The Rev. Edward W. Walzer, Jr., was born to Edward and Jessie Walzer, Sr. in Bonham, Texas. He is married to Merry A. Jones-Walzer, and they have three daughters and five grandchildren. He is currently a retired judicial officer of Jackson County Criminal Court, a former hostage negotiator for the U. S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation and is a Recognized Substance Abuse Counselor in the state of Missouri.

Rev. Walzer was licensed to preach on December 9,1990 at St. Francis Baptist Temple, Saint Joseph, Missouri. He received his first ordination on October 13,1994 from The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, St. Joseph, Missouri. Rev. Walzer was admitted to the African Methodist Episcopal Church on September 20,1998 and received his Itinerant Elders Ordination on October 13, 2002.

Rev. Walzer graduated from Central High School in 1971 and attended the University of Missouri in Kansas City, where he received his associate degree in business administration. Rev. Walzer, earned his “bachelor’s degree” from Missouri Western State College and his “Masters of Divinity Degree” from Heart of America Theological Seminary.

Rev. Walzer, was appointed to Pastor Handy Chapel AMEC, Joplin, Missouri from 1999 until 2003, then to Greater New Bethel AMEC, Kansas City, Kansas, where he served for eighteen years and built a new church facility. Since September 2021, he has served as the Senior Pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

He also currently serves on the Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee for the Midwest Conference of the AME Church. He is a prolific speaker and has spoken throughout the states of Kansas, Missouri and Texas. His greatest passion is to serve GOD’s people.

Merry Jones-Walzer is a native of Kansas City, Kansas now residing in Kansas City, Missouri. She is an ordained preacher and serves as an assistant to her husband, Rev. Edward Walzer, Jr., Senior Pastor of First AME Church. She has one daughter and a grandson. Together, the Walzers have 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren.

She is currently the Director of Hillcrest Platte County Counseling Center. Merry has been in the Human and Social service field for over 35 years. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Arts degree in Business Management and Leadership. She is an entrepreneur and holds other Kansas and Missouri licenses and certifications.

Merry has presented workshops and spoken at events such as the International CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Conference, the Parkville Chamber of Commerce meeting, and the Bonner Springs NAACP Organization, among others within and beyond the KC area.

Her most recent community award was the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by First Call Alcohol & Drug Prevention and Recovery in Kansas City.
For the past 35 years Merry’s passion has been to empower hurting women, particularly women who suffer with homelessness, drug addiction and domestic violence. After 20 years of overseeing a women’s ministry that helped to empower hurting women from various social classes and crossing all denominational lines, October 2023, Merry ended her Woman 2 Woman ministry. Although the ministry ended, her passion to empower hurting women continues.

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