District Elder Alonzo A. Watkins was  the seventh of eight children born Feb. 16th, 1962, to Deacon Frank & Sis. Altamese Watkins, and he is an identical twin (Alfred Alan). Alonzo was baptized in water in Jesus name in June 1969 @ Refuge Church in Lakeland. Alonzo received the gift of the Holy Spirit speaking in an unknown tongue as the Spirit gave utterance in July, 1977, and the next year he accepted the call to the ministry from the Lord under the pastorage of the late Apostle Henry Ross. Elder Watkins held various offices while serving under Apostle Ross.

In 1983, Elder Watkins proposed the Sis. Clarissa Chandler, and the two was united in Holy Matrimony. To this union three lovely children were born, Alonzo II, Marissa, Aleyah. Elder Watkins has been blessed with a beautiful granddaughter Jadyn.

He was ordained an Elder by the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. in Richmond Virginia in the year 1990. Elder Watkins was sent to pastor the Refuge Church in Webster Fla. in 1990.

In 1995, Elder Watkins was sent to Gifford, Fla. to be the Assistant Pastor. In early 1996 while traveling to Gifford, the Lord spoke to Elder Watkins, telling him to go to Medulla (South Lakeland) to establish a church there. The church was established, where he remains the pastor to this day.

In the year 1998, prior to the the Holy Convocation, Apostle Henry Ross, told Elder Watkins to go to Mulberry, Brandon, Ft. Meade, Bradley, etc..., and start churches. After the Holy Covocation with a charter in hand, Hope COOLJC  in Ft. Meade Fl. was seeded. 

In 2001, Elder Alonzo Watkins became the first son of Deacon & Sis. Watkins to graduate from college, with Honors (W. L. Bonner Bible College).

Today Elder Watkins serves as the District Elder in the Central Florida Diocese where Bishop Alvin Palmer is the Diocesan Bishop. Also, he serves as the Executive Secretary, and Administrative Assistant to the Bishop. Elder Watkins is the Pastor of two churches, with a third to be started in the near future. Elder Watkins was recently appointed Director of Operations for the IBOP by District Elder Marcus R. McCoy, Sr. - Chairman of the IBOP COOLJC. Also,In 2007 @ the International Holy Convocation in Columbia S.C. Elder Watkins was asked to be Director of Public Relations for Global Missions to Mexico, and South America.Elder Watkins served as Public Relation Chairman under the Late Apostle Ross, and continued serving under Apostle Gentle Groover until 2007.