WHO WE ARE

Rev. Dr. Michael Gittens has been active in Christian service for over 20 years. God has nurtured within Michael a true passion for people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and walks of life.

As founder of F.L.A.M.E. Ministries (romans12n2.org), he has preached the gospel from the US to Nigeria and Rwanda, feeding over 300 widows and pastors in need and trained hundreds of disciples through the course, Intro to Transformational Discipleship.

Many have been trained for ministry through the Flame Bible Institute in partnership with the Tower of Praise Bible College in Lagos, Nigeria. Serving at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral as an associate minister, Michael has led and served in various

ministries such as:

Discipleship | Seniors | Singles | Prison | Marriage | Men

He has served as the senior pastor of The Shiloh Baptist Church of Jamaica. Michael desires to show God's love by serving the different needs of the church and the community.

He also served as pastor of the English-speaking congregation at the New People's Church of New York. It is a growing multiethnic congregation comprised mostly of 2nd Generation Korean Americans in Flushing, New York. Michael presently serves as the founder and pastor of Ignite Church of Atlanta.

He has authored the book entitled "State of Emergency: A Clarion Call for Transformational Discipleship." In addition, he has developed the Flame Curriculum to foster discipleship that addresses the totality of who we are in God.

Michael attended the New York School of the Bible, New York Divinity School, and Bethel Seminary of the East, where he graduated with an M.Div and a certificate of Theological Studies. Michael also has a D.Min from the New York Theological Seminary with a focus on Christian Discipleship.

He believes that for us to grow in faith and walk in the liberty and power that Christ has given to each believer, we must be steadfast in our Christ identity, grounded in God's Word, saturated in prayer, filled with His Spirit, walk in holiness, and be endowed with His power. This is manifested in our living, our purpose, and our gifts. May the name of the Lord be praised!

Pastor Val accepted Christ when she was 10 years old and has been walking with Him ever since (with a few bumps and bruises along the way). She is married to Michael Gittens.

Val's started out in the Allen ministry as a lay counselor for the marriage enrichment ministry. She then provided pastoral care as a ministry counselor for the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral.

In April 2013, Val was ordained and continued to move forward. She was part of the prison ministry that provided church services at Rikers Island Prison twice a month. Val and her husband were the ministry leaders for the Single Ministry for five years. She was also a teacher for Allen's Discipleship Classes.

Val has taught Sunday School, worked with the discipleship Chapel ministry at Allen, facilitated a youth retreat for second-generation Chinese Americans, and preached at the Tower of Praise Ministries International Conference in Lagos, Nigeria.

She is the co-founder of Flame Ministries, a ministry focused on evangelism and discipleship. She has preached the gospel from the U.S. to Nigeria and Rwanda, fed over 300 widows and pastors in need, and trained hundreds through the Intro to Transformational Discipleship course.

Pastor  Val is co-chancellor of the Flame Bible Institute in partnership with the Tower of Praise Bible College located in Lagos, Nigeria, people train for ministerial careers and Christian counseling.

Rev, Val is the co-pastor of the Ignite Church of Atlanta, a church plant birthed out of Flame Ministries. After 25 years of lay counseling, the Lord called Val back to school to prepare for further ministry.

Val received her B.S. in Psychology with a focus on Christian Counseling and a Masters of Professional Counseling degree from the Liberty University. She is also a member of the American Association for Christian Counseling, a certified financial coach,

certified life coach, NYS NAMI family-to-family educator, marriage mentor, and the founder of icare2 holistic counseling and coaching services.

Pastor Val is also the President of the Kings Deborah chapter in Atlanta, Georgia of the Theta Phi Sigma Christian Sorority I.N.C. Val is passionate about God's people living an abundant life, and out of this passion, C.A.R.E. ministry was birthed. A ministry devoted to change through the power of the holy spirit. She continues to serve God's people and long to hear her Father say, "Well done my good and faithful servant."