Minister of Congregational Development

Rev. Deborah L. Spivey is a native of Montclair, NJ.  Deborah is the daughter of the late Rev. Wilbert and Sylvia Spivey.  She attended Montclair Public Schools graduating from Montclair High School in 1980.  She then matriculated at North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, where she received a B.S. in Landscape Architecture.  Upon graduation, Deborah acquired a New Jersey license in real estate and worked for Weichert Real Estate in Clifton, N.J. in the Rental Office.  She also worked for Synterra Limited, Inc., a Landscape Architecture Firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Her love and concern for children landed her a job with a local child care center and eventually with the Montclair Public School System in their Montessori Magnet.  During this time Deborah also served as the Director of Montclair’s Y.W.C.A. After School Program.

However, the Lord always prevails!  His Holy Spirit spoke to Deborah and called her to be one of His spokespersons by calling her to preach the Gospel and allowing her to become licensed on December 11, 1992, by the St. Paul Baptist Church.  She was the first woman licensed at St. Paul’s.  Being obedient to the Master’s call, Deborah accepted the challenge, remembering the scripture “In the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy”.

She continued to prepare for the Lord’s work by enrolling as a full-time student at Drew University’s Theological School where she received her Master of Divinity degree in May 1994.

Reverend Spivey was ordained by the St. Paul Baptist Church and American Baptist Churches of New Jersey on November 26, 1995.  She served as the Minister of Youth, Family and Outreach Ministries at St. Paul Baptist where she directed the church’s after school program, Study to Excel Program (STEP), and the Summer Haven Day Camp for five years.  In December of 1999, Rev. Spivey was afforded an opportunity, by the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention and the St. Paul Baptist Church, to be one of seven preachers during the Guyana Missionary Preaching Tour, in Guyana, South America.  This experience was one never to be forgotten where many souls were saved as the Gospel message was proclaimed.

Currently, Rev. Spivey serves as an Assistant Minister of St. Paul where she is a Spirit-filled teacher and preacher of God’s Word who leads the weekly Tuesday noonday Bible study class and is a member of the teaching team for the Wednesday evening adult bible class.

To God be the glory, for the great things he has done!

Director of Christian Education

Minister Pamela Goar was born on December 31, 1948 to Elsie James and William Hopings Jr. in Toledo, Ohio.  She lived with and was raised by her grandmother Mrs. Cora Lee James.  She was educated in private and public schools in Toledo, Ohio and was an outstanding student.  She attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Education.  She has studied for her Master of Teaching in Early Childhood Education at William Paterson University.  She has also studied Christian Education and Christian School Administration at Felician College in Lodi, New Jersey and at Lancaster College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Minister Goar has had, and continues to have, a great impact in her community, holding various positions in education and administration including working as an Administrator at the Passaic County and the City of Paterson Department of Human Services, where her accomplishments included development of the grant process for the distribution of funding to community-based organizations, the development of shelters for the homeless and organization of the Mayor’s anti-drug and crime coalition.  She also worked as Administrator at the Dawn Treader Christian School in Paterson, New Jersey, with a student body of more than 150 students.  Her work in the community is further demonstrated by her lifetime membership in Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., a public service sorority, where she was a founding member of the Paterson Alumnae Chapter.

Minister Goar met the love of her life, Brother Lee Roy Goar, on the first day of school at Fisk University in September 1966.  They graduated together and were married on October 21, 1972.  To that 33 year union were born Aaron Lee-Rahsaan and Kelli Lee-Rahsana, both baptized and raised at St. Paul Baptist Church in Montclair, New Jersey.  Aaron has always been active in serving at St. Paul and is currently married to Taconya Piper.  Kelli has been blessed with two children, Essence and Elijah who have attended church and vacation Bible School with “Meema” and Uncle Aaron.  Pam also has a stepdaughter, Tamicka, and two other grandchildren, Logan and Tanner, who live in Virginia.

