Dr. Avant performing the nuptials for Steve Francis and the former Shelby Franklin on Sept. 9, 2006.
Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium  Washington, D.C.

Dr. & Mrs. Jolene Avant (deceased, 2001). Jolene journeyed home to be with her Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.

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Dr. Calvin Avant is native of Pensacola, Florida and is a product of the Escambia County Public School System. After graduating from B.T. Washington High School, Dr. Avant enlisted in U. S. Navy. After a two year stint in the navy he returned to Pensacola, where he enrolled in Pensacola Jr. College. He later transferred to the University of West Florida where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education. 
   
Dr. Avant relocated to the metropolitan Washington, DC area in 1979 and joined his college sweetheart Jolene Adams. They were soon married, and to this union a daughter, Amy Kelly Avant was born. In 1981, Dr. Avant joined Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church, under Pastors Bishop Alfred and Evangelist Susie Owens. In 1983 Dr. Avant was ordained as Deacon for Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church. 
  
In 1983, Dr. Avant co-founded Calvary Alternative To Drugs And Alcohol Abuse Substance Abuse Program in Washington DC with Bishop Alfred Owens Jr. Dr. Avant directed the Calvary Alternative To Drugs And Alcohol Abuse Ministry for twelve years. In 1990 Dr. Avant became a licensed substance abuse counselor for the city of Washington, DC. 

Dr. Avant and his family relocated to Cocoa, Florida in 1995 where he joined Faith Temple Christian Center under Pastor Bishop Clarence Ferguson. In 1996 while at Faith Temple he began an outreach ministry entitled the Better Way Substance Abuse. Dr. Avant was ordained as a minister of the gospel in 1998 at Faith Temple Christian Center. Dr. Avant enrolled in Webster University located in Merritt Island, Florida and  graduated in 1999 with Master of Arts in Management. In year 2000 Dr. Avant was appointed Church Elder at Faith Temple. 

In 2001, Dr. Avant’s wife, Jolene passed suddenly of an aneurism. Dr. Avant then returned to his home town of Pensacola, Florida. In 2002 he instituted the Better Way Substance Abuse Ministry at a local recreation center. He enrolled in Faith Bible Theological Seminary in Milton, Florida and in 2003 received a PhD in Ministry in Psychology. As a part of Dr. Avant’s continued growth and vision in 2004, Unity In The Family Ministry Inc. was birthed through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Unity In The Family Ministry Inc. was designed as a church that would reach and multiply across all boundaries: religious, ethnic and national. Dr. Avant’s ministerial objective is to fulfill the vision God has given by preaching the gospel to the poor, brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives. Feeding and leading by example God’s people to prepare them for spiritual warfare that we are involved in. He believe’s in evangelism as a part the vision that God has given to reach the lost souls and give encouragement to the saints of God.