When Allen Chapel AME church needed a new pastor, the denomination’s leaders turned to Detroit native Charlesfontaine Macon to lead the 150-year-old congregation.
“When it was clear we needed a pastor for the church, I went into prayer about it and his name came into my spirit. I talked to the bishop and he agreed it would be a great fit,” said Rev. Anne Henning Byfield, presiding elder, North District Indiana Annual Conference. “He is very active in the community and has a very significant, fast-forward ministry.”
Upon accepting the position, Macon packed his belongings and he and his wife, Myrtice, moved to Indianapolis.
“This is my first time being a long-time resident in Indiana,” said Macon. “I took the position because the opportunity was great. A lot of the things I was doing in Michigan, I discovered I could do here.”
When Macon discusses his commitment to ministering to the community, his innate enthusiasm kicks up a notch and he gives his message with clarity and passion.
When he learned about the violence happening in Indianapolis’ community, he believed his “Choices in the Hood” program could help solve some of the city’s issues. The program redirects youth to the straight and narrow path, showing them the benefits of coming to Christ, and instilling in youth that they are products of their decisions.
“I’m really passionate about community development and spiritual development. I believe those things go hand in hand,” said Macon who uses Jeremiah 6:16 as his inspiration for ministering to youth.
Prior to becoming a pastor, Macon said he was living the “good life.” At age 24, he had just graduated from Wayne State University and had a good job working for Michigan’s Veterans Affairs office, was recently married to Myrtice, a physician, and had his first child.
“The Lord had given me everything I could imagine or ask for. Then the Lord said ‘there’s something I need you to do.’ I said ‘whatever,’ because I was getting ready to party that night,” said Macon.
He heard the Holy Spirit tell him he would either continue his existing passion for youth development as a pastor or die and his life would have been in vain.
“I got on my knees that night and said ‘whatever you want me to do.’ I did not want to leave this Earth and my life was in vain. And at that time I didn’t know if he was talking about me going to hell, or what,” said Macon. “Either you’re in or out. There’s no being on the fence.”
Macon went to seminary and received a Masters of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry from Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, with a concentration on youth and family development. He is a licensed professional counselor and is noted for co-founding two youth development ministries. The first, Humanna Organization, provides after-school enrichment and academic youth development services to students. The second ministry is Choices in the Hood.
His community service includes providing mental health counseling for individuals without health insurance.
On November 28, 2004, Rev. Macon was appointed pastor of Gregg Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church. He served there until becoming pastor of Allen Chapel in Indianapolis.
In addition to preaching the word of God and helping youth, Macon said he believes the faith-based community hasn’t done the best job at promoting the Christian life. He wants to make Christ cool again. He also hopes to racially diversify his congregation and find balance within the church community among “mega churches” and smaller churches.
Though Macon has been pastoring at Allen Chapel for a little over four months, he’s already seen change. New members have joined the congregation and existing members support Macon’s initiatives. He’s currently making changes to the church building to make his ideas come to fruition.
Macon is very excited for additional changes that are to come.
“I’m having a hard time moving from the Pistons and Lions to the Pacers and Colts,” laughed Macon. “The congregation gives me a hard time about that. But I look forward to that change too.”
Pastor Macon is married to Dr. Myrtice Macon, a board certified anesthesiologist and former director of Pain Management at Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe, Mich. She is also an ordained elder with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Macons also have four adult children: Joy (Son-in-law John), Ingrid, Candice and Troyfontaine. They are also the proud grandparents of Nathaniel Alexander Wartian.
