Angela is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and the daughter of Drs. Charles and Frances Gooden. She is a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton Massachusetts with dual degrees in political science, sociology and a minor in urban studies. She attended Harvard University and Northeastern Universities in Boston, Massachusetts for further graduate school training in political science, philosophy and sociology.

Angela has traveled to seventeen countries in Europe, including China, Japan, Mexico, and the islands of Bahama. Following graduate school and travels, she attended Southern University Law School where she obtained her juris doctorate degree. Angela received her formal ministry training and education at the Word of Life School of Ministry in Darrow, Louisiana and as of this date has resided in Louisiana for over twenty years.

She was ordained at the New Heights Third Day Ministries, Memphis, Tennessee, under the direction of Founder/Overseer/Apostle Gloria Anderson and, in the following year, she assumed the pastorate of Center Peace Ministries of Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she provides spiritual guidance and leadership to a blessed and highly favored congregation
With a diagnosis of stage three inflammatory breast cancer in January of 1998 and physicians giving Angela three months to live, she relied on her faith in God, the promises of God and the Word of God for healing. While walking in her healing, she underwent chemotherapy, surgery, bone marrow transplant, radiation and lymphedema therapy. God healed her body. And, what man said was to be months God said “long life shall satisfieth thee” with many years.

Today, Angela ministers to men, women, and teens alike on breast cancer prevention/awareness, how to do self breast exams and taking care of the temple that God so dearly loves. She has written numerous articles in the Baton Rouge Advocate, Perspective Magazine and other local journals on women’s health and God’s supernatural manifestation of healing.

Pastor Gooden, simply stated, has a heart for people “Jen-Li” (loving God and loving God’s people) and truly stands on the 1 Corinthians 13 love equation. Her ministry mission is souls saved through the Word of God; to encourage people to see and fulfill God’s purpose and plan for their lives; to encourage His sons and daughters to fulfill the destiny which God has called them to and build, educate, train, uplift, encourage and disciple enduring and loving leaders/warriors for God.