Woman to Watch in 2026: Dr. Altheresa Goode Howard
Dr. Altheresa Goode Howard is not someone who tries to stand out. Yet her life naturally draws attention because of how she lives and how she serves others. She does not just talk about purpose. She lives it every day. She gives her time, her voice, and her heart to help others grow in their faith. That is why she is a woman to watch in 2026.
This interview was done by phone with Dr. Altheresa Goode Howard on December 3. Each time I hear her voice, it carries weight. The words she speaks are thoughtful, and you can feel the meaning behind them. She understands her authority in the Lord, but she leads with humility. She knows when to be firm and when to be gentle, and that balance comes from years of walking with God.
Dr. Howard serves as the pastor of Next Dimension Church in Lancaster, South Carolina, located between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina. Her work also includes Altheresa Goode Howard Ministries, God Empowered Life Ministry, and Next Dimension Kingdom Music and Publishing. Through these, she leads, teaches, writes, and reaches people across many places.
When asked about the season that changed her life, the moment she knew God was calling her to step beyond fear and comfort, Dr. Howard spoke honestly.
“My life has been a testimony,” she shared. “I gave my life to the Lord at 19, and I came from a place of being very insecure.”
Her early life was not easy. She grew up in a home filled with tension, an alcoholic father, and repeated breakups between her parents. She moved back and forth between homes for years. The stress took a toll on her body and led to a serious nervous condition and eczema that covered her skin.
“There were children that would make fun of me,” she said. “I dealt with a lot of insecurity.”
Later, while living with her grandmother, she experienced sexual abuse by a family member. She carried that pain silently for years. Still, giving her life to Christ marked a turning point that changed everything.
“When I came to the Lord, it was the greatest decision I ever made,” she said. “It made the greatest impact in my life then and even now.”
As she began reading the Bible, it became real to her. One passage, Matthew chapter eight, stood out deeply.
“I saw myself in the lepers,” she said. “And I said, ‘Lord, if You did that then, can You do that for me now?’”
Healing did not happen overnight, but it began in that moment.
“Within a year, I was completely healed,” she shared. “I didn’t have to take any more medication. That began my desire to know Jesus even more.”
By age 20, Dr. Howard knew she was called into ministry. Over the next forty years, she continued to walk with God, serving as an apostle, pastor, teacher, and leader. She oversees churches and leaders in the United States and internationally, including Jamaica and Africa.
“I’ve learned to be sensitive to the Spirit of God,” she said. “If I know God is saying it, I just move, even when I’m not sure.”
Today, her heart is focused on helping people grow, especially young people and future leaders.
“I believe the greatest thing God is calling me to right now is developing the next leaders,” she said. “And also the next believers.”
Her church has a growing youth ministry, something she is very passionate about.
“I gave my life to the Lord young,” she said. “And I’ve walked with God from 19 until now, I’m 62. I’ve seen what God can do when you start early.”
Along with pastoring and leadership, Dr. Howard has felt led to write. Her books include The Power and Authority of the Believer, The Dominion Mandate, Don’t Blame God, and I’m Ready for More.
“We don’t have enough time in sermons or interviews,” she said. “But with a book, people can take their time, digest it, and grow.”
She believes writing is more than teaching.
“When the words come from God,” she said, “you’re not just writing, you’re imparting.”
When asked what she would say to a woman standing at the edge of her next God-led step, Dr. Howard answered with clarity.
“Every good thing is not a God thing,” she said.
She explained that peace, not pressure, is how you know you are in God’s will.
“When it’s a God thing, even if the results don’t look like you want them to, there’s peace,” she said. “God gives peace when you’re in His will.”
She encourages women to stay close to God, to ask Him questions, and to remain open to His leading.
“The higher you go, the more turbulence you may experience,” she said. “But if you’re aligned with God, He will get you through it and bring you out intact.”
Dr. Altheresa Goode Howard is not driven by attention, titles, or numbers. She is driven by obedience.
“Our purpose,” she said, “is to glorify God with whatever He has given us.”
Her influence continues to grow because she has chosen faithfulness. And that is why she is a woman to watch.
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