Our First Lady

1st Lady Wanda M. Edwards is a young hearted person, whom Jesus is yet her first love. Predestinated to walk in the Will of God at the age of 8, followed the Good Shepherd.  Adulthood she committed to accepted the Savior as her Lord in the Summer of 1980, water baptized, growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, married Cecilio Edwards that winter and later received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in October 1983. Saved and sanctified on an ordinary day she heard a

voice in her spirit say these words “I Call You to the Ministry”.

Not knowing, what those words meant she asked her Pastor Superintendent Willie Lee Brown of Pressley Memorial Church of God in Christ, Inc. who said, “If it is of God then, it will come to fruition” then encouraged her to pray and watch.

In 1984, she learned that our Lord God had anointed her with the gift of teaching and administration. Sister Edwards received her license as Missionary Evangelist in 1985 after a trail message on “Are You Ready for the Coming of The Lord”.  Afterwards, District Missionary, Mother Baby Flex said she spoke eloquently. A lover of the youth, Evangelist Edwards faithfully taught Sunday School Classes, Young People Willing Workers, Teen Bible School, Prayer and Bible Band and later through the years,     Pastor Brown created an Education Department and appointed her as President. Evangelist Edwards started the work of Vacation Bible School, Traveling Day Camp, Afterschool Tutorial, College Preparatory and Regent Programs in order to further the youth lives as productive earthly citizens, yet heavenly bound.

Late 1980’s Mother Susie Pressley, the wife’s founder and Supervisor of Barbados adopted her as a spiritual daughter. Listening to the Call of God for their lives, Mother Pressley said, “Minister Cecilio Edwards, you will be the Pastor of this church”. We weren’t considering any such thing, but to begin a Radio Broadcast Ministry on WWDJ. Mother Pressley introduced them to Bishop F.D. Washington and Minister Timothy Wright at Washington Temple C.O.G.I.C. in 1987 for their permission to use “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Minister Timothy Wright song for What a Friend We Have in Jesus Radio Broadcast Ministry theme song which aired through 1991.

In the late 1990’s, Evangelist Edwards was appointed C.E.O. of the Frederick Douglas Bible Institute of the 4th E.N.Y. Jurisdiction of the Churches of God in Christ, Inc. under the leadership and Founder, Bishop John P. Lee, Sr..

Today, Evangelist Wanda Edwards is married a little over 36 years to Cecilio Edwards and together they raised two daughters in the fear and admonition of the Lord. She is a native New Yorker via Dryden, N.Y., who enjoyed educating teachers and students in the NYC Education system and retired educator since 2016.

She has earned her Ed. PD in 1997 after M.S. in 1987 from Fordham University and B.S. from Mt. St. Vincent in 1979. These acquirements have enabled her to uplift others to live an abundant and healthy life.

  • Affectionately known as Mother Edwards, she is compassionate, caring, joyful, talented Woman of God, and committed to spread the Gospel of The Good News to win souls for Christ
  • Faithful to serve her husband, family, friends and church families