Senior Pastor
Leadership of
Greater Saint Paul AME Church Troy, Alabama
Mattie Edwards, a native of Russell County, AL, was blessed to have grown up in a large Christian family. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. McCann
and Rosie B. Sanders. She has five brothers and four sisters and attended the public schools in Russell County, AL where she graduated from Chavala High School, located in Seale, AL.
Pastor
Current Pastor of Greater St Paul Troy since 2023
Pastor
Lee's Chapel AME Church, 1997 - 2023
Bachelor of Biblical Studies
Gospel Ministry Outreach Theological Institute, 2015
Graduate
Nichols Thomas Grady School of Religion, 1992-1997
Associate Degree in Business Administration
Phillips College, 1981
Business Education Degree
Columbus Technical College, 1974
In 1974, Reverend Edwards received a Diploma in Business Education from
Columbus Technical College. She is a 1981 graduate of Phillips College with
an Associate Degree in Business Administration, as well as a graduate of
Nichols Thomas Grady School of Religion (1992-1997). In 2015, Reverend
Edwards earned a Bachelor of Biblical Studies from Gospel Ministry
Outreach Theological Institute, located in Houston, Texas. Learning is a lifelong journey, she has also
earned credits from the Interdenominational Theological Center, and she has earned credits in Clinical
Pastoral Education (CPE) from the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy. Presently, Reverend
Edwards is in the process of pursuing a Masters of Divinity Degree from Payne Theological Seminary.
In 1992, Mattie Edwards accepted her call to preach and begin to study under the Board of Examiners on
East Alabama Conference; at the same time, Edwards also enrolled in American Bible College, an extension
out of Tennessee, to continue her education. As a result, in 1997, Reverend Edwards became the first
female to be appointed as a Pastor on the Phenix City District. The Reverend Mattie Edwards was sent to
Lee’s Chapel AME Church, where she served as Supply Pastor for one year and later appointed as the
Senior Pastor, where she served for twenty-five years. Hence, it is not a surprise to anyone, that under
her leadership, she was instrumental in leading Lee Chapel from an annual income of $29,000 to more
than $70,000. To God alone belongs the glory!
The appointment to Lee Chapel open the door for Reverend Edwards to become the Phenix City District Women in Ministry President, where she served faithfully for eight years. Moreover, Reverend Edwards also served as Secretary of the Ministerial Alliance, under the leadership of the now Presiding Elder, the Reverend Johnny Rutledge. Both of these opportunities gave her a chance to work more closely with people and build relationships; hence, it was a segue which led to Reverend Edwards serving on the Board
of Examiners for the East Alabama Conference/Northeast Alabama Conference for 16 years.
Reverend Mattie is also known as a community activist, and under her leadership and guidance, Lee Chapel reached out to the community by inviting students from Auburn University to come to Lee Chapel, where the church honored them for their accomplishments, ministered to them, and serve them lunch. Bi-annually (winter and spring), Lee Chapel extended an invitation to the youth, residing at the Lee County Youth Development Center, located in Opelika, Alabama, to come to Lee Chapel for fellowship and worship. In response to this outreach, we witnessed young people confess and give their lives to Christ, while others rededicated their lives to Christ.
In 2008, Reverend Edwards became the first female on the Phenix City District to be elected as an Alternate to the General Conference, and most recently, this year, 2023, she was elected as the First-Alternate to the 2024 General Conference, which will be held in Columbus, Ohio.
Presently, Edwards serves as Second, Vice President of the Women in Ministry in the Ninth Episcopal District. Prior to being appointed as the first female Pastor of the Greater St. Paul A.M.E. Church, located in Troy Alabama, Edwards served on the Employee Security Committee as well as a member of the Board of Examiners for the Northeast Alabama Conference. Reverend Edwards has worked closely with other leaders throughout the Ninth District and believes we are better together. She co-sponsored a monthly food give-away, Lent and Advent Cantata(s), and Pentecost Praise in the Park, which brought the Northeast Alabama Conference together in worship. Last but not least, Reverend Edwards was resourceful in assembling the Presiding Elders of the Ninth Episcopal District together for Virtual Ash Wednesday Services in 2022 and 2023.
