Our Servant Leaders:

      Rev. Odell Watson is a dynamic preacher of God's Word, community advocate, and servant leader to the Kingdom.  He currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Payne Chapel AME Church and CEO of Payne Chapel Development Corporation.  Rev. Watson was born in Jamaica and is the product of Miami Dade County's School System.  At the early age of seven, his unique talents were identified by the faculty of Opa Locka Elementary School where he would be tested and accepted into Miami Dade County's Gifted Program.  Taking courses for the gifted in Elementary, Middle, and High School would lead to an academic scholarship to the University of Florida.  He graduated from the University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in Sociology with a Minor in Secondary Education.  Rev. Watson would continue his educational pursuits at the University of Florida earning two Master Degrees in Educational Leadership and Education Social Science.  Rev. Watson would continue his education at Asbury Theological Seminary where he earned a third Masters Degree, a Masters of Divinity.  Rev. Watson will begin his Doctoral program in 2025.

       Rev. Odell Watson was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church under the hands of Bishop Mckinley Young.  Rev. Watson is a former public educator who served in the public school system for six years.  God would eventually call Rev. Watson into the full time pastorate to which he has been faithfully and effectively serving in the Florida, East, Central, and now currently South Conference of the A.M.E. Church.  He has served in the capacity of a Senior Pastor for the past 22 years in the A.M.E. Church.

       During his pastoral tenure, Rev. Watson has earned numerous community awards throughout the state of Florida for his volunteer work in schools, local community organizations, and business partnerships.  He is a recipient of the prestigious United States President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.  He was a former spiritual advisor to the University Of Central Florida's Gospel and Cultural Choir, President of the Daytona Beach Ministerial Alliance, and has served the African Methodist Episcopal Church in various capacities.  He served as the Dean of the Orlando District Board of Examiners. As a member of the Central Conference Board of Examiners he has taught Biblical Survey to ministerial candidates.  As a member of the South Conference Board of Examiners he has taught courses on church outreach and community engagement.  He has served as a member of the Central and South Conference Board of Trustees, the 11th Episcopal District's Board of Christian Education, as well as Chair of the Central Conference Evangelism Committee.  He currently serves as the Chair of the Noble North District's Board Of Examiners as well as First Vice Chair of the South Conference Board of Trustees.  Rev. Watson is also a member of the Delta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.

       Rev. Odell Watson has been married to Rev. Lateria Watson for 22 years.  Their marriage has produced six beautiful children.  Alyssa, Caleb, Isabella, Samuel, Joshua, and Brielle.