Chosen to Lead Ava Candace' Gaines is an emerging prophetic voice in the Church and for the Kingdom of God. Being rooted in Methodism since birth, she came to know Christ as her Savior at the tender age of five. She has been chosen and called by God to impart, share and serve the people of God with the many gifts and anointing that God has bestowed upon her. Chosen to Serve Pastor Ava was born in Madison, Wisconsin and has lived in many states as a child growing up as her father was in the military, but she calls Texas home as her mother and maternal grandparents were born and raised in East Texas and Texas serves as the state in which she has resided the longest. Pastor Gaines is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, earning a BA in Political Science and a graduate of Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, earning a MA in Theological Studies. While at SMU, Pastor Gaines established herself as a skillful theologian and master of homiletics. She has been called one of the brightest modem theologians of the 21st century by several of her professors. She has also been praised as an astute Old Testament scholar. Rev. Gaines has proven herself as a superb leader by consistently be selected as Who's Who among Prominent African Americans for seven years. She is a member of the National Association of Black Political Scientist, NAACP, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Pastor Gaines began serving the people of God in 1986 with her first pastoral appointment at the Independent Springs CME Church in Sherman, Texas. In addition, she has faithfully pastored in East Texas, Virginia, Philadelphia and Alaska. While in Alaska, she heeded to the voice of God and transitioned from the CME Church into the AME Church in 2008. Chosen Minister Rev. Gaines has a twin sister who has also been called by God. She is the daughter of Mrs. Zelma D. Gaines whom she credits for instilling in her Christian values and Godly principles. Pastor Gaines is an accomplished author having written numerous articles for the Christian Index, the official publication of the CME Church and the Washington Post. She had her first book published in 1985, "Anybody can get the Holy Ghost".