Minister Goar was both baptized in the Baptist Church and confirmed in the Lutheran Church as a child.  However, upon moving to New Jersey, she joined her husband’s church and was re-baptized at Calvary Baptist Church in Paterson under Dr. Albert P. Rowe.  She later received the right hand of fellowship at St. Paul Baptist Church in February 1984 under Rev. Marvin A. McMickle.  She has been serving at St. Paul ever since.  She worked as a Sunday School teacher and as a Parent Advisor to the Cherub Choir.  She has always had a love for the teaching ministry and she served in many capacities in that ministry including Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent.  She also taught Vacation Bible School and Wednesday evening Bible School and other capacities before becoming Director of Christian Education in 2001.  She has also served on many committees, projects and other activities.  She is active with the Missionary Ministry.  Minister Goar loves God and loves serving in the church and presents herself in answer to a Calling to serve as a preacher of the Gospel.

Intercessory Prayer

Minister Joseph Byron Andrews was born in St. George’s, Grenada, West Indies.  He received his early education in the village of Beaulieu.  In November, 1969, he immigrated to the United States, where he met and married his beloved wife, Margo.  They have three children:  Gregory, Byron and Gabrielle.

In 1996, he responded to God’s calling on his life in a passionate way.  As a result, he committed himself to venture boldly, obediently and faithfully into ministry.  He was licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ on May 22, 1996, at St. Paul Baptist Church, in Montclair, New Jersey.  Since then, through the grace, mercy and power of God, he has earned an Associate Degree in Biblical studies (1997), a Bachelor’s Degree in Science of The Bible, with an emphasis in Christian Leadership (2000) and a Master’s Degree in Bible Science (2004) from Philadelphia Biblical University (PBU), in Pennsylvania.  He has also traveled on an overseas mission trip to Guyana, South America in 1999.  He is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity Degree at PBU.

Because of his deep conviction that the Lord Jesus Christ wants him in the preaching and teaching ministry, Minister Andrews has faithfully served in several ministries in both his home church and in the surrounding community.   He is certain that The Lord has given him this vision, and that God will bring it to pass.  His favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Gwen Parker Ames, Associate Minister for Youth and Family programs describes herself as a servant leader. She is committed to the celebration of diversity in families and helping children and youth excel academically, emotionally and spiritually. A member of St Paul for more than a decade, the scripture 2 Corinthians 2: 15, "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those being saved and those who are perishing" inspires her faith.  Her leadership in the design of youth development programs for nearly twenty years has garnered critical acclaim from the National Character Education Partnership, The National Organization of Women, Phi Delta Kappa, Girl Scouts of the USA and the New Jersey Association of Schools and Administrators.

As part of her ministry oversight for Youth and Family programs she was the brainchild of St Paul‘s three year Beloved Community Mission projects. To address the needs of the children of Hurricane Katrina.  This ministry project involved more than 400 volunteers within the 1100 member congregation. These mission efforts were awarded the key to the city and a proclamation from Baker, Louisiana as well as letters of commendation from the Louisiana Senate and the National Urban League.

Minister Ames, a published author, is also the Associate Dean of Academic Success at Nyack College. She holds a doctorate degree in counseling and education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a post graduate certificate in Youth and Theology from Princeton Seminary. She is blissfully married to Donald M. Ames and the proud mother of their son Alexander M. Ames.

 

Associate Minister

Minister David Mark Anderson is the son of James and Geraldine Anderson, born in Paterson, New Jersey.  From the age of five, he had an innate desire to know who Jesus is.  As he navigated through all of the pitfalls and challenges that life had to offer, a revelation was unfolded, that if it had not been for the Lord on his side, he would not have made it thus far.  In the year of 1985 on a Saturday morning at 6:10 AM on the nineteenth day in the month of October, the Spirit of the Lord revealed Himself to David in such a way that he was compelled to say yes to His will and yes to His way.  It was then that he understood that it was Jesus who put the desire in him to want to know Him.

The Lord has blessed him with a wife, Aida, who loves the Lord, and five children, of whom he is very proud.  He and his family joined St. Paul Baptist Church in 1998 and he began serving as an usher until the Lord called him to the Deacon Board in 2004.  April 6, 2006, he was licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ at St. Paul Baptist Church.  He is currently continuing his spiritual growth at New York School of Theology.

The Word of God is the foundation of all of his endeavors.  In the Epistle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 20 (Amplified version) says:

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—“

For Minister Anderson, it’s all about Jesus!

 

Associate Minister

God has blessed Minister Baldwin with the gifts of Exhortation (Paraklesis), Faith (Pistis), Mercy (Eleeo), Teaching (Didaskalos), Wisdom (Sophia), Singleness (Agamos), Witness (Marturomai) and Prophecy (Propheteia) from time to time.  All these gifts and the artistic talents of spoken word, voice, dance, photography and sculpture appear to come and go in her life as God wills.  Their strength and direction ebbs and flows as God needs.  One gift not listed is the ability to listen, yet, she considers it to be one of God’s greatest gifts to her.
Minster Baldwin tells her story:  “After 18 years of employment with the same entity, I was forced to resign commencing my four years of wilderness wandering.  The first year, I was in complete denial, blamed everyone around me and was angry at the world.  In year two, I accepted that there was a tremendous problem, that I could have avoided if I had been open to God’s voice when He tried to prepare me and gave me specific instructions which I failed to follow.  After which I found myself clueless with respect to what should be done.  In the third year, I thought I knew what had to be done and went about the business of trying to make things happen, trying to force things into being and instead, wasted a lot of time, energy and what little money I had left, running in circles, going nowhere and accomplishing nothing.  I was too impatient to wait for the Lord’s answer to my prayers, having decided that silence meant yes or it was OK to do what I wanted.  In the fourth year, I learned how to forgive those who hurt me.  I learned to ask for forgiveness of my sins by name.  I learned to step out on complete and absolute faith and nothing else.  I learned to listen, obey and surrender completely to God’s will.  Most of all, I learned to wait until the Holy Spirit ordered my steps in accordance with God’s will.  I learned not to move until I heard from the Father, no matter what those around me said or did.  I learned to accept the answer even if it wasn’t what I wanted or expected.  I learned the value of waiting and that waiting didn’t mean doing absolutely nothing.  Yet, I learned to be still, silent and stop all the internal noise or the “battlefield of my mind”.  I learned to be sure that the energy I spent was in keeping with God’s Word or in praise of His name.  My voice sang true, my tambourine rang truer and my life leaped for Joy.  My happiness confused those around me.  My laughter stopped people in their tracks.

I realized that all of my life I have been trying to fit into a place, space or box in man’s world that God had not chosen for me or directed for me to follow.  I’ve always believed that I was born to fill a role in God’s master plan, but I also ran from it.  I always assumed that He was calling someone else… the person next to me, behind me or even in front of me.  Even when reduced to an inability to move or a state of trance by a fresh anointing, I still believed the Lord God Almighty had to be speaking to someone else.  Even when confirmed by more than three and with oil dripping from my chin, I could not believe that God wanted me for real work.  The moment I surrendered, I was asked if I was “serious this time?”  I wasn’t sure what that meant and didn’t find out until very recently.  After the question came an overwhelming feeling of fear mixed with so much laughter that I couldn’t stand still.  I sang, danced and played my tambourine until I could no longer stand up.  I collapsed to the floor… I was at a Women’s retreat at Sandy Cove, Maryland sponsored by the Daughter’s of Radiance of Bethel Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware.  I missed dinner that night and breakfast the next morning.  I could not move while I was given a specific set of instructions.  I was called to “edify God’s Word as only I know how… but to gain knowledge and understanding first.”

When I returned home, I didn’t follow through just then.  A year later, I begged the Father for forgiveness for my hesitation.  I asked God to help me deal with my fear and self-doubt.  In turn, God allowed me to hesitate just long enough to look at various theological and biblical places of learning before ending up at Drew University’s Theological School.
God my Father is ordering my steps, molding me, and shaping me into His vessel.  He continues to fill me with love, teachings and guides me in the fulfillment of heavenly tasks that the Hold Spirit pours into my heart.  I know who I am and I know whose I am.”

Minister Durelle McPherson
Associate Minister

Minister Durelle A. McPherson is thankful to GOD for her Mother, Mae C. Curtis, a long time resident of Montclair for her love, direction, and exposure to the Word of Life Christian overnight camp in New York State.  It was in her two week stay, at the age of ten that she accepted the Lord JESUS in her life, and was privileged to witness the strong anointing of his presence. In that spiritual camp JESUS was lifted up all day long as worship, praise, fellowship, and prayer superseded anything else.
 
