In 2002, Dana Carson Kingdom Ministries started The Restoration Cameroon Initiative. A organization initially designed to serve the humanitarian needs of the people in Cameroon through educational supplies, clothing, books, medicine, and equipment.

In 2003, Dr. Carson founded The ROCK WOI in HoustonTX a Kingdom-minded ministry. He manages and directs the daily operations as the CEO of The ROCK WOI including the management of multiple facilities in addition to 221 acres of land in the Greater Houston area. Current church plant locations: Atlanta, GA, Brooklyn, NY, Butuan, Philippines, Charlotte, NC
, Chicago, IL, Kyle, TX, Memphis, TN
, Round Rock, TX, Johannesburg, South Africa, Orange Farm, South Africa, Monrovia, Liberia and Mysore, India.

In 2003, Dr. Carson started The ROCK Fun & Fitness Center. A non-profit community center with full size gym, racquetball court, billiards area, general meeting room with 250 person capacity, fully equipped weight room, and concession stand with commercial kitchen.

In 2005, Dana Carson Kingdom Ministries started KBU - Kingdom Bible University. An online school that provides a one-of-a-kind Kingdom based theological education to five-fold ministry leaders and serious Bible students.

In 2011, Carson started FD’s Famous Burgers & Chicago-Style Wings Restaurant. A soul food restaurant and coffeehouse that serves the [Pearland] metropolitan area.

In 2016, Carson began Carson Academy of Kingdom Excellence. While on a Kingdom Reformation Crusade in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Carson was purchased a school in the Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum, currently educating nearly 500 unserved children. The school campus contains five buildings on two acres of land, and in the spring of 2017, Dr. Carson led the major renovation of the school for the celebratory grand opening of the new Carson Academy of Kingdom Excellence on April 3, 2017. Every Christmas, The ROCK WOI sends gifts to the school (Operation Blessing) for the new school year in Kenya.

In 2016, The Hurricane Harvey Food Relief and Thanksgiving Food Drive began. Every year, Dr. Carson and his ministry (The ROCK WOI) distributes turkeys and all the sides to at-risk families as identified through a working relationship with Rick Schneider Middle School. Over 200 hundred families are able to select free turkeys and other food items “supermarket-style”, a system Dr. Carson created to feed over 2000 families immediately following Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Personal info

Dr. Carson is a devoted husband to Rachelle Carson, who serves faithfully in ministry with him. They have five children, Dana Carson II, John Anthony Carson, Angel Naomi Carson, Marielle Alli Sanchez, and Devon Jarrod Carson. Dr. Carson spends time counseling and spreading God's Word in his personal time. Dr. Carson also enjoys music and sports, specifically utilizing his vocal abilities for the Kingdom and using athletics as a way to bond and reach all generations for Christ.

Accomplishments

• 2018 Harris County District attorney's Faith Advisory Council
• 2018 City of Houston Faith Advisory Council
• 2018 29th Congressional District Faith Advisory Council
• 2018 City of Houston District I Faith Leaders Council
• 2004-2005 President of the Alvin-Manvel Ministerial Alliance
• Chaplain, Alvin, Texas Police Department
• Christian Counselors of Texas
• American Association of Christian Counselors
• Christian Association for Psychological Studies
• Certified C.T.S. Behavioral Consultant in Behavioral Analysis
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Writings

• Carson, Dana (2008). The Doors of the Church Are Closed. ISBN 0-97816047794-7-9
• Carson, Dana (2012). Kingdom Marriage: Trouble in the Flesh.
• Carson, Dana (2013). Lord Help! I'm Trapped in the Church. ISBN 0-9746616-4-3
• Carson, Dana (2013). Strange Doctrine: Understanding Christianity, World Religions, Cults, and Secret Societies.
• Carson, Dana (2013). The Kingdom Man & the Kingdom Woman: How to Fulfill God's Purpose for Your Life.
• Carson, Dana (2014). Is Christianity a White Man's Religion?: How to Win African-American Males to the Kingdom of God.
• Carson, Dana (2015). Why Can't We All Just Get Along?
• Carson, Dana (2016). Generation of Mini-Me's.
• Carson, Dana (2016). Welcome to the Kingdom. ISBN 978-1-940264-57-8
• Carson, Dana (2018). Jesus the Jewish Messiah and His Kingdom Ministry.

Updated

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