First Lady Profile: Elder Dr. Arie C. Sailor

Dr. Arie Collins Sailor is our First Lady who serves faithfully by her husband’s side in the ministry at Celebration Christian Center. As Co-Pastor, she is the Director of Ministries. She was joined in holy matrimony to Pastor Edward Sailor in 1973 and together they have five (5) children, nine (9) grandchildren and six (6) great-grands.

A native of Gadsden County, she grew up in a Christian Home with an AME Church background. She accepted the Lord in her life as a pre-teen, during a revival at Blessed Hope M. B. Church and was baptized with the Holy Ghost at St. John COGIC, under the leadership of the late, great Bishop Elbert L. Sheppard.

Elder Dr. Arie C. Sailor.

Over the years, her experience has continued to expand, serving as Sunday school student and teacher, choir member, church secretary, announcer, usher and hospitality member, licensed missionary, licensed evangelist by COGIC, state workshop coordinator for the COGIC Western Jurisdiction Sunday School Department, Sunday School Superintendent, Church VBS Coordinator, Women’s Department Chair, Ministry Director, Minister, Elder and many other capacities.

Education & Training

In the secular world, she has served as Executive Director of One Church One Child of Florida, a statewide nonprofit corporation, since 2002. She has over 40 years work experience in state government and private sector, including tenures with Florida Department of Education, Tallahassee Community College, Florida State University, Florida Commission on Community Service and Florida Department of Children and Families.

She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Social Work from Florida A&M University, and a Doctorate in Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary. She is a certified parent trainer and has completed a multiplicity of trainings and professional development seminars on various subject matter.