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Rev. Dr. Susan Sawyer was appointed Pastor and lead servant of Greater Whites Chapel CME Church in Springfield, at the East Tennessee Region Annual Conference in July of 2018.

        

 Pastor Sawyer was born and raised in Decatur, Alabama. She experienced God at an early age while she was an active member of Gardner Memorial CME Church.  Pastor Sawyer grew up serving and working with the Missionaries in her local church in Alabama. Some of her fondest memories are of participation with her local church in various functions with the missionaries. Pastor grew up being very active and involved in her church and community activist groups such as the NAACP.   In 2006 Dr. Sawyer started the Women’s Ministry organization at St. Luke CME Church. This ministry helps women 18 and over define God’s purpose for their lives and creates a Christ-like sisterhood that encourages and supports spiritual growth. This is done in an atmosphere where women are encouraged to use their Spiritual gifts to grow in their daily walk with Christ. Pastor Sawyer is also a member of Daughters of the Promise Inc. This is a ministry group for women of faith who are leaders in the church.

 

          Pastor Sawyer served for over ten years as the president of the General Missionary Society at St. Luke CME Church before receiving her call to preach in 2007.  In additional to being a full time Pastor, she leads the Women’s Ministry, and is a Bible study teacher. Pastor Sawyer is the East Tennessee Region Director of Christian Education. She has held this position for seven years. Pastor  Sawyer serves on the board for the St. Luke Housing Ministry and the St. Luke Geriatrics Center non-profit agencies which provide affordable housing for senior citizens, sixty-two years of age and over.  

 

Pastor Sawyer is currently the founder and CEO of Overflow Counseling Services in downtown Nashville. This is a Christian based counseling center that focuses on marriage and family, grief counseling, behavioral issues and life coaching. Pastor Sawyer served as principal at a private special education school in Nashville for over 30 years. She is a veteran educator that has spent her vocation seeking ways to reach children that many consider unreachable. Pastor Sawyer believes that education is the soil in which all children, youth, and young adult should have an opportunity to be planted, watered and allowed to grow, spiritually, and naturally.  Pastor Sawyer received her BA degree in education from a CME college, Miles in Birmingham. She received her Master’s, and Ed.S from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and her Ed.D from Tennessee State University.

 

 Pastor Sawyer has been married to Michael for 37 blessed years and they have one beautiful daughter, Andrea Sawyer-Gray. Out of all the things the Lord has allowed Pastor Sawyer to accomplish, she is most grateful  that God brought her out of darkness into His marvelous light at 9 years old and He has allowed her to continue with Him since that time.