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Contrary to popular belief, all of our young men are not in prison or on drugs. Some of them are endeavoring to make a difference in the world. Certainly, this is the case with Elder Christopher Earl Swims, a native of Chicago, IL born January 11, 1985 to Willie and Thelma B. Swims. At a very young age he knew that God’s purpose for his life was to proclaim the unadulterated Word of God. He accepted his call to ministry at a very young age and at the age of 15 he was licensed into the Gospel Ministry July 30, 2000 at Maranatha Bible Church Ministries of Chicago, IL under the leadership of Pastor Presley White Jr. On March 18, 2007, at the age of 22, he was ordained into the Gospel Ministry at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Christopher-Michael Barnes.
For preparation and understanding of ministry Elder Swims participated in numerous ministries while serving at Maranatha. He served as a church musician (percussionist), assistant choir director, armor bearer to Pastor White, usher and associate minister. He then went on to further his ministry gift at Destiny Church & Destiny World Prayer Center under the leadership of Bishop Keith Russell Lee Sr. There he served as armor bearer to Bishop Lee, teen Sunday school facilitator, musician and Youth Pastor of Y.E.S. (Young Excited Saints) Youth Church. Y.E.S developed into one of the fastest growing ministries at Destiny, while developing Elder Swims an anointing for winning youth to Christ.
Elder Swims is a graduate of Southern Illinois University – Carbondale with a Bachelors of Science in Speech Communication with a specialization in Interpersonal Communication. In Carbondale he served the community by volunteering at the Eurma C. Hayes “I CAN READ PROGRAM”. While at Hopewell he served as Youth Pastor of the H.I.P.H.O.P (His Infinite Plan Has Our Participation) Youth Ministry and armor bearer to Pastor Christopher-Michael Barnes.
It is said that God’s time is the right time, on May 27, 2007 Elder Christopher E. Swims was appointed by Pastor Christopher-Michael Barnes as Interim Pastor of Hopewell M.B. Church of Carbondale, IL. On April 27, 2008 Elder Swims united in fellowship with Covenant Ministries under the spiritual covering of Bishop Ron L. Webb of Poplar Bluff, MO.
Elder Swims served as Interim Pastor until April 26, 2009 and was appointed as Assistant Pastor/Senior Elder of Hopewell. Through the providence of God, he was elected and returned as Interim Pastor on August 21, 2010.
God is raising up a Joshua Generation of preachers to lead the body of Christ in the millennium. And at the forefront of this movement, declaring the Word of God with boldness and clarity is, Elder Christopher E. Swims.
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