Christian Peterson
Reporter@riverbendnews.org
Mike Carson was born in 1965 in West Palm Beach, Fla., to loving parents, Lynn and Janet Carson. He grew up in the area and eventually graduated from Havana High School in 1983. Fourteen days after his graduation, Carson signed up to join the Navy, where he served for six years. Carson then chose to go to Global University with the Assembly of God, followed by some time at Southwestern Bible Institute.
Carson had not always believed that he would go into ministry. However, in 1988, at Northview Assembly of God, Carson’s journey began with being saved. Then, Carson had a dream one Tuesday night. In his dream, he stood before a crowd of people preaching and proclaiming Jesus, as thousands came to be saved. The next day, Carson went to church for the evening and was pulled aside by his pastor. Carson’s pastor then described the dream in detail that Carson himself had seen. The pastor then told him that he believed Carson was called to ministry.
A year later, in 1989, Carson was credentialed with the Assembly of God and moved to pastor at Zion Grove Assembly of God in Georgia. He then turned to being an evangelist for years before taking a different pastoring position in Atlanta at Ellen Wood Church. In 2005, Carson was ordained as Bishop in the Church of God. He then made a huge jump from his small church to pastor at Living Waters in Ocala. After serving there, Carson turned back to evangelism and eventually became the state evangelist of Tennessee for multiple years. He then went on jump to pastor at Lafayette Church of God in Lafayette, Tenn. He made his final jump from Tennessee down to Dowling Park in 2014, where he is now the pastor of Dowling Park Church of God, where he recently reached his eighth anniversary on Wednesday, Feb. 9.
Carson loves the Lord, but he also loves his family. Carson is happily married to his wife, Angie Carson and they have two children, Joshua Carson and Jonah Carson. Joshua is also happily married to his wife, Katherina Carson and they have one son, Oliver Saint Carson. Joshua also serves as the youth pastor at Dowling Park Church of God.
Outside of spreading the word, Carson also enjoys golf, fishing and hunting, specifically with a bow. He also works outside of the church as a chaplain at the Madison Department of Corrections. When asked what his church and life is about, Carson said, “We desire to have the power of the Spirit to produce and prolong the power of Pentecost.”
Dowling Park Church of God is located at 23500 CR 250, in Live Oak. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and their morning service begins at 11 a.m.