Rev. Dana Porter Ashton is the youngest of four daughters of the late Rev. Dr. William Robert and Mrs. Doris Ann Porter.  She attended public schools in Washington, D.C., then continued her education at Howard University, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development.  Rev. Dana completed her Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling from Maple Springs Baptist Bible College and Seminary, and earned her Master of Divinity Degree from Howard University.

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Rev. Dana is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is the proud Pastor of Union Chapel AME Church, Cambridge, MD.  She also serves as an instructor for the Baltimore Annual Conference Board of Examiners, the educational body that prepares ministers for Ordination in the AME Church, as the Worship Leader for the Second Episcopal District Women In Ministry and is an instructor at the Peace Multicultural Theological Seminary. 

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Rev. Dana has traveled extensively throughout the country and abroad preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and directing and singing with many choirs. She has coordinated and spoken at various retreats, workshops, and programs.  Rev. Dana served under her father for several years and has a powerfully uncanny love for those who have given up and have no hope.          
 
Prior to her current pastoral appointment, Rev. Dana served as pastor of Bethel AME Church, Chesapeake City, and as the assistant to Dr. Frank Madison Reid, III, at Bethel AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland.  God has anointed her with a compassionate heart and a prophetic gift that allows her to help others. 

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In December 2018, Rev. Dana became a published author.  Her book, “Yours, Mine, and Ours: A Mother’s Guide To Blending Families (but anybody can use it)” is a candid and practical approach to blending a family, which she did twice.  Her second published work came in April 2021.  Entitled, “Keep The Faith: Words of Encouragement When A Reminder Is Needed” provides simple reminders to hold on until….  

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Rev. Dana is the wife of her high school sweetheart, Maurice Anthony Ashton.  She is the mother of Brittany Alexandria, her joy, Godmommy to Kisha, her heart, Ma Dana to Malcolm and Monay, her angels, and Nana to Dionte, Zion, Elijah, and Dayna Amaya, her precious ones.  

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Her favorite scripture is John 15:16 which confirmed that God had an assignment specifically for her and her favorite word that God uses is “BEHOLD”, which reminds her that God is always up to something.