Pastoral Ministry: St. James Baptist Church, Orange, TX * 1979 - 1982
Wheatley Heights Baptist Church * 1984 - Present
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. E. Thurman Walker came to Antioch in August 1987, as the Minister of Youth and Evangelism, after graduating from the ITC Morehouse School of Religion with a Master of Divinity Degree. Rev. Walker earnestly went to work, heading the youth ministry, inspiring old and young alike, founding and establishing the City-Wide Ministry of “San Antonio Youth Ganging Up for Jesus” which later became Youth United Against Drugs And Gangs (YUADAG). Within a few years of his staff ministry at Antioch, he became Assistant Pastor and later Co-Pastor. He rose to prominence among the Antioch Church Family and the San Antonio Community. His deep yearning to advance his education soon led him to enter the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio to study Africentric Pastoring and Preaching, under the mentorship of Dr. Jeremiah Wright and Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu. His dissertation work “Africentric Boys & Girls Development Program” became the catalyst of our current Rites-of-Passage Program. A seamless transition from Co-Pastor to Pastor took place in March 1993 when Pastor Rector went to glory to be with the Lord. After taking the reigns of Antioch, Pastor Walker empowered ministries throughout the church… led the church in purchasing surrounding land and buildings. He established the Antioch Christian Academy, a Christian school to mature and develop youth. He inspired a rapid increase in membership and a remarkable expansion of the church budget. He founded and established Antioch Community Transformation Network (ACTN) a 501(c)(3) non profit organization in 2000 which was founded to oversee the expansion of services to meet the educational, economic, and social needs of San Antonio’s historically underserved east side community. He established a plan for the building of the Antioch Family Life Education and Community Center, a multipurpose athletic and educational complex to benefit the entire community. His leadership extended beyond the confines of Antioch having chaired the Bexar County/San Antonio Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration for two consecutive years, having given out more scholarship dollars in the history of the city-wide celebration. He founded the Community of Churches for Social Action, (CCSA) an interdenominational 501(c)(3) organization of churches in the San Antonio Community designed to empower citizens who might otherwise be neglected and misused. From city to state to national, he served in various leadership capacities. His concerned leadership, preaching power, spiritual anointing and civic service were his traits. He lead the Community of Churches for Social Action in the acquisition to develop an institution implementing and fulfilling an overall need for capital improvement to the Eastside community. His leadership led to acquiring $7.5 million from the County to establish a multi purpose amateur sports complex in the designated flood zone, the Wheatley Heights Amateur Sports Center. Even with his active schedule, he still had time to devote to his wife, Jo Angelia, and their two children, T.J., Kimberly and granddaughters, Raizel RayeAnne and Sabriya Marie. It is his family which helped him keep life’s priorities in perspective. Pastor Walker went to glory to be with the Lord October 26, 2009.
Macedonia Baptist Church
Dr. Jerry William Dailey was born on June 25, 1953 in Anderson, Indiana to the late Dr. C.B. and Martha Dailey. Dr. Dailey moved at an early age with his parents and older brother to Jacksonville, Florida and there he attended the public schools of Duval County, graduating in 1971 from Andrew Jackson High School. Dr. Dailey then accepted a basketball scholarship from Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach Florida. During his junior year he attended the University of California at Berkley representing Bethune Cookman as a recipient of the Crown Zellerbach Foundation Scholarship. In 1975, after returning from California, he graduated with honors (cum laude) from Bethune-Cookman with a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Psychology. Dr. Dailey acknowledged the call into ministry at an early age and was licensed by his father, Rev. Dr. Charles C.B. Dailey at his home church, the First Baptist Church of Oakland, Jacksonville, Florida in August of 1973. Upon graduation from College he was accepted into the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (EBTS), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While in seminary he was mentored and trained by the late Dr. Frank B. Mitchell of the Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and became Dr. Mitchell’s assistant. Dr. Dailey was the first member of his class called into the Pastorate while a student. Dr. Dailey was called and became the Pastor of the First African Baptist Church, Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania in August of 1977. He graduated from EBTS with a Master of Divinity Degree in May of 1979. Because of the magnitude of his ministry, Dr. Dailey received numerous honorary degrees inclusive of, the Doctor of Theology Degree – Guadalupe College, San Antonio, Texas, 1991; the Doctor of Divinity Degree – American International Bible Institute, Killeen, Texas, 1996; the Doctor of Divinity Degree from his Alma Mater, Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida, 2000. Prior to his coming to Macedonia in December of 1985, Dr. Dailey had two previous successful pastorates; First African Baptist Church, Sharon Hills, Pennsylvania from 1977-1982 and Greater St. James Baptist Church, Ft Worth, Texas from July 1982 – November 1985. Many accomplishments took place in both churches that remain at this time.
