Bishop Alfred Singleton

 

 

 

 

Bishop Alfred Singleton was born in Montgomery, Alabama on October 18, 1928.  He is the third oldest of seven children born to the late Willie and Verona Singleton.  Bishop was a member of a Methodist Church, but he also received Catholic teachings.  He received in his own words, a "sporadic" education.  However, in his latter years he had a tremendous quest for knowledge. After completing his elementary education, he immediately enrolled in Cass Technical High School. After Cass, he went on to attend Southwestern Adult School in Detroit, MI.  While there in Detroit, he visited the Greater Bethlehem Temple Church on 2238 Clinton Street, which was pastured by Bishop Samuel N. Hancock.  He was baptized in Jesus' Name in March of 1949 and received the Holy Ghost on April, 17,1949. He readily engaged himself in the quest for knowledge by fasting, praying, and learning the Apostolic doctrine.

He served a toru fo duty with the United States Army, Bishop Singleton was stationed at San Antonio, Texas where he served as an Assistant Pastor under the leadership of District Elder Walls for almost two years.  After this, Bishop Singleton matured speiritually under the leadership of the late Bishop S.N. Hancock as an Assistant Pastor in Detroit, MI for four years.  In 1958, God called Bishop Singleton to California.  When he arrived in Los Angeles, he was unaware of what to do or what doors would be opened to him.  He started with house to house prayer.  As a result of his odedience to God's divine will, the doors of the Greater Bethlehem Temple Church were opened there in 1959.  He went on to found and organize two there churches in the state: Bethlehem Temple Church of Monrovia and the Bethlehem Temple Church of Carver City.

 In 1961, he was promoted to District Elder.  He became Bishop in 1964 at the young age of 36 (one of the youngest in the P.C.A.F.).  Bishop Singleton served as the Diocesan Bishop of the State of California, the Eartern Southern States, and the State of Wisconsin.  In 1972, the Lord blessed Bethlehem Temple Church of Lansing, MI with the dynamic leadership of Bishop Alfred Singleton.  Since 1974, he has served as the Diocesan Bishop of the State of Michigan and the Treasurer of the PCAF.  In March 2000, Bishop was unanimously elected to the seat of Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith International where he served until 2008.

Bishop Singleton has studied extensively, He took courses at the La Salle University in Chicago.  He holds an honorary doctorate degree in Theology, and is Chief Executive Coordinator of the Michigan campus of the Midwest Apostolic Bible College.

On March 20, 2011 Bishop installed his son District Elder Alfred P. Singleton II as pastor of Bethlehem Temple Chruch "The Bread House" in Lansing MI, becaming pastor Emeritus while still serving as Diocesan Bishop of the State of Michigan.

Bishop Singleton has been preaching for over 60 years.  He was married to the late Mother Elizabeth Hawkins-Singleton for over 55 years.  They are the proud parents of 12 children: Belinda, Ora, Patricia, Alfred II, Terrance, Verona, Debra, Andrea, Aaron, Camilla, Frank, and Catrese.  They have 31 grandchildren and 13 great-grand childern.  After the death of the late Mother Elizabeth Singleton, He was united in holy matrimony to First Lady Antoinette Halton on February 16, 2008 increasing the size of his family with 5 children and 1 grandchild.

Bishop Singleton has exhibited a persistent demonstration of leadership par-excellence throughout his affiliation with the PCAF. Guided by principles, and tempared by a love for Christ, he has brilliantly brought the PCAF to this frontier with international strategy that has yielded great gain.

 

Accomplishments as Presiding Bishop of Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith Association International

 Installation:

·        Tenure as CEO and Presiding Bishop began in August 2000

·        Viewed as a true visionary, known for bringing about “transition and change”

 

Globally:

·        Instituted PCAF Global Missions (2002), appointing an International Ambassador

·        Churches in. S. Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Manila, etc are now a part of the PCAF

 

Nationally:

·        An increase of 15 – 20 percent of new and former pastors and churches have allied themselves with the PCAF

·        Oversaw  the elevation of  new Pastors, District Elders, and Bishops throughout the organization to meet the growing ministry needs, including the planting several new churches in Missouri (2004)

·        Placed greater emphasis on mentoring young ministers and members with “bright minds” to help lead the organization

·        Realigned the Episcopal Diocesans to include the Indiana Diocesan, which in three (3) years is emerging as one of largest Council in the organization

·        Instituted the PCAF National Evangelism and Outreach Ministry (2004)

·        Instituted the Office of Press, Protocol, and Media Affairs (2000).

·        Strategically lead the PCAF 50^th Anniversary and Convention 2008 in Detroit, Michigan, including:

o   Grand Opening at the Mother Church: Clinton Street Greater Bethlehem Temple

o    Awards Banquet to celebrate and honor PCAF Founders and Presiding Bishops

o    Ty Tribbett Concert

o   Detroit March Against Crime and Outdoor Evangelism Service

·        Successfully maintained a “scandal free” Administration during his entire tenure as Presiding Bishop

Locally:

·        Maintained responsibilities as Diocesan Bishop for the Michigan State Council (while serving as Presiding Prelate)

·        Maintained pastorate of his home church, Bethlehem Temple, The Bread House in Lansing, MI.

·        In 2003, instituted the Bread House Spanish Ministries, consisting of (5) churches in Michigan, and (1) in Indiana.

 

Personally:

·        In June of 2006, after weathering the storms of life together, Bishop lost his dear wife and friend of 55 years,

Mother Elizabeth Singleton. 

·        In February, 2008, God blessed Bishop and Lady Antoinette Halton-Singleton with a second opportunity to share love and happiness.  Together Bishop and Lady Singleton share a large, loving family consisting of over 70 people!

 

From those who sincerely love Bishop Alfred Singleton, the following summarizes this man of God:

 Humanitarian, Humble, Fair, Compassionate, Friend, Kind-hearted, Mentor, Helper, Bible Scholar, Spiritual Giant, Visionary, and a wonderful Country Preacher!