Bishop Harry Seawright introduced Reverend Edwards as a Pastor that is known for her imagination and creativity. Our Supervisor, the Reverend Sherita Moon Seawright most recently stated “I Heard About You,” meaning I heard about you on the Connectional Level and Episcopal Level. Over the past three years, Reverend Edwards was blessed to have the following Bishops preach Holy Week Services for Lee Chapel AME Church:
• In 2021: Bishop James Levert Davis, Retired Bishop Theordore Larry Kirkland, Bishop Anne Henning-Byfield, and Bishop Harry Lee Seawright
• In 2022: Bishop Francine Brookins, Retired Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Senior Bishop Adam J. Richardson, and Bishop Harry Lee Seawright
• In 2023: Bishop Frederick Wright, Bishop Ronnie Brailsford, and Bishop Harry Lee Seawright
Additionally, on Monday, April 3, 2023, Reverend Edwards became known as a pioneer and ground-breaking Pastor, who hosted “The Women of Holy Week;” this service featured all-living female Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which included: The Retired Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Bishop Francine Brookins, Bishop Anne Henning-Byfield, and Retired Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie. This service was revolutionary, because it brought the International/Connectional A.M.E. Church together at one time on a virtual platform. There is more to come from the Reverend Mattie Edwards as she continues to allow God to inspire and lead her to greater heights and deeper depths.
Serving under A.M.E. Pastors, Presiding Elders, and Bishops have really shaped the Reverend Mattie Edwards’ life, but having Jesus as her personal Savior and Lord and walking with Him, has shaped her life more than anything else in this world and world to come. The Reverend Mattie Edwards is the proud mother and grandmother of two daughters and one son: Tonya, Tawanda, and Jonathan, seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. She loves the Lord, has a heart for God’s people, and a strong supporter of those who have authority over her. Reverend Edwards stands on the word that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13.
Reverend Mattie is also known as a community activist, and under her leadership and guidance, Lee Chapel reached out to the community by inviting students from Auburn University to come to Lee Chapel, where the church honored them for their accomplishments, ministered to them, and serve them lunch. Bi-annually (winter and spring), Lee Chapel extended an invitation to the youth, residing at the Lee County Youth Development Center, located in Opelika, Alabama, to come to Lee Chapel for fellowship and worship. In response to this outreach, we witnessed young people confess and give their lives to Christ, while others rededicated their lives to Christ.
In 2008, Reverend Edwards became the first female on the Phenix City District to be elected as an Alternate to the General Conference, and most recently, this year, 2023, she was elected as the First-Alternate to the 2024 General Conference, which will be held in Columbus, Ohio.
Presently, Edwards serves as Second, Vice President of the Women in Ministry in the Ninth Episcopal District. Prior to being appointed as the first female Pastor of the Greater St. Paul A.M.E. Church, located in Troy Alabama, Edwards served on the Employee Security Committee as well as a member of the Board of Examiners for the Northeast Alabama Conference. Reverend Edwards has worked closely with other leaders throughout the Ninth District and believes we are better together. She co-sponsored a monthly food give-away, Lent and Advent Cantata(s), and Pentecost Praise in the Park, which brought the Northeast Alabama Conference together in worship. Last but not least, Reverend Edwards was resourceful in assembling the Presiding Elders of the Ninth Episcopal District together for Virtual Ash Wednesday Services in 2022 and 2023.
Bishop Harry Seawright introduced Reverend Edwards as a Pastor that is known for her imagination and creativity. Our Supervisor, the Reverend Sherita Moon Seawright most recently stated “I Heard About You,” meaning I heard about you on the Connectional Level and Episcopal Level. Over the past three years, Reverend Edwards was blessed to have the following Bishops preach Holy Week Services for Lee Chapel AME Church:
• In 2021: Bishop James Levert Davis, Retired Bishop Theordore Larry Kirkland, Bishop Anne Henning-Byfield, and Bishop Harry Lee Seawright
• In 2022: Bishop Francine Brookins, Retired Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Senior Bishop Adam J. Richardson, and Bishop Harry Lee Seawright
• In 2023: Bishop Frederick Wright, Bishop Ronnie Brailsford, and Bishop Harry Lee Seawright
Additionally, on Monday, April 3, 2023, Reverend Edwards became known as a pioneer and ground-breaking Pastor, who hosted “The Women of Holy Week;” this service featured all-living female Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which included: The Retired Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Bishop Francine Brookins, Bishop Anne Henning-Byfield, and Retired Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie. This service was revolutionary, because it brought the International/Connectional A.M.E. Church together at one time on a virtual platform. There is more to come from the Reverend Mattie Edwards as she continues to allow God to inspire and lead her to greater heights and deeper depths.
Serving under A.M.E. Pastors, Presiding Elders, and Bishops have really shaped the Reverend Mattie Edwards’ life, but having Jesus as her personal Savior and Lord and walking with Him, has shaped her life more than anything else in this world and world to come. The Reverend Mattie Edwards is the proud mother and grandmother of two daughters and one son: Tonya, Tawanda, and Jonathan, seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. She loves the Lord, has a heart for God’s people, and a strong supporter of those who have authority over her. Reverend Edwards stands on the word that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13.