Calvary Baptist Church
One of life’s most beautiful words is family. At Calvary Baptist Church in San Antonio, we take seriously the Bible’s teaching that Christians are the family of God and therefore brothers and sisters in Christ. As a “family of faith” we seek to worship and serve God, share the good news of the gospel message, and provide the spiritual environment necessary for the believer’s spiritual growth.
We invite you and your family to experience the joy and excitement of the Calvary Baptist Church family. Our church has gained a reputation as a friendly and caring fellowship, and we would welcome the opportunity to show you why. We would be honored to have you in any of our worship services or other activities.
If you are looking for a church home, Calvary Baptist Church is the place for you!
Resurrection Baptist Church
Ray Darrell Brown, Sr is the third of five children born to the Rev. Aristide Sr. and Mary J. Brown. Born in Heidelberg Germany where his father was stationed in the US Army, Pastor Brown accepted his call to the ministry at the tender age of nine. After graduating from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio, Texas, he began his collegiate matriculation at Bishop College in Dallas Texas where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in Theology.
In the summer of 1989 while still in college, he was called to pastor the Live Oak Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas. In July of 1990, Pastor Brown accepted his next assignment at the newly established Resurrection Baptist Church in Schertz, Texas, five miles northeast of San Antonio.
A gifted preacher, teacher, and leader, Pastor Brown’s range touches every mood, and expresses every level of human emotion. He is a fresh, clear, multigenerational voice to people who are yearning to hear God’s age-old truth and apply it to their lives—to the glory of God! Under his leadership, Resurrection continues to thrive and expand, not only as a local assembly, but also as a regional ministry with a global impact where an increasing number of souls are being saved and people are growing maturely in their faith.
Pastor Brown is motivated by his love for people, his love for preaching, and his belief that no one is beyond God’s reach.
God has bountifully blessed his ministry and his life, which he shares with his lovely wife, Marilyn. He is the father of Ray Jr., TJ, Spencer, and Crystal; and doting G-Pa to Ray D. Brown, III (Trip).
Agape Christian Ministries
Bishop Lawrence A. Wilkerson has been ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ and a pastor for more than two decades. He is impassioned with training and developing Godly leaders. He is the Senior Pastor and founder of Agapé Christian Ministries. He is also the founder of the Agapé Family of Churches (AFC).
On November 21, 1993, Bishop L. A. Wilkerson opened the doors of Agapé Christian Ministries with 3 members. Bishop Wilkerson is now a pastor to pastors through AFC. Agapé is a multi-cultural non-denominational church in the Austin suburb of Round Rock, Texas. Many nations are represented at Agapé and together these nations of the world unite with the mission to impact this generation with the love of God. Bishop Wilkerson has a unique ability to express the “deep” principles of the Word of God in a way that translates into a “nuts and bolts” language that is easily applied to the daily lives of believers from every walk of life.
Bishop Wilkerson is a graduate of Long Island University at C.W. Post. He has self-published two books entitled: “What’s Agapé Got To Do With It?” and “The Making of A Leader.” He owns a barber shop named after the passion of his walk- Agapé Family Barber Shop. He is married to Elder Lisa Wilkerson and is the proud father of 3 children- Lauren, Lindsay and Lawrence, II.
Bishop’s mantra is “I will bless the Lord at all times!”
Dominion Church of God in Christ
Bishop Geoffrey Stirrup has been the pastor of Dominion C.O.G.I.C. for over 35 years.
He has been the Superintendent of the San Antonio District for over 32 years serving under the leadership of Bishop T. D. Iglehart, Bishop S. E. Iglehart and now under the leadership of Bishop Maurice Green, Jr. He has held many different positions within the Texas Southwest Jurisdiction to include AIM Chairman, Program Committee Chairman, Jurisdictional Expeditor, Trustee Board member, and Administrator Assistant. Presently he serves as Administrative
Assistant and Chairman of the Superintendent’s Board for the Texas Southwest First Jurisdiction under the leadership of Bishop Maurice Green, Jr. Bishop Stirrup was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Community of Churches for Social Actions (CCSA), an ecumenical group of local Churches in San Antonio that is comprised of over 30 pastors of various denominations in which he served for four years. He was recently voted in as the Chairman of C.C.S.A. in 2022.
