Alton R. Williams has served as pastor of World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church (WOOMC) in Memphis, Tennessee since 1981.

Williams earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies from LeMoyne-Owen College in 1975. He earned his secondary teacher certification in 1977 and his Master of Science degree in Education Administration and Supervision in 1980 from Memphis State University (now The University of Memphis). He was a secondary social studies schoolteacher at Germantown High School of the Shelby County School System from 1977-1981, with aspirations of being a high school principal.

However, in August 1981, Williams succeeded his father, the late Rev. Jasper W. Williams, Sr., as pastor of Lane Avenue Baptist Church (now World Overcomers Church). His father passed away that year. Williams’ brother Rev. Jasper Williams, Jr. also ordained him as a Baptist minister that year. He received his early training in the Christian experience and ministry from his father and brother. In October of that same year, he married the former Sherrilyn Ratliff. Together they have five beautiful children: Altronise, Sheronda, Alton Jr., Allison (Andy Carver), Joy, & one grandson Amari Justice Carver.

He attended Mid-America Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee for one year in 1984 and earned a ministry training certificate from Rhema Bible Training Center (Kenneth Hagin Ministries) in Tulsa, OK in 1989. He holds an ordination license and a ministry license from Rhema Ministerial Association, an affiliate church of Rhema Bible Training Center, and through his own church from several of Memphis’ most respected Baptist pastors.

Pastor Williams was ordained as one of 12 founding bishops and fathers of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship under the leadership of Bishop Paul S. Morton in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1994. He has affiliations and trainings from several pastors and ministries such as: Pastor Leroy Bailey’s The First Cathedral Church in West Hartford, Connecticut, the late Dr. Frederick K.C. Price’s Ever Increasing Faith Ministries of Los Angeles, California, Pastor Creflo Dollar’s World Changers Ministers Fellowship in Atlanta, Georgia, Apostle John Eckhardt’s Crusaders Church in Chicago, Illinois, Bishop Bill Hamon’s Christian International Ministries Training Center in Destin, Florida, Apostle Buddy and Dr. Mary Crum’s Life Center Church prophetic training in Dunwoody, Georgia, and Apostle Guillermo Maldonado’s King Jesus Ministry in Miami, Florida.

Apostle John Eckhardt consecrated and ordained Pastor Williams as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ in September 2000. Apostle Eckhardt led a presbytery of several local apostles, bishops, and pastors that included Pastor Bobby Coney, Pastor Eric Farmer, Pastor Leo Holt, Apostle Dwayne Hunt, Pastor Andrew Jackson, Pastor Jimmy Latimer, Bishop C.L. Morton, Bishop Brandon B. Porter, Pastor Charles Rodgers, Apostle Ben Smith, Bishop Edward Stephens, Dr. Kenneth T. Whalum, Jr., Pastor Kevin Willis, and Pastor William Young.

His ministry success can be seen in the expansive growth of World Overcomers Church. Over 20,000 members have joined the ministry over the years. Because of the increased growth, the church functioned in four separate facilities from 1995-2001. The present location seats over 3,000 people. The church purchased a Family Life Center, a nine-unit office building complex, a 91-unit shopping mall, and a 24-acre site of land for recreation and future development. 

Apostle Williams has launched a Hispanic church, built a church in Haiti, started two satellite churches in Jackson, Tennessee and Holly Springs, Mississippi, and assisted several sons and daughters in establishing churches in and around the Memphis area.