Apostle Almond Dickens, Sr. is a man of strong faith, integrity, and love for God and his people.   

 

Apostle Dickens is one of 18 children, born in Tarboro, North Carolina to the late Samuel and Eunice Dickens.  After the death of their mother, his father and entire family moved to Washington, DC after many years of hard labor in the fields of Tarboro, North Carolina.  After arriving in Washington, DC, Bishop Dickens attended Paul Junior High School and graduated with honors at Calvin Coolidge High School in Washington, DC.   After graduating from high school, he attended DC Teachers College (now, University of the District of Columbia) for two years.    

 

In 1969 he married his childhood sweetheart, Hattie Wilkins.  They have two children, Katherine Denise Dickens and Almond Dickens, Jr. and four grandchildren. Apostle Dickens later attended Prince George’s Community Junior College and Montgomery County Junior College. After studying at Montgomery County Junior College, he continued his education at the University of Maryland and The Business School at The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.  He also attended and graduated from American Management Institute with a degree in Business Management. Apostle Dickens is also a graduate of Liberty University with a BS degree in Business Management; BS degree in Information Technology at International Tabulating Institute, Washington, DC; and a graduate of Excellent Word Seminary in Oakland Mississippi with a Doctorate in Theology.   

In 1964, Apostle Dickens joined Corinth Baptist Church and became a Junior Deacon there in 1969.  In 1972, he was elevated to Senior Deacon under the leadership of his brother, the late Pastor, Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Dickens.  In 1980, Apostle Dickens was appointed Financial Secretary and in 1985 appointed Superintendent of Sunday School Department, all under the leadership of his brother Pastor Dickens.  He was called to the ministry in early 1995 and preached his Trial Sermon in October 1995.  In 2002, following the dream of his brother, Apostle Dickens was appointed Project Manager for building a $1.5 million edifice in Capitol Heights, Maryland.  In 2003, he was ordained as Reverend and in 2004 appointed Church Administrator under the leadership of his brother the Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Dickens.   

 

Apostle Dickens and his brother were inseparable!  It was extremely rare that a day would go by without them sharing each other’s thoughts and dreams.  While sharing their thoughts and dreams and standing on the faith of God they both worked tirelessly together to build a new edifice in Capitol Heights, Maryland.  When his brother became ill, he was there by his side at every beckoning call and accompanied him on every doctor and hospital visit until his death in June of 2018. 

In 2009 Apostle Dickens, then Rev. Dickens joined the “Eagles In Flight” a non-profit Faith Based Organization under the leadership of Apostle Edward C. Brown.  On October 28, 2018, Apostle Brown consecrated Apostle Almond Dickens as a Bishop after observing him with such a beam of light of his faithfulness and love for God and his people.  

 

In 2019, Apostle Almond Dickens, Sr. founded “Gateway To Heaven Outreach Ministries” after serving over 50 years under the pastorate of his late brother, Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Dickens. Apostle Dickens love and compassion to follow God’s will and to serve his people with love is truly exemplified in his daily walk with God.

His favorite scripture is the “Love Chapter” -- 1st Corinthians 13th Chapter -- which speaks of Love. “And now abideth Faith, Hope, Love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love”.