Bishop Stirrup is the son of the late Deacon Charles
and Dr. Irene West Stirrup of Miami Florida. Bishop Stirrup was employed as an Educator and Administrator with the San Antonio Independent School District for over 20 years. He is husband to Missionary Margarette Stirrup for over 41 years. He is the father of five children and four grandchildren. Bishop Stirrup holds a Business Degree from Miami Dade College and Florida State University. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree, in English from the University of Texas, San Antonio. Bishop Stirrup also has a Master of Education Degree from Concordia University of Texas with a Principal Certification and a Secondary English Certification.
Bishop Stirrup also holds a Masters of Divinity from Oral Roberts University.
Bishop Stirrup is a hardworking, dedicated, committed, faithful servant to the body of Christ and there’s nothing he would not do for the good of the church and leadership.
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
a native of Tucker, Arkansas. The son of Otis and Aristine McDonnell, he grew up in rural Arkansas and excelled in academics. After completing his junior year in high school, he enrolled on the early admissions program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where he continued to excel. Upon graduation with a 4.0 GPA in 1984, he was accepted into several medical schools and he finally decided to attend the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. In 1988, he graduated from the UAMS with honors in research and academics. Having accepted an ROTC scholarship in college and the Army Health Professions Scholarship while in medical school, Dr. Kemp was appointed a captain in the US Army upon graduation from medical school and he began his internship in internal medicine at Brook Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX. He completed residency at BAMC in 1991 and was subsequently selected to be the Chief of Medical Residents from 1991 to 1992. After his year as Chief of Medical Residents, Dr. Kemp entered fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at BAMC, which he completed in 1995. After serving three years as the Assistant Chief of the Pulmonary Service at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Dr. Kemp returned to BAMC in 1998 as a member of the teaching faculty in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship. In June of 2005, he was selected as the Program Director for the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program at BAMC and later that same year, he was selected to be the Chairman of the Institutional Bioethics Committee. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Army Medical Corps in June 2006. He is currently certified in the areas of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Kemp retired from the Army in September 2009 after 21 years of active service and 25 years of total service in our nation’s military.
In addition to his life in medicine, Dr. Kemp has a strong faith in Christ and is an ordained Baptist minister. He was initially ordained as a deacon in 1990 and later accepted his call into the gospel ministry in 1991 at the Antioch Baptist Church under the late Pastor JJ Rector, Sr. He served as the interim Pastor of the True Vision Baptist Church in San Antonio from 1994 to 1995 and he was Assistant to the Pastor for Pastoral Care at the Lewis Chapel Baptist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina from 1995 to 1998. Upon his return to San Antonio in 1998, he resumed his duties as a member of the preaching ministry at Antioch under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. E. Thurman Walker. In 2004, he was selected to be Assistant Pastor at Antioch, under his friend and mentor, Pastor Walker. Dr. Kemp continued as Assistant Pastor at Antioch until September 27, 2009, when upon the recommendation of Pastor Walker and the overwhelming support of the members of Antioch, he was selected as Co-Pastor. One month later, on October 26, 2009, upon the demise of Dr. Walker and the move of the Holy Spirit, he assumed the responsibilities and position of Senior Pastor. The Holy Spirit has continued to abide with the Antioch Church under the leadership of Pastor Kemp. He has preached the Word of God with power and passion and has sacrificially served the people of Antioch and the citizens of San Antonio. As a result, souls have been saved, saints have been encouraged, and citizens have been empowered.
