GRAMF Board
Board Members
Bishop Paul C. Alston
Bishop Paul C. Alston, GRAMF Founder-serves as the Founder and visionary of GRAMF who provides, clarifies, and stewards the direction of Foundation. In addition, he is the Founding Pastor and Establishmentarian of Next Generation Freedom Worship Center headquartered in Hampton, Virginia that was established in 2005. He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Divinity from St. Thomas Christian University in Jacksonville, Florida (2013), a Master’s in Education (2019) from Strayer University, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology/minor in Criminology (2003) from St. Leo University. He serves as the General Overseer of TIPF; Tidewater International Pastoral Fellowship that provides Covering, Connection, Mentorship, Teaching and Training to the body of Christ on a local, regional, and global platform.
With a sizeable and diverse background in Hospice chaplaincy, social work, education, training and non-profit organizational development. Bishop Paul has established, along with (GRAMF), several non-profit organizations that have helped to shape broad and diverse connections with Senior leaders, Business owners, Entrepreneurs and ministry gifts both locally in the region where he serves, the US and abroad.
Bishop Paul is married to his high school sweetheart, Leading Lady Rita, who faithfully assists him in the work of the ministry. They have been happily married for over 30 years, together they share 4 adult children and 5 grandchildren.
Leading Lady Rita
Leading Lady Rita serves as a General Board Member for GRAMF. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri to the Late James W. and Venita Rodgers and later raised by the beloved Late Reverend Keith A. Stampley I and Charlane M. Stampley. Raised in Southern California, she accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Second Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop William L. Dillard.
Lady Rita moved from Southern California to Alton, Illinois in 1989 to complete for former education and would meet and later marry her “High School Sweetheart”, Paul C. Alston in 1992. Shortly after getting married, she began their life in Hinesville, Georgia with her husband and served in ministry under the leadership of the Late Bishop Jimmie L. Smiley, Founder and Senior Pastor of Trinity Missionary Baptist Temple, Inc. While there, Leading Lady Rita served faithfully in the Woman’s Ministry, Adult Choir, Food Bank Ministry, Summer Lunch Program and anywhere else she could assist.
Lady Rita has always possessed a strong passion to help those in need, particularly young girls, women and single mothers who found themselves in difficult situations. Lady Rita is the Owner of the former “Rita’s Little Rascals Family Child Care Center” where she provided childcare to Military families and their children, for over 15-years. In 1998, she graduated from Riverside College of Health Careers as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Graduated in 2009 from Thomas Nelson Community College with Honors as a Certified Phlebotomist. Continued her Education and Training and graduated with High Honors in 2017 from MedCerts as a Certified Medical Administrator and a Pharmacy Technician.
Since 2005, Lady Rita has served alongside her husband as the Co-Founding Pastor of Next Generation Freedom Worship Center. She was Officially Licensed into Ministry in June 2012. Lady Rita has been married to Bishop Paul C. Alston for over 30 years and from that union share four adult children Bree and five grandchildren.
Bishop E. Kenneth Martin
Bishop E. Kenneth Martin serves as a General Board Member on GRAMF. He united with the Free Methodist Church-USA (FMC-USA) in St. Louis, MO in 1991. During his nine years in St. Louis, his first assignment was the assistant pastor and then shortly after, senior pastor of Lighthouse (English) Free Methodist Church. While at Lighthouse FMC, he was instrumental in establishing the Lighthouse Community Outreach Center and served on its board and several other community-based boards. In 2000, he became an ordained elder in the Central Illinois Conference (now Gateway).
Pastor Kenny has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Guatemala, and abroad in Africa, England, Ireland, and Wales, as an evangelist and teacher. He is frequently sought after for his leadership skills and wisdom in the areas of church growth, vision, administration, youth ministry, evangelism, preaching, pastoral and discipleship training; and teaches on mentorship/succession planning for leadership development. He has served as a family and teen camp speaker at several conferences in the FMC-USA. His global vision, “to touch the world for Christ,” transcends and encompasses all cultures, socio-ethnic backgrounds, denominations, and age groups. Pastor Kenny connects with his audiences through anointed and impassioned messages that reveal his heart for preaching and living out the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor and disenfranchised urban centers of America. In 2018, he received the honorable distinction of being affirmed as the Presiding Prelate of KMN through the Berean Fellowship of Churches, which provides training for pastors and leaders. Pastor Kenny continues to submit to the authority and leadership of the Board of Bishops (BOB) of the FMC-USA.
He has written one book, Capturing Destiny – “How to Seize Your Treasure Within.”
Bishop Kenny was recently elected Bishop for the FMCUSA during their General Conference in 2023. Together, he and Pastor Estelle have two daughters, three grandsons, and one granddaughter.
Pastor Eric Jackson
Pastor Eric Jackson serves as the Executive Financial Treasurer of GRAMF. A resident of the East Coast, he is an Experienced Artistic Director with a demonstrated history of working in the performing arts industry.
Skilled as a Teaching and Performing Artist in Drama, with a specialization as a Living Historian. Pastor Eric holds a Master of Education (MEd) with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction/ESL Specialization from American College of Education and a certified Arts Integration Specialist.
He serves as the Senior Associate Pastor of Kingdom Embassy, in Harrisburg PA. He is married to his wife Sharon with two adult sons and 5 daughters.
Jeff Finley
Jeff Finley serves as the Recording Secretary for GRAMF. Jeff is the Executive Editor of Light + Life, the online magazine of the Free Methodist Church USA. Jeff, an alumnus of Greenville University and the University of Illinois, joined Light + Life in 2011 after a dozen years of reporting and editing for newspapers in the Chicago area.
He is a member of John Wesley Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis where his wife, Jen, serves as the lead pastor. They are the parents of a teenage son, Drew. Jeff’s volunteer roles include serving as a member of the Friends of Immanuel University (India) Board, the Greenville University Alumni Board, and the Wabash Conference Ministerial Appointments Committee and the conference’s Ministerial Education and Guidance Board.
Kenneth L. Ratliff
Kenneth L. Ratliff serves as a General Board Member of GRAMF. In addition, Ken serves as a Real Estate professional with fierce negotiation skills. Ken resides in the Midwest. Ken is married to his wife Natasha and has two sons, and a daughter.
He’s an active member of his local church, involved in his kids’ extracurricular activities, and serves to assist in many community projects in local hometown.
Our Contact Information
GRAMF Foundation
P.O. Box 22674 Newport News, Virginia 23609
(804)220-0951
info@gramf.org
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