Who Is Carter Conlon?
Carter Conlon (born 1953) is a Canadian-born American pastor, author, and radio minister. He is best known as the former Senior Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City, a role he held from 2001 to 2020 before stepping into his current position as General Overseer. Known for his fiery preaching, his prayer initiatives, and his decades-long partnership with the ministry founded by David Wilkerson, Conlon is one of the most recognized voices in American Pentecostal ministry today.
[IMAGE: Carter Conlon preaching at Times Square Church]
Carter Conlon at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Carter Conlon |
| Born | 1953, Rouyn-Noranda (formerly Noranda), Quebec, Canada |
| Age | 72-73 (as of 2026, exact birthdate not publicly shared) |
| Nationality | Canadian-American |
| Spouse | Dr. Teresa Conlon |
| Children | Three children, nine grandchildren |
| Parents | Not publicly disclosed |
| Education | |
| University | Carleton University, Ottawa (bachelor’s degree in law and sociology) |
| Pre-ministry career | Police officer, 12 years, Canada |
| Ministry | |
| Title | General Overseer (Senior Pastor, 2001-2020) |
| Church | Times Square Church, New York City |
| Denomination | Pentecostal, interdenominational congregation |
| Joined TSC staff | 1994 |
| Career | |
| Books | The 180-Degree Christian, Fear Not, Unshakable, It’s Time to Pray |
| Radio programs | It’s Time to Pray, A Call to the Nation |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed; public estimates are unverified |
| Salary | Not publicly disclosed |
Early Life and Background
Carter Conlon was born in 1953 in Noranda, Quebec, a small mining town now part of Rouyn-Noranda. He grew up in Canada and later attended Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in law and sociology.
Before ministry, Conlon spent 12 years as a police officer. That career shaped how he preaches today. He speaks plainly, like a man used to giving orders in a crisis, not like someone reading from a script.
According to his own account, his walk with God took a serious turn on May 12, 1978, when he cried out to God as a young officer. That moment set him on a path that eventually pulled him out of law enforcement altogether.
Ministry Journey and Career
Leaving Law Enforcement for Ministry
In 1987, Conlon left his police career behind to enter full-time ministry. He founded a church, a Christian school, and a food bank in Riceville, a small community east of Ottawa. He also ran a sheep farm during this season of his life. It wasn’t glamorous work. It was the kind of grassroots ministry that tests whether a calling is real.
During these years, Conlon traveled across Canada to preach, from Prince Edward Island to Alberta, and even into the Arctic to speak among Inuit communities. That itinerant season built the preaching muscle he’d later use on a much bigger stage.
Joining Times Square Church
In 1994, David Wilkerson, the founding pastor of Times Square Church and author of The Cross and the Switchblade, invited Conlon to join the pastoral staff as an associate pastor. Wilkerson had planted the church in 1987 to minister to New York City, a mission that grew out of his earlier work with gang members and addicts.
[IMAGE: Times Square Church exterior, Mark Hellinger Theatre, Manhattan]
Conlon spent seven years on staff before Wilkerson appointed him Senior Pastor in 2001. He would go on to lead the church for the next two decades, guiding a congregation that has drawn more than 10,000 people from over 100 nationalities.
Why Did Carter Conlon Step Down as Senior Pastor?
In February 2020, Conlon announced he would step down as Senior Pastor of Times Square Church that May, passing leadership to Tim Dilena. He didn’t leave ministry. He shifted his focus to his radio devotionals, his writing, and his speaking schedule, while staying on as General Overseer and Chairman of the Board.
So no, Carter Conlon has not retired. He simply changed roles, trading the daily demands of pastoring one congregation for a broader platform that reaches pastors and believers worldwide.
Rise to Prominence
Prayer in the Square
Prayer has always been the center of Conlon’s ministry. In the mid-2000s, he called the churches of New York City together for a public hour of prayer in the middle of Times Square. The event, known as Prayer in the Square, grew from an estimated 50,000 attendees in its early years to tens of thousands more joining online in later years. Then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended and declared the day Prayer in the Square Day in New York City.
