The Ministry

Carpenter Ministries

Purpose

Carpenter Ministries is a non-profit religious organization whose existence is to help Christians expand their knowledge and development skills to more fully realize their highest God-given potential.

Statement of Faith

	We believe that there is only one true God who has identified Himself as Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.
	We believe that God chose to reveal Himself through His Word and that the Bible, as it was written, is the infallible Word of God.
	We believe that God chose to give us a greater revelation of Himself by sending the Word who was with God and was God to take on human flesh.
	We believe that all men have sinned and sin separates man from God.
	We believe that Jesus (the Word who became flesh) lived a sinless life, overcoming man's nature to sin, died on the cross, overcoming the curse of sin, and rose again, overcoming the penalty of sin.
	We believe that confession of one's sin, belief that Jesus dealt with man's sin on the cross, and yielding their life and actions to Christ to learn His Word and His ways results in relationship with Jehovah God which is often termed "salvation".
	We believe in the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who believe.
	We believe the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to aid and encourage believers.
	We believe it is God's desire for every man to know Him.
	We believe that Jesus will return again as the Messiah foretold by the prophets in the Bible.

History

Carpenter Ministries was incorporated in 1980. It was an outgrowth of a ministry called Upper Room Women which was started in 1974 in the Detroit Metropolitan area. Upper Room Women was birthed by a young woman named Shirley M. Carpenter and held retreats in the Detroit area, as well as Chicago and Massachusetts. The ministry grew and Shirley was invited to speak at churches and organizations. As invitations increased, Carpenter Ministries was formed to take in the wide variety of audiences and ministry.

In 1980 Shirley was ordained by Dr. Iverna Tompkins and has remained under the leadership and guidance of Iverna Tompkins Ministries.

Today Carpenter Ministries reaches throughout the world. Shirley continues to teach in churches, seminars, and Bible Colleges. It also holds meetings and seminars to encourage believers in their walk and their studies. The ministry has gone into countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Japan along with other nations.

In 1994 Gold Diggers was born. Gold Diggers is an Intensive Bible Research Seminar geared to help pastors, teachers, and serious minded Bible students dig beyond the surface of the Word and find the gems that are below the surface.

Carpenter Ministries continues to grow and enlarge its borders as God opens effective doors. Its desire is to support the work of churches and church leaders and to see every believer walk a victorious life and make a difference in the world they live in.