Pastor & First Lady

This has been a long and blessed journey.  One Sunday morning at the age of four the late Pastor F.W. McIlveen preached a sermon, by me being so young I did not remember the message but I still remember the song, "God will take care of you", which is still one of my favorite hymns. When the invitation to Christian Discipleship was offered my brother the late Tony N. Criswell went down the aisle and I followed him.  Not knowing that God was using my brother as my vehicle for accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior. My mother Christean Criswell was in the service but did not realize the sudden move of God. My spiritual foundation began in the home with my grandparents the late Roosevelt & Mabel Turner who instilled in me at an early age christian values. I was baptized at the tender age of four by the late Pastor F.W. McIlveen and late Deacon Floyd Scott, who was the oldest living Deacon at that time. The late Deacons Ardell Garrett and John Harris would take me to visit the sick and shut in. Even at that young age I looked forward to those visits not realizing that God was preparing me for such a time as this.

At Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Criswell served as a Minister, an assistant to the late Pastor Barksdale, Youth choir president, president of Young Disciples in Action for Christ, transportation ministry for 13 years, chairperson of the chandelier replacements in the sanctuary, Ministry leader of the caring ministry, served many years in the prayer band under the leadership of former member Evangelist Jessie Davis and Male Chorus/Brotherhood under the leadership of the late Deacon Gideon Sanders. I also served where ever there was a need to edify the body of Christ. My biggest joy was being a blessing to the seniors of the church.

Still remaining faithful under the previous two pastors: The late Pastor Mack and the late Pastor Barksdale. Under the late Pastor Mack's leadership, I moved from membership to discipleship. I am grateful to the late Pastor Mack and what he has deposited into my life. Then the Lord gave me another blessing in the form of the late Pastor L.N. Barksdale, through his great teaching and preaching I truly understand what the word love means. On January 1, 1995, I accepted my call to proclaim the gospel, on February 5, 1995, I preached my first sermon and was licensed that very same night.  Still remaining faithful to the work of the Lord and after much prayer and fasting God sent me my helpmate Robbin Ward who became my wife on July 20, 1996, to this union two blessed children were born Timothy and Emily Criswell. Then on May 31, 1998, I was ordained. Still remaining faithful to the work of the ministry. Several years later on September 14, 2014, the late Pastor Barksdale release to the Fifth Ward congregation in his annual state address that he would be retiring and named me as his successor. Still remaining faithful not really knowing what the end result would be on December 6, 2015, I was voted in as the next Pastor of the great Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church.

All these significant dates took place under the dynamic leadership of my father in ministry the late Pastor Leonard N. Barksdale. The late Pastor Barksdale and I worked in the ministry for over 21 years to edify the body of Christ. I thank God for  the late Pastor Leonard N Barksdale my father in Gospel for he has passed the mantle to your first son in ministry on February 21, 2016. I will continue to Glorify and Edify the body of Christ continuely striving to do ministry in an Excellent Way.

To GOD Be The GLORY,

Timothy W. Criswell, Servant

Lady Robbin L. Criswell is a servant, minister, prayer warrior, teacher, encourager, author and most importantly a child of God.  Lady Criswell is the proud first lady of Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, Tx, where she serves under the leadership of Pastor/Husband Timothy Criswell. Pastor Criswell and Lady Robbin along with the Fifth Ward congregation are fully committed to Love, Hope and Healing. 

Lady Criswell wears many "hats" she serves in the Women's Chorus, Youth Sunday School Teacher, Lambs Of God praise dance ministry leader and leads forth the Women In Ministry a.k.a Women Of FAITH. Lady Criswell is a spirit-filled motivational speaker, a prophetic praise dancer, and mentor who is anointed and filled with the Holy Ghost. Lady Criswell is also an author she birthed a Inspirational Devotional “Good Morning Holy Spirit”, a 40-day devotional that will help usher you in the presence of the Holy Ghost; for she firmly believes the way you start your morning commands your day. In December 2018 the holy spirit gave Lady Criswell and Pastor Criswell their first ministry outside of the four walls of the church entitled R.E.A.L.~ Ready to Empower Anointed Lives. A ministry that embraces men and women right where they are and empowers individuals to live anointed lives, while dealing with R.E.A.L. life situations, issues and circumstances. In the midst of a pandemic Lady Criswell birth her 1st ministry CoverGirls Interceding Sister's on her 50th birthday July 1, 2020 a ministry for CoverGirls of all ages. The ministry Embraces, Impacts and Empowers CoverGirls right where they are through scripture that sustains them in every area of their life, with Love, Confidence and Assurance that they are constantly being covered in prayer. Within CoverGirls Interceding Sisters a second book was birth with the advisory council entitled “Our CRY Continues…."

Lady Criswell loves her family and is so thankful the Lord blessed her and Pastor Criswell with two beautiful children Timothy Criswell, II and Emily Criswell. Embracing, Encouraging and Empowering women are three essential aspects of Lady Criswell's Christian journey, for she believes shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from her heart to others. Lady Criswell stands on Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster plans to give you a future filled with hope. ” (GW)