Worldwide Prayer Meeting and Feed New York
Out of that momentum, Conlon introduced two lasting ministries at Times Square Church. Feed New York provides food assistance through local churches across the five boroughs. The Worldwide Prayer Meeting, launched in 2015, gathers believers every Tuesday night, both in person and through a livestream that reaches participants in more than 200 countries. If you want to build a similar habit in your own life, our guide on how to pray effectively walks through the basics.
Books, Radio, and Public Ministry
Conlon has written several books over the years, including The 180-Degree Christian (2011), Fear Not (2012), Unshakable (2013), and his autobiography, It’s Time to Pray (2018). He has stated that 100 percent of the proceeds from his books go to the Compassion Fund, a charitable arm of Times Square Church that helps people in need.
Carter Conlon’s sermons reach far beyond the walls of Times Square Church. His one-minute devotional, also called “It’s Time to Pray,” airs on New York’s 1010 WINS and more than 300 additional Christian radio stations across North America. He also hosts a half-hour program, “A Call to the Nation.” In 2010, he launched For Pastors Only, a devotional resource built specifically for ministers seeking mentorship, now used by thousands of pastors worldwide.
[IMAGE: Carter Conlon books, including It’s Time to Pray and Unshakable]
Personal Life
Carter Conlon is married to Dr. Teresa Conlon, who serves as an associate pastor at Times Square Church and President of Summit International School of Ministry, the church’s Bible college. She also oversees the church’s women’s ministries and regularly preaches from the TSC pulpit.
The couple has three grown children and nine grandchildren. Conlon keeps his family life largely private, choosing to let his public ministry speak for itself rather than build a public persona around his home life.
Conlon also serves on the boards of Times Square Church, World Challenge (the ministry David Wilkerson founded), and Summit International School of Ministry. He regularly travels with Gary Wilkerson and Nicky Cruz to speak at pastors’ conferences around the world.
Theology and Ministry Philosophy
What Denomination Is Carter Conlon?
Times Square Church is Pentecostal in its roots, though it functions as an interdenominational congregation, drawing believers from many church backgrounds who worship together under one roof. Conlon’s preaching reflects that Pentecostal, evangelical framework: an emphasis on repentance, personal holiness, the power of the Holy Spirit, and urgent prayer.
People sometimes ask, “Is Carter Conlon a Calvinist?” There’s no public record of him identifying with Reformed or Calvinist theology. His ministry sits firmly in the Pentecostal and charismatic tradition, which generally holds a different view of salvation, free will, and the work of the Holy Spirit than Calvinism does.
A Ministry Built Around Prayer
If there’s one thread that runs through everything Conlon has built, it’s prayer. From Prayer in the Square to the Worldwide Prayer Meeting to his daily radio devotionals, he keeps returning to the same conviction: that a praying church is a church that can withstand crisis. Readers who want to grow this discipline can start with our list of practical ways to strengthen a prayer life.
Influence and Legacy
Conlon took over one of the most closely watched pulpits in American Christianity when he succeeded David Wilkerson in 2001, and he held that trust for 19 years. Under his leadership, Times Square Church kept its focus on the poor and addicted in Manhattan while growing its reach through radio and livestreamed prayer meetings that now touch believers on nearly every continent.
His mentorship program, For Pastors Only, extended his influence past the pulpit and into the lives of thousands of ministers who never set foot in his church. That’s arguably his quieter, longer-lasting legacy: not the crowds in Times Square, but the pastors he’s coached from a distance.
Criticism and Controversies
Like most high-profile pastors, Conlon has drawn criticism from some corners of the online Christian world, including at least one website dedicated specifically to scrutinizing his ministry and ministry practices at Times Square Church. Much of this criticism centers on broader debates within Pentecostal and charismatic circles about prophetic ministry, church governance, and finances rather than on any documented legal or ethical findings against Conlon personally. No major news outlet has reported formal allegations, lawsuits, or disciplinary action involving him.
Net Worth and Financial Information
Carter Conlon has never publicly disclosed his net worth or salary. Several websites list estimates ranging from a few million dollars to figures as high as $15 million, but none of these numbers come from a verified source, a financial filing, or a statement from Conlon himself. Treat any specific net worth figure you see online with real skepticism. What’s confirmed is that Conlon draws income from his role at Times Square Church and from book royalties, and that he has stated all proceeds from his books go directly to the church’s Compassion Fund rather than to himself.