Dr. Kemp is published in the areas of General Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Biomedical Ethics. He also has interest in Education in general, and Christian Education in particular. He is the lead editor of Lessons for Life: A Devotional for the Disciple, a collection of church school lessons written by the church school curriculum team of Antioch, which was published in February 2014. He is also the author of several books, A Servant’s Heart: Tips for the Associate Minister, which was published in April 2014 and in 2018 he published A Cry during Crisis. He is a member of the Baptist Ministers Union of San Antonio and Vicinity, the Community of Churches for Social Action, the Guadalupe District Association, the San Antonio Baptist Association, and the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He has served as a member of the board of the Black Business Expo and the Antioch Community Transformation Network. He served on the Accountability Committee for the San Antonio Eastside Reinvestment Initiative and he is a member of the Advisory Board of the St. Philip’s College Veterans Outreach and Transition Center. He is member of the Board of Trustees of the United Way of San Antonio and serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Eastside Christian Action Group. In September 2014, he was installed as the National Director of the Health Awareness Team, National Baptist Convention of America Incorporated. In 2019, Dr. Kemp was one of the contributing authors tasked by NBCA, Inc. to publish “Grace During Grief”; A Toolkit to Help Churches Develop an Effective Grief Ministry. In November 2014, he was honored by his Alma Mater as an inductee of the National Alumni Hall of Fame, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In 2020, during the global pandemic due to covid-19, Dr. Kemp was appointed by the Mayor of San Antonio to serve on the Mayor’s Health and Economic Taskforce. Pastor Kemp was awarded the 2021 MLK Commission Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award.
Dr. Kemp married Velma L. Willoughby Kemp on August 3, 1985. They are the parents of two daughters: Rev. Jessica, an ordained minister and the current Minister of Children Youth and Young Adults at Antioch, and Joelle, a pharmacist living in Humble, TX with her husband, Jacoby.
New Creation Christian Fellowship
The Copelands founded New Creation Christian Fellowship in March of 1985 after faithfully serving as the first black chaplain couple in the United States Air Force. They were high school sweethearts and have been married for more than 44 years. Bishop and Pastor Emerita Copeland have committed themselves to transforming Lives through Jesus Christ and consider unity their formula for success.
Bishop David M. Copeland completed his undergraduate education at the State University of New York at Brockport where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and Speech Communications with a minor in Philosophy. He continued his studies at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia where he earned the Master of Divinity Degree in Church Administration. His seminary training also includes study at Colgate-Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, New York. In May 1992, Bishop Copeland completed the Doctorate of Ministry at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.
Pastor Emerita Claudette A. Copeland received her undergraduate education at the University of Connecticut, where she concentrated her studies in the field of Psychology. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree, she went on to earn her Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Counseling from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned the Doctorate of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where she also served for several years as a visiting Professor and Mentor for doctoral studies.
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Pastor Mitchell leads the Mount Zion First Baptist Church in worshipping God by focusing on 4 P's: Praise, Prayer, Proclamation (of the Word) and Power (of the Holy Spirit). He believes that all that we do in worship and service to members and the community comes out of these principles of relationship with God.
Reverend Otis I. Mitchell is a native of Smith's Station Alabama, near Tuskegee, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia. He is a graduate of Alabama State University, with a B A Degree in Political Science. Also, he is a graduate of the Interdenominational Theological Center, and The Morehouse School of Religion, with a Master of Divinity Degree. He has an honorary Doctor of Ministry Degree from The San Antonio Theological Seminary. Reverend Dr. Mitchell served in the U. S. Army and had assignments at Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Giessen, West Germany; Fort Monmouth, NJ; Fort Ord, CA; Fort Huachuca, AZ; and overseas assignments to (2nd I D) Camp Howze, Korea and the 1st Signal Brigade, Yongsan, Korea. He was also the Deputy Installation Chaplain and pastor of the Main Post Chapel, Ft. Sam Houston, TX. He was in Panama for operation 'Just Cause' and was liaison Chaplain for Fort Ord, CA with the National Guard and Army Reserve during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Reverend Mitchell has been recreating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s sermons and speaking about Dr. King's life and influence since 1975. He has done this before many thousands on military installations, in civilian communities, Europe, Asia, and South America. He has even presented his recreation before the King family in Atlanta, GA.
His final assignment in the military was at Ft. Jackson, SC. Rev. Mitchell is senior pastor of Mt. Zion First Baptist Church of San Antonio, Texas since August 2006. It is one of San Antonio's oldest African-American Churches, and leads community and civic issues which enhance the moral fiber of San Antonio. Mt. Zion has a vibrant Prison/Jail Ministry and a weekly Food Bank Ministry held at the church. Reverend Mitchell mentored Wheatley Heights Elementary School and started an on-going mission to Haiti, which ministers to a Christian school, orphanage, and mission.
Reverend Mitchell retired from the U S Army in 2006 after more than 25 years of chaplain ministry. He was the 2010 and 2011 Chairman of the Martin Luther King Commission of San Antonio, which sponsors the largest MLK, Jr. March in the nation (170,000+ marchers). He is married to the former Venita Dean of Columbus, GA. They have three adult children, Patrick, Ashley, and Deante'. He is a member of the Baptist Ministers Union, the Community of Churches for Social Action, the N.A.A.C.P., and a founder and past president of the Ft. Huachuca Rocks, Inc. (a military officer organization). Rev. Mitchell's personal motto is "Make a Difference!"
Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church
Dr. Lester J. Gillespie, Sr. is the Organizer and Pastor of the Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church, 1534 Peck Avenue, San Antonio, Texas. He has served as the Undershepherd of this beloved family and flock since 1985 and is presently leading Greater Love in a building expansion effort. He has preached for fifty-plus years throughout the length and breadth of our nation and worldwide.
Pastor Gillespie is a native of San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of the late Rev. W. G. Gillespie and the late Sis. Vernell Gillespie-Jones. He is married to his beautiful wife, the Honorable Kimberly S. Gillespie, and is the proud father to two sons and four daughters. He is honored to be the grandfather of thirteen and
blessed to be the great-grandfather of one.
Pastor Gillespie derives immense joy from serving the Lord through developing people. He is President Emeritus of the Ministers United for Ministerial Development (MUMD), having recently served for 25 years as National President. He is the former Vice-President of Boards of the National Missionary Baptist
Convention of America, Chairman of the Home Mission Board of the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas and is founder of the Rev. W. G. Gillespie and Vernell Gillespie-Jones Memorial
Institute Scholarship Fund.
He is the former Pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Crystal City, Texas, the Second Vice-President of the Ministers’ Conference of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, the Home Mission Board Chairman of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, Moderator of United Fellowship Baptist District Association, Carver Cultural Center Board Member, Chaplain of the Frio County Jail Ministry in Pearsall, Texas and Karnes City Detention Center in Karnes City, Texas, and the Chairman of the Gang Intervention Committee of the Southern Baptist Association of San Antonio, Texas.
Since late 2021, Pastor Gillespie has served as xecutive
Board Member and Outreach Chair for San Antonio’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission and March. He received the 1992 Pulpit Leadership Award from the San Antonio Register News and was the Outstanding Pastor of the Year in 1994. Pastor Gillespie received both Bachelor and Doctor of Divinity degrees from the Guadalupe Baptist Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Divinity from American International Theological and Seminary as well as an Honorary Doctor of Letters of Urban Ministries Degree, from Aspen Christian College & Theological Seminary.
New Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. J. Carlton Allen passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2015 at the age of 71.
Longtime community leader and San Antonio pastor preached the gospel of Jesus Christ over 55 years and for over 48 years, Allen has been pastor of New Mount Pleasant Baptist Church at 1639 Hays St.
Allen, 71, gave his first sermon as a 16-year-old before a reported 300 people at Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Galveston. His late father pastored that church.
After attending Bishop College in Dallas, Allen filled several leadership roles in the National Baptist Convention of America, Incorporated International and locally in the Baptist Ministers Union of San Antonio.
He’s been chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commission, been inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in Atlanta, and is in the Who’s Who In Black San Antonio.
Funeral services are as follow, as announced by the Church:
As we mourn the passing of our beloved Senior Pastor Doctor J. Carlton Allen, Sr., we thank God for his life and legacy.
Wheatley Heights Baptist Church
Pastoral Ministry: St. James Baptist Church, Orange, TX * 1979 - 1982
Wheatley Heights Baptist Church * 1984 - Present
Religious Affiliations:
Past Involvement and Achievements:
Friendship Baptist Church
Rev. Ruben Louis Archield, Sr. was born November 18, 1929 in Millard, Louisiana to the late Hypolite and Laura Archield.
With purpose and divine direction this faithful preacher sanctified the LORD GOD in his heart and ministered to people for over 70 years. As the bible instructs us, The Right Reverend Ruben Louis Archield, Sr. readied himself to show that CHRIST is the answer for us all.
When he was growing up, his parents, Hypolite and Laura, loved him enough to raise him and his siblings in the fear and ad-monition of the LORD. Also, they did not spoil their wayward child because they did not spare the rod.
As a child, he was mischievous, and like many boys on their way to manhood he let the good times roll. After painting the town with his cousin into the wee hours of Sunday morning, he sneaked into the house and fell asleep. But that same cousin showed up a few hours later and urged him to go to church with him. His reply was not “what the heaven”. But he did go.
That morning the pastor was teaching the Sunday School lesson. The subject was from Mark 1:15 where JESUS said: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Archield did not know what the kingdom was. Yet he understood that he was not in it and that it was passing him by.
The SPIRIT OF GOD was calling him and at the night service, he gave his heart to JESUS. What he did not tell the preacher and the congregation was that the LORD had also called him to preach. Instead, Archield left Louisiana to hide in Houston, Texas. He finally acknowledged his calling at Jordan Grove Baptist Church where The Reverend W. H. Banks was the pastor.
He fell in love with Ruby Fosha, the sister of the Pastor Banks’ wife, Sister Raye Banks. Ruben and Ruby married soon after. Three sons were added to that union, Ruben, Paul and John.
Reverend Archield pastored the Jerusalem Baptist Church in Spanish Camp, TX before being drafted to serve in the U. S. Army during the Korean War. He became an assistant in the Chaplaincy and preached to the troops out on the field of battle.
Upon his separation from military service, he pastored the Hill Zion Baptist Church where he served for 10 ½ years. In 1963 he began his pastorate at the Friendship Baptist Church, in San Antonio, where he faithfully served for 53 years.
Pastor Archield earned a Bachelors Degree, from Texas Southern University, in Philosophy, and a Masters Degree, from the University of Texas at San Antonio, in Education.
During his tenure at the Friendship Baptist Church, terrorists set fire to three churches in 1972: Mount Zion First Baptist Church, Zion Star, and Friendship. Zion Star and Mount Zion were greatly damaged; however, Friendship Church burned to the ground. Immediately, Pastor Archield worked with the San Antonio Independent School District to purchase the Cuney Elementary School building. He built a magnificent two-story stained glass window sanctuary attached to the school.
He also served on the Urban Renewal Board with the nation’s City Planner, Winston Martin. Archield also served on the Family Services Board. Additionally, he secured the State of Texas Landmark designation for the Friendship Baptist Church building. But most of all he preached the gospel to all.
Those of us who mourn him include his wife Ruby of 67 years; Ruben Jr and his wife, Chris; daughter-in-laws Brenda and Sylvia; and John and his wife, Nadene. Grandchildren: Africa Archield and her husband, Gene; Segrid Archield; Alana Schulmann; Donerick Rainey; Raynette Robinson, Paul Schofield and his wife, Sherry; Mark Schofield and his wife, DeeAnn; and Heidi Schofield. Great-grandchildren: Hunter Archield-Cupit, Winter Archield-Hall, Amira Campbell, Jayce Campbell, Jalen Williams, Paris Richardson, Andrew Schofield, Matthew Schofield, Taylor Schofield, and Kirsten Schofield. His brother, Hypolite Archield, and his sister, Rose Garrett. In addition, a host of nieces, nephews, Friendship family, extended family, and friends. Son, Paul Archield and great-granddaughter, Stormy Archield preceded him in death.
New Creation Christian Fellowship
The Copelands founded New Creation Christian Fellowship in March of 1985 after faithfully serving as the first black chaplain couple in the United States Air Force. They were high school sweethearts and have been married for more than 44 years. Bishop and Pastor Emerita Copeland have committed themselves to transforming Lives through Jesus Christ and consider unity their formula for success.
Bishop David M. Copeland completed his undergraduate education at the State University of New York at Brockport where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and Speech Communications with a minor in Philosophy. He continued his studies at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia where he earned the Master of Divinity Degree in Church Administration. His seminary training also includes study at Colgate-Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, New York. In May 1992, Bishop Copeland completed the Doctorate of Ministry at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.
Pastor Emerita Claudette A. Copeland received her undergraduate education at the University of Connecticut, where she concentrated her studies in the field of Psychology. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree, she went on to earn her Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Counseling from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned the Doctorate of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where she also served for several years as a visiting Professor and Mentor for doctoral studies.
True Vision Church
The proud Pastor of the True Vision Church, established in 1993. Pastor Brown is a gifted teacher and preacher of the Gospel who refuses to compromise the Word of God. He is a fresh, clerical, multigenerational voice, to a people who are living to hear God’s age-old truth for today. Pastor Brown has led True Vision Church since 1997. It has been under his dedicated leadership that True Vision continues to grow in membership, ministries and missions. Due to True Vision’s outreach, the “Vision” has now become “one church in two locations” fellowship.
