Dr. Foster has a distinguished career, both as a clergy in the AME Church and as an educator at several colleges and universities. He has served as pastor in the 2nd, 10th, and 6th AME Episcopal Districts. During his tenure as pastor, Dr. Foster has held the positions as Dean of the Board of Examiners, Conference Trustee Board Member, Episcopal District Technology Officer and Episcopal District Chief Statistician. He has been appointed pastor of the following AME Churches – St. Stephens (Mt. Gilead, NC), Williams Chapel (Hempstead, TX), Hope (Prairie View, TX), Pleasant Hill (Atlanta, GA), Rock Temple (Conyers, GA), St. Philip (Savannah, GA), Allen Temple (Atlanta, GA) and Big Bethel (Atlanta, GA).
Dr. Foster’s higher education tenure includes being a faculty in electrical engineering and/or computer science at Tuskegee University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, University of South Carolina and the University of Phoenix. In addition to a faculty member, Dr. Foster also held administrative positions of Vice Provost, Dean and Department Head at these institutions.
Dr. Foster is a profound preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has preached at Episcopal District Meetings, Annual Conference opening worship and Ordination preacher, District Conferences and wherever he is invited. He has a unique ability to combine the preaching and teaching elements to unveil a fresh presentation of a “Word from the Lord.”
Dr. Foster has been blessed to combine his technological prowess to bless the ministries of the church. Over the past decades, he has successfully implemented and completed projects including i) Database Development for Annual Conference Support, ii) After School Youth Technology Programs, iii) Network Design and Implementation of Episcopal Office, iv) Episcopal District Electronic Mailing System, v) Local Church Network Design and Implementation, vi) Design and Implementation of Local Church Video Streaming and Multimedia and vii) multiple webpage designs. Dr. Foster has made a tremendous contribution to the Church of Allen!
Dr. Foster has served as both a member and officeholder for several prominent organizations for more than twenty-five years. His experience includes working on and/or having worked on the boards of the National Science Foundation, the Army Science Board, the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina, the Allen Hills Board of Directors, the Sweet Auburn Board of Directors, and the Bethel Towers Board of Directors.
Dr. Foster graduated from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended the Ohio College of Applied Sciences where he began his college education. He received the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tuskegee University and a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center. He received a Master of Science and his Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
Dr. Foster is married to Sis. Mary Ann (Mackey) Foster. They have three children – Kristina Marie Rose, John Jr., and Jessica Rose. Dr. Foster is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio.