Elder Odetta Batts, Pastor

Elder Odetta Batts is a God fearing woman standing on the “Promises of God”. She is a believer with a solid foundation that is rooted and grounded in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”. Most importantly she believes Christ died for her sins and continues to make a difference in her life every day.

Elder Batts is a native of Johnston County as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and a friend. She is the daughter of the late Deacon Edgar and Mother Ada Williams. She has four sisters, Emma, Edna, Linda and Mattie and special memories of her sister, the late honorable Elder Dorothy Watson.

Elder Batts as a wife is married to her loving, supportive and great encourager for many years, Brother Larry Batts.  With the union of their lives as one, God has blessed them with one daughter, Tamika and a son-in-law, Brandon Sanders of Clayton.  Tamika and Brandon have given Elder & Brother Batts a special blessing of three grandchildren that they truly adore. They are Aaliyah, Brandon and Tiara.

Elder Batts, the woman of God, is a member of Smith Chapel church in Four Oaks, North Carolina where she is under the leadership of Bishop Frederick Clarida. After “bootlegging” the word of God for several years, she finally accepted the official calling of minister and later became an Elder.  She preached her initial sermon in the year of 2003.  Since that time, she has not stopped enjoying the comfort of knowing Jesus the Christ as her Lord and Savior.  With the great calling God has placed on her life, she has led many women’s group discussions. Elder Batts believes in studying the Word of God in order to show herself “approved”. (2 Timothy 2:15)  She has studied theology at the Bible Study Fellowship of Smithfield, North Carolina and was one of the first students to join Minister Training Institute (MTI) through our Cape Fear Southwestern Conference.  Not only was she able to learn valuable lessons from her instructors of MTI but she brought her sense of humor to the classroom environment.

Elder Batts is “sold out” for Christ and always humbly submits to the voice of God through her obedience. Being an anointed vessel and a servant of the “Most High”, she accepted the calling to pastor July 2014. According to the heart of God, He commissioned and appointed Elder Batts to teach and govern His flock as the Pastor of Mingo Hill OFWB Church in Dunn, North Carolina.