Pastor Carter Foster

Carter was born on December 24, 1942. He was named Earnest Carter after his Mother’s father when he was born to Nancy Carter Foster and Val Foster in Atlanta, GA. He grew up in S. W. Atlanta, an only child who was talented, athletic and a boy scout. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow. He worked as a counselor at a boy scout camp during the summers of his early teen years. His scout leader taught him photography and how to develop pictures in the dark room. This led to his job at Shorter College as the school’s photographer for all the extracurricular events in his freshman year. He also took wedding photos. As a very young man he showed entrepreneurial skills and would trade-up his possessions. He traded his train set for a typewriter, the typewriter for a 5 speed bike, the bike for a car which he sold in 1961 to buy a 28 foot mobile home when he met and married Ann.

When he was 15 he attended a youth rally at an Art gallery in downtown Atlanta with some friends. It was a Youth for Christ event where he heard a professional Basketball player speak. Carter gave his life to Jesus that night and he enthusiastically served Jesus for the rest of his life.

Carter went to Shorter College in Rome, GA where he graduated in 1964 with a degree in Religion. He met Ann who was a sophomore there after he heard her sing and proclaimed, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I see what I want!” They were married the following summer on June 18, 1961. They were full-time students, but employed by a local church to lead music. Carter began preaching at 18 years of age and was an on-fire, dynamic and gifted speaker. He was serious about his Lord, yet funny and fun to be around. His enthusiasm made people overlook his age. He was asked to come and be the pastor of Everett Springs Baptist Church in October of 1961, where he served until he graduated from Shorter in 1964. After he graduated, he drove all night to Louisville, Kentucky to enroll at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on Monday morning. His little family joined him 3 weeks later. He received his Master’s Degree there after 4 years in 1968. He lacked only a dissertation to receive his Doctorate.

While in Seminary, Carter pastored a church in Vine Run, Kentucky and then in Tell City, Indiana. Shortly after graduation he began to pastor a group of young people in Louisville which became “The Fellowship.” “The Fellowship” became the center of the “Jesus People” movement where people came and even moved to be a part of the move of God. Many salvations, miracles, and changed lives happened during the next 10 years.

In John 21:25, He states “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written!” In a similar way, what Jesus did through Carter would take volumes to write about in all the lives he influenced. Ann says…”Someday I’ll try to write a book about the moves of God that we were a part of where we felt like the Book of Acts was continuing to be lived and experienced.”

In September of 1979, Carter left the church in Louisville in the very capable hands of the leaders there and moved his family to San Antonio, Texas to begin a new church. Several families moved with them to help plant a church there. They came from Kansas and Kentucky to join the hand full of Texans who had extended the invitation and plea for Carter to come to preach, teach and lead them.

After 4 years in San Antonio, Carter and his family moved to the Dallas Metroplex area to help establish a congregation in the Mid-Cities and became a part of the Metroplex Fellowship of Covenant Churches. Three hundred and fifty people moved from Louisville and Kansas to help with this new church plant.

In 1988 Carter and his family moved to Denver, Colorado to establish a new church. In 1990 he and his family moved back to Dallas to Pastor the church that was established earlier in this building here at 3508 Glade Road. From 1990 until Parkinson’s led to the necessity of passing the baton to Covenant Church, Carter was the Senior Pastor.

Carter was a team player. He was a leader of leaders. He was strong, and athletic physically and a regular jogger. He was a man of prayer and fasted for 40 days, on water only, 4 different times. He was disciplined in his habits and always a kind, thoughtful gentleman.

Carter served on the Board of Directors for the following organizations: Bair Foundation, Reconciliation Ministry, Don Dickerman Ministry and Faith Mission in Del Rio, Texas. He planted churches in the following 4 cities: Tell City, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; San Antonio, Texas; Denver, Colorado and he pastored 2 others.

Carter had several hobbies. He loved to build model trains and boats. He was a good golfer and played regularly in his later years. He remained active as long as his health would allow.

His greatest achievement was being the father of five beautiful, talented, successful children who all love the Lord and serve Him faithfully. None of them are in full-time ministry, but all of them are dedicated followers of Christ who are training their children. He also had 15 Grandchildren and 8 Great Grandchildren.

Dawn Dienstfrei Nowell, our oldest, was born in Rome, GA in 1962 (married to David). Dawn has three daughters. Laura Dienstrei Dial (children Alayna & Connor), Tricia Dienstfrei Oaks (husband Richard) (children Charlotte, George, Joanna, and one on the way), Anna Dienstfrei Kauffmann (husband Rob)

David Foster was born in Rome, GA in 1964 (married to Miriam) David has two children. Jordan Foster and Kayla Foster

Debbie Foster Price was born in Louisville, KY in 1966 (married to Gary) Debbie has 4 boys. Carter Price (wife Kendal), Garrett Price, Brandon Price (wife Megan) Hunter Price

Melanie Faith Foster Gladden was born in Paducah, KY in 1970 (married to Ken) Melanie has four children. Jacob Williams, Deion Gladden Sr. (son Deion Jr.), Destiny Gladden (Marquis and Khalil), Donovan Gladden

Daniel Foster was born in Louisville, KY in 1971 (married to Julie) He has two sons. Jeffrey Foster and Jonathan Foster.

Carter was happily married to Ann for 60 years. Anyone who knew them knew that he loved his lady. As Parkinson’s progressed and he began to lose his balance and fall more, he remained good natured, kind and sweet and he gave up his driving voluntarily. After selling their home, they moved to Discovery Village and his last home was in their Memory Care Facility. He died peacefully and quickly and Ann was by his side. Ann says: “He moved from my arms into the arms of Jesus.”