Bishop Howard E. Franklin is the founding Senior Pastor of Word Alive Christian Center in
Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the founding Presiding Prelate of Independent Churches United
International. He and his wife Mary have been married for 58 years and have two adult children,
Neva and Matthew, three grandchildren—Dewayne, Demetrius, Zaria and two greatgrandchildren,

Zion and Dewayne Franklin Jr.

Together Bishop Howard and Lady Mary founded Word Alive Christian Center in 1982 and
Independent Churches United International (ICUI) in 2013, They envisioned a global fellowship
in which small-to-medium-sized churches can employ their collaborative resources to empower,
educate, and enlarge their voices to proclaim God’s saving grace to the lost. Through his
leadership as founding and Presiding Prelate the fellowship has grown. Today ICUI has a global
membership of churches throughout the contiguous United States, West & East Africa and South
Asia.

Having devoted his life to service, Bishop Franklin is a veteran of the U.S. Army retiring
honorably after 20 years. While fulfilling his military obligation he came to know the Lord in
October of 1977. He served faithfully as Deacon, Youth Pastor and Elder in Victory Temple
COGIC under the ministry of Pastor Joe Nobles. During his deployment to Giessen, Germany he
served as Pastor of the Giessen Gospel Hour.

Word Alive Christian Center was founded in Germany and then relocated to the U.S. upon his
subsequent military retirement in 1983. The Church became an affiliate of Higher Ground
Always Abounding Assemblies, Inc. under the auspices of Dr. Sherman S. Watkins. Bishop
Franklin would later serve as Bishop of the Southeast Diocese, which included Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Having earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Education from Beulah Heights
University he was awarded the Doctor of Ministry (Honoris Causa) from FMI Biblical Studies &
Seminary. In 2024 the H.E. Franklin Theological Seminary was launched and plans to offer
graduate-level biblical courses are forthcoming.

With 47 years of experience in ministry Bishop Howard E. Franklin is a dedicated spiritual
leader. Through worship and the Word, he opens both his heart and his doors to welcome all who
are seeking to find purpose and promise with a Gospel of hope and love. Often, he asks this
thought-provoking question, “Can God applaud what you have applied?” His inquiry serves to
remind us that everything we do, or say, must focus on Christ; it’s all about Jesus!