He was born the seventh (7th.) child of 11 to the parentage of Earl and Fannie Mae Colter, on October 9, 1936 in Crockett, Texas.
Because of an allergic reaction to milk, he was fed mashed sweet potatoes as an infant.
He was always a smart and industrious child and a college professor asked his parents if he could purchase him when he was a little boy.His nickname was (mutt) and it is still in use in some circles today.
He spent his first few school days in 1941 in Crockett, but the family soon migrated west, stopping in several cotton camps, and finally settling in Coldwater, Arizona.
The then prolific Elder Felton King came to town preaching the Gospel, and his parents were so enamored of this Minister that they soon moved to Phoenix and became members of the Emmanuel Church Of God In Christ where Elder King was pastoring.
He was saved in February 1947 in a revival that was being conducted by Elder E. E. Cleveland, and was baptized with the Holy Ghost the following night.
He developed a passion for prayer, singing, and studying the Word of God, and the passion remains today.
He has a great love for basketball (he plays at Harmon Park) where he keeps physically fit, and also has an opportunity to mentor young men. He is honored as Mr. C. the godfather of basketball.
He graduated from Phoenix Union Technical School on June 7, 1957 with a certificate in Welding. He worked as a welder and fitter for 11 years, finally securing a job as a steel erector, pumping iron and walking steel until his retirement in January 1998.
Elder Andrew Colter
Some of the major buildings he worked on are: the Nuclear Plant in Palo Verde, The Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, The Chase tower bank, the Roosevelt Dam, Circus Circus, in Las Vegas, and many others too numerous to name. Thank God they are all still standing.
It was always prophesied that he was or would be a preacher but he disavowed that calling until he could no longer, and accepted God’s call to the Gospel ministry on June 15, 1992. He preached his first sermon to a packed house on July 14, 1992. Subject: My God, Do You Know Him? Scripture reference; Matt. 16:13-20; Phil. 4:19.
His pastor stated that he had never witnessed a novice preach like that.
He was licensed by Bishop King in July 1993, and ordained the following year 1994, in the Holy Convocation.
He was commissioned by God to stay put and hold up the pastors arms, and he has carried out that commission until the present.
He served as assistant to the renowned Bishop Felton King for (3) years; The General Boardman, Bishop Leroy R. Anderson for (3 years 5 months), was left in charge of the church at the request of Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, who was the interim pastor for 3 months, and now serves as Associate Pastor under the direction of Pastor Felton E. King.
His overwhelming passion is to please God in all of his endeavors and to do anything he can possibly do to promote the Gospel and the Church.He leads the 9:00 A.M. prayer each morning, and his desire is to see souls and bodies completely delivered from sin, sickness and disease. He has been called on numerous occasions to visit and pray for the sick and shut-in, in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, and private homes. He is willing to Minister in whatever area he is needed.
He also oversees the weekly pickup and distribution of food for those who are in need of those services, for the church.
He is married to Sylvia Jeane Jackson Colter since June 8, 1957, and they are the grateful parents of 3 wonderful sons, 4 exceptional grand sons, 4 delightful granddaughters, 1 beautiful great granddaughter, and 1 wonderful, exceptional, delightful, beautiful (daughter) in law who is second to none.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE THINGS HE HAS DONE.
​Emmanuel Church Of God In Christ​