It was in her prodigal years that the heart of Minister Durelle yearned for closure of a void that only GOD could fill.  After many years of travel, and “glitter,” she chose to accept her call to ministry and embraced the “gold” in JESUS Christ. She has not looked back!!!   She thanks GOD for his saving grace and blessing her daily.  Her desire to strengthen her relationship to GOD became ever more present during the most transitional time of her life (I Kings 19:7).  GOD comes first!!!   After a period of prayer and fasting, GOD directed her to formally prepare for the journey she was about to partake in.  Being a Woman of GOD has been the most rewarding and empowering experience in her life.

She is a strong and passionate supporter and encourager of people to grow in faith and love in their relationship with Christ.  She is an over comer, a voice for the voiceless, and has dedicated her life to helping others transition and “move from one point to another in the midst of the storms of adversity in their lives” (Soul Stories, Streaty-Wimberly) through GOD’s tailored and designed plan. 

Minister McPherson , a member of St. Paul for over 15 years was licensed as a Minister of the gospel by St. Paul Baptist Church in September 2007 and became an Associate Minister under Pastor Michael J. Cox.  She currently serves as a Co-Coordinator of the TLC Ministry-Pastoral Care, Pastoral Care Ministry, Co-Coordinator(s) with Deacon Daryl and Deaconess Cecilia Carrington and her husband Deacon Steven McPherson for the Marriage Ministry, Vacation Bible School Co-teacher with her husband- 7^th and 8^th graders,  Coordinator for the now defunct Amethyst House Bible Study with Rev. Deborah Spivey and the Deaconess, former Christian Education Co- teacher with her husband for the High School class, former founder/Coordinator of the Greeters Ministry, and Coordinator and Founder of the Jr. Greeter Ministry (formally called Ambassadors for Christ), former Deaconess, Christian Counselor, Women’s Ministry, and Prayer Shawl Ministry.  She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. founded 1908 at Howard University (100 years!!!) which is a community based organization.

Faith and Family are huge priorities in her life. GOD has strategically blessed her with her  family.  Husband , Deacon Steven D. McPherson, two GOD given sons whom she is so very proud of, Edward M. II and Justin N. Jordan , daughter Stephane’, granddaughter Leannah Durelle Jordan, future daughter-in-law Irene, and her love for her animals.    

Minister McPherson is currently matriculating at the Drew Theological Seminary Master of Divinity Program.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Douglass College-Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Certification from Gibbs College, Montclair, New Jersey 
      
Isaiah 40:31 (Message Bible Version)   “But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.”





Minister Samuel Pendleton
Associate Minister

Samuel C. Pendleton , Jr. was born in Lebanon, Pa.and raised in Harrisburg, Pa. The youngest of three children, he received his primary education in Pennsylvania. Samuel received a BA Degree in Psychology/ Social Development from Bloomfield College in 1984. He served in the United States Army from June 1960 through 1963 and was a Principle Instructor and Drill Sergeant and also served in the Army Reserve in New Jersey as well.

He has been a member of St. Paul Baptist church since 1972.  He served as Church Clerk for ten years, member of the Trustee Board for approximately fifteen years,  five of which he served as Chairman. Bro. Pendleton along with former Pastor Battle initiated the Bible Reading Ministry  Footsteps and Lamplights  over ten years ago. The ministry remains in place today. He currently teaches an Adult Sunday School Class and has been a Sunday School teacher for 3 ½ years. He is also an instructor for Wednesday Evening Bible School.
 
Minister Pendleton felt a calling to the Ministry for over ten years. He preached his initial sermon at St. Paul Baptist Church in June 2007.  His favorite book in the bible is Philippians because of its emphasis on joy, confidence, unity, and perseverance in the Christian faith and life.  Samuel is currently attending Drew Theological Seminary working towards a Masters degree in Theological Study.

Samuel retired from IBM Corporation after 31 years and currently works as a Project Coordinator for N.J. Transit. He is also a part- time Test Monitor for the State of New Jersey.   Samuel has a passion for Public Speaking and has been a member of Toastmasters for the past six years.  He has served on the Executive Board for American Baptist Churches of New Jersey for six years.  He has also served as Vice Moderator for The American Baptist Essex Association.  He and his wife Norma, current Steward Board Present married in June 1985. They have a nice family which includes several children and great grandchildren.