Pastor Bio

Anthony Payton, is a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He has served as Senior Pastor/Teacher of Come As You Are Community Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for twenty years.

Anthony accepted his call to the ministry in 1986. He preached his first sermon on April 14, 1986 at True Love Missionary Baptist Church, in Fort Wayne, under the pastorate of the late Bishop Jesse White.

Led by the Holy Spirit in 1995, Pastor Payton accepted the responsibility of stewarding 12 people of the former Greater Come As You Are Missionary Baptist Church. Today, with a membership of over 600 people, The churches home is a 28,000 square foot state of the art sanctuary. Among other accomplishments are:

Founder of Anthony Payton Signature Shoes Author of “Leadership Reflections” Named Pastor of The Year by The Martin Luther King Jr. Club of Fort Wayne IN The first African American President of the Indiana Southern Baptist Pastor’s Conference. Developer of Multiply Commercial Real Estate Developments

Pastor Payton travels the world sharing The good news of Christ and has helped plant churches in Brazil and the United States. He speaks very candidly of a life of addiction and of his deliverance. What Satan once meant to use for evil, God has now converted and uses for the good of His kingdom building here on earth.

Pastor Payton married on June 28, 1986 to wife Sandra Kay. They are the parents of Zachary and Lydia and the grandparents of two wonderful girls. He resides with his family in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Office: 260-447-6036

apministries@gmail.com

Mobile: 260-312-7936

Pastoral Vision

12 Dimensions of Our Church Family

1. A Takeover church family.
We believe God wants our church family to be a model for holistic ministry in this city. Therefore, the purpose that drives us is the mindset that says, “Take over this city for the glory of God!”
2. A Teaching church family.
We believe we are to be a teaching ministry. Jesus is spoken more as a teacher than a preacher or prophet.
3. A Training church family.
We are a professional training church. Our training programs will impact every aspect of a person’s life.
4. A Touching church.
We are here to touch people lives. We will touch across all lines: the black, the white, the poor, the rich, the confused, everyone. We will touch them with love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance and encouragement of our blessed Savior.
5. A Transplanting church family.
We will, through God’s help, raise up leaders. These leaders will be transplanted in ministry positions all over this world.
6. A Today and Tomorrow church family.
We are students of the times: studying the todays and anticipating the tomorrows for their meanings and seeking Master Jesus for what we are to do and how we are to minister.
7. A Tremendous church family.
This growth will be seen in both our spiritual nature and physical numbers.
8. A Truthful church family.
Truth will have its place in both our public and private lives as a church family. We will live by the truth of our God.
9. A Togetherness church family.
We are a team because of what we are together in Christ. “Great discoveries and achievements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds” (Alexander Graham Bell).
10. A Trusting church family.
We have full trust in our God. We trust Him in our planning, planting, and pruning.
11. A Thankful church family.
We are a family full of thanks to our God for all that He has done and has decided to do in and through us for His glory.
12. A Tenacity church family.
We are committed in our love for Him and our service to Him.