Pastor Samuel Louis Edwards was born on April 27, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in a sanctified home. His parents, the late Administrative Assistant, First Jurisdiction Illinois, R. C. Edwards, founder of Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ and Co-founder Mother Rosa Edwards, brought Pastor Edwards to church every Sunday, and during the week from the time of his birth. As servants of Christ, his parents labored fervently for him in prayer that he may stand in the will of God. They trusted and believed that God was making and molding him to be an unforeseen leader.

Through this faith walk Pastor Edwards came to fully understand the he truly has a friend in Jesus Christ, and accepted Jesus as his personal Savoir. To this day it is well known to the saints of the most high that he honors his parents for the example of leadership that they placed before him, and he credits his parents for his own honesty and solidity, which God has bestowed into him through Christ who has strengthened him beyond measures. Pastor Edwards has been an active member of Pentecostal Temple since its foundation, which began in 1973. Growing up in the church, God blessed him with many talents- one of which is playing the drums. This gift from God allowed him to become one of the greatest drummers in the Church of God in Christ.

This was only the beginning for Pastor Edwards’ practice in ministry. His loyalty to this ministry elevated him to the Jurisdictional level in which he served as the State Drummer for the First Jurisdiction of Illinois. Pastor Edwards also served on the Pentecostal Temple Deacon Board. Pentecostal Temple needed a new leader after the home going of Superintendent R.C. Edwards in November 1999. God in his infinite wisdom, had already predestined Pastor Edwards to fulfill the needs of His people. God revealed to His people that Pastor Edwards was chosen to be the next leader of Pentecostal Temple. In the year of our Lord 2000, Bishop Ocie Booker, Jurisdictional Prelate, First Jurisdiction of Illinois fulfilled God’s calling and ordained Pastor Edwards into Eldership. Bishop Booker continued God’s course and installed Pastor Edwards into Pastoral ship over Pentecostal Temple in April 2000. At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came upon Pastor Edwards in power. In obedience to God’s call,

God has allowed him to continue to lead God’s flock in this Twenty-First Century. Pastor Edwards is a devoted family man. He and his beautiful wife and songbird, Sister Lorraine Edwards of Chicago, Illinois are the wonderful parents of Elder Charles T. Edwards, Shanelle Edwards, Samuel Edwards II, and Sametria Edwards.