Pastor Brown currently preaches three services every Sunday and prior to the current pandemic, would teach two regular Bible Studies each week and preach, once monthly at TVC’s Lunch With the Lord, Wednesday worship service. He has been a regular host with San Antonio’s Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). He is also a frequently sought after guest speaker who rarely turns down an opportunity to impart the Word of God.
Pastor Brown served faithfully for five years as the President of the Baptist Minister’s Union of San Antonio and vicinity. In 2010, he gave leadership over San Antonio’s United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) Faith Initiative and raised $50,000. He has also led in a collection of 5,000 pairs of shoes, partnering with the BMU and Buckner International Ministries to bless children in over 80 countries. Pastor Brown has also led the effort to start TVC’s High School graduate scholarship program, giving scholarships every year to TVC students, enrolled in college. He has also helped to raise thousands of dollars in other mission efforts around the globe and has led a mission trip to Haiti.
Pastor Brown is a 1994 Cum Laude graduate of the American Baptist College of the American Baptist Theological Seminary of Nashville, Tennessee. He has studied at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Pastor Brown is married to the former Joy Denise Cyrus of Charleston, West Virginia. They have been blessed with two children, daughter, Mychael and son, Angelo.
Praise Cathedral C. O. G. I. C.
Maranatha Bible Church
The Lord gives many gifts to His people and the greatest of these is love. Pastor Rander E. Draper possesses and dispenses love by the heaping handfuls. You need only to hear him sing about his first love to know how much he loves Jesus…and can he sing!
But his love goes deeper than a song. It rolls up its sleeves and goes to work to make sure that people not only have their spiritual needs met but their physical, material, family needs met as well.
Just as his parents gave him a good foundation, he has likewise given his church family Maranatha Bible Church in Converse, Texas a good foundation through sound doctrine. He states Sound doctrine is everything because it restrains sin and the work of Satan. It breaks the spirit of confusion it stabilizes, strengthens, matures, and liberates the saints from bondage.
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
Family Life International Ministries
The Founder and Senior Pastor of Family Life International Ministries, the President of Hope Strategies, Inc. He and his wife, Veron, have been married for 30 years, and are the parents of two great sons, A.D.(29 yrs old) & Austin (27); two wonderful daughters and a granddaughter. He also has a daughter, Shianna Marie Blue, of Syracuse, New York, and 5 grandchildren.
Over the past 28 years, Family Life International Ministries has literally touched thousands of lives through radio, television, missions, and outreach programs, locally in San Antonio, TX, and internationally in the Bahamas, South Africa, and Nigeria, West Africa and Trinidad. Family Life has tirelessly served our community over the years, providing leadership development and mentoring programs for youth, scholarships for college students, as well as youth and adult employment opportunities.
Through the ministry of his local church, and the Hope Strategies Community Development Corporation, Bishop Blue has fostered successful partnerships with the Baptist Health Foundation (Clergy HIV Intervention & Prevention Program), San Antonio Fighting Back (Substance Abuse Prevention & Mentoring Programs for at risk youth), and The Bexar County Adult Probation (Young Offender Life Skill Development).
Bishop Blue served (from 2012-2018) as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the BEAT AIDS Coalition Trust, a non-profit organization that leads the prevention, education, awareness and treatment initiatives for persons living with HIV or AIDS. In this capacity, Bishop Blue helped drive and innovate the organization’s board structure, strategic planning initiatives, fund raising campaigns, program and staff development. Bishop Blue also played a critical role in BEAT renewing critical partnerships with City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and other private philanthropic organizations.
In the community, Bishop Blue’s heart for the community made Family Life a place that the community looked to address the on-going service needs in the Northeast part of our city. The church developed and sponsored a year-round food & clothing outreach called “Street Life”- one of the major partnerships he has established with the San Antonio Food Bank. The outreached served 150-200 families per week. The church would also partner with financial planning services, healthcare linkages, and of course, spiritual support services. In 2019, Street Life served over 40,000 individuals throughout the year!
Bishop Blue has also served on the Board of Directors of Alternative Life Moving Strategies, Inc., of San Marcos, and nationally, as Southwest Regional Director for Ministry & Leadership Development for Covenant Fellowship International (CFI), a church planting, leadership & economic consortium, based in Jacksonville, Florida.