Awards and Recognition
Conlon’s most public form of recognition came in 2009, when then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg officially declared a day in New York City “Prayer in the Square Day” in honor of the event Conlon organized. He hasn’t sought industry awards, choosing instead to measure his ministry by attendance at prayer meetings and the reach of his radio devotionals.
Interesting Facts About Carter Conlon
- Before he ever preached a sermon, Conlon spent 12 years as a Canadian police officer.
- He once owned and ran a sheep farm in Riceville, Ontario, while pastoring a small church there.
- He preached to Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic before he ever preached in New York City.
- His one-minute devotional airs on 1010 WINS, the most-listened-to all-news radio station in America.
- Every dollar earned from his books goes to the Compassion Fund, not to Conlon personally.
Carter Conlon Timeline
- 1953 — Born in Noranda, Quebec, Canada.
- 1975 (approx.) — Begins a 12-year career as a police officer in Canada.
- 1978 — Has a life-changing encounter with God on May 12.
- 1987 — Leaves law enforcement to enter full-time ministry; founds a church, school, and food bank in Riceville, Canada.
- 1994 — Joins the pastoral staff of Times Square Church at David Wilkerson’s invitation.
- 2001 — Appointed Senior Pastor of Times Square Church.
- Mid-2000s — Launches Prayer in the Square, drawing tens of thousands to Manhattan.
- 2010 — Starts For Pastors Only, a mentorship devotional for ministers.
- 2011-2018 — Publishes The 180-Degree Christian, Fear Not, Unshakable, and It’s Time to Pray.
- 2015 — Launches the Worldwide Prayer Meeting at Times Square Church.
- 2020 — Steps down as Senior Pastor in May, passing leadership to Tim Dilena; becomes General Overseer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Carter Conlon?
Carter Conlon is a Canadian-born American pastor and author, best known as the former Senior Pastor and current General Overseer of Times Square Church in New York City.
Where is Pastor Carter Conlon now?
Conlon is still active in ministry as General Overseer of Times Square Church. He focuses on his radio devotionals, book writing, and speaking at conferences worldwide.
What religion is Carter Conlon?
Conlon is a Christian pastor rooted in the Pentecostal tradition. He leads and serves an interdenominational congregation that draws believers from many church backgrounds.
What denomination is Carter Conlon?
Times Square Church operates as a Pentecostal, interdenominational congregation. Conlon’s preaching reflects Pentecostal and charismatic convictions, including an emphasis on the Holy Spirit and prayer.
Is Carter Conlon a Calvinist?
No public statement or record ties Conlon to Calvinist or Reformed theology. His ministry fits within the Pentecostal and charismatic tradition instead.
Why did Carter Conlon step down?
He stepped down as Senior Pastor in May 2020 to focus more on his radio ministry, writing, and speaking. He didn’t leave ministry. He moved into the role of General Overseer.
Has Carter Conlon retired?
No. He remains active as General Overseer of Times Square Church and continues preaching, writing, and recording radio devotionals.
How old is Carter Conlon?
Conlon was born in 1953, making him 72 or 73 years old as of 2026. He hasn’t shared his exact birthdate publicly.
Does Carter Conlon have children?
Yes. Carter and Teresa Conlon have three children and nine grandchildren.
Who is Carter Conlon’s wife?
His wife is Dr. Teresa Conlon, an associate pastor at Times Square Church and President of Summit International School of Ministry.
What is Carter Conlon’s net worth?
His exact net worth isn’t publicly known. Online estimates vary widely and aren’t backed by verified financial records.
What is Carter Conlon’s salary?
Conlon has never publicly disclosed his salary from Times Square Church.
What books has Carter Conlon written?
His books include The 180-Degree Christian, Fear Not, Unshakable, and his autobiography, It’s Time to Pray. All book proceeds go to the church’s Compassion Fund.
Where can I hear Carter Conlon’s sermons?
His sermons are available through the Times Square Church website, his own site, and his radio programs, It’s Time to Pray and A Call to the Nation, which air on over 300 stations.
If Carter Conlon’s story reminds you why prayer matters, don’t stop here. Read our guide on powerful prayer points for spiritual breakthrough and share this article with someone who needs the encouragement today.
