About Our Pastor
Jeremiah 3 – 15 – WHAT IS A PASTOR?
A Leader – Spiritual Advisor – Father Figure – Brother Friend – Listener – Disciplinarian – Helper
Psychiatrist – Psychologist – Social Leader – Motivator Comforter – Approachable – Fair
Has Love for All – Firm – Sure – Has a Vision – Discerns Community Focused – Counselor – Deliverer
Not Egotistic - Not Self-centered – Not Selfish
Respected – Respectful
Reverend Al J. Terrell, Pastor
Pastor Al James Terrell was born July 19, 1936 in Soho, Mississippi; one of six children. He came to Pontiac Michigan in the late sixties and was employed at General Motors Corporation and retired from General Motors in 1992.
Pastor Terrell expanded his education at the Midwestern Baptist College, New Era Baptist College; Detroit Business College and other institutes of higher learning. However, his main source of learning was and still is the Holy Bible, preferably the King James Version and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
He is married to the beautiful Albertina Terrell and they have a lovely daughter Erica.
He was licensed to preach ‘God’s Word’ in 1972 by Pastor Ezekiel Wright, Sr. the then Pastor of St. Stephen MBC. Pastor Terrell served as the Associate Minister from 1972 thru 1991. He officially became Pastor of St. Stephen in October 1991.
For almost fifty years Pastor Terrell has been committed to his flock and his message continues to be that
“The Word of God will give us power that will cause this church to have power” (Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:11); So I will preach what “Thus saith the LORD”…That’s it!
Habakkuk 2:1-4
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the LORD answered me, and said, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”
The Vision for
Saint Stephen Missionary Baptist Church
BIBLE READING
2 Timothy 2:15 – Luke 4:16-20 – Hebrews 10:7 – Psalm 40:7-8
BIBLE RECEIVING
Acts 2:41-47 – Acts 6:7 – Acts 8:26-39
BIBLE BELIEVING
John 3:16 – John 20:29 – Acts 4:4 – Romans 10:9 – Hebrews 11:6
BIBLE LIVING
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 – Joshua 1:8 – Isaiah 15:22-23 – Psalm 119:9,17
Jeremiah 42:5-6 – Luke 4:4 – Acts 5:29 – James 1:22-25 – 1 Peter 1:22
BIBLE EXPERIENCING
Psalms 119:103, 105, 133, 170
A CHURCH "PAID IN FULL"
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Borrowing money is not a sin - Deuteronomy 28:12
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But borrowing is dangerous - Proverbs 22:7; 2 King 4:1-7
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How will we do this?- Malachi 3:7-12 (note verse 10)
A HOUSE OF PRAYER
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For ALL nations - Mark 11:15-18; Acts 2:41-47; 12:1-19
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A FULL House - Luke 14:15-23
A WITNESSING CHURCH
Acts 1:8; Luke 19:10; 15:3-7; 2 Peter 3:9
A SERVING CHURCH
Matthew 25: 31-46
OUR HISTORY
The Word of God will give us power that will cause this church to have power.
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God's Word is POWERFUL!
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Hebrews 4:12 ; Isaiah 55:11
On September 10, 1967 at 3:00 p.m. the Saint Stephen Missionary Baptist Church was constituted with a charter membership of 87 including one deceased, Mr. Leon Tolbert. This new church was sponsored by Columbia Avenue Baptist Church in affiliation with the Oakland County Baptist Association, the Baptist State Convention of Michigan and the Southern Baptist Convention. Reverend E. Clay Polk of Columbia Baptist Church officiated. On October 29, 1967 Reverend Ezekiel Wright was installed as the first Pastor.
Worship services continued to be held at Franklin Elementary until May 19, 1968. That following Sunday, May 26, 1968, the members marched to their newly purchased church at 69 South Astor Street, Pontiac, Michigan (formerly the Friendly General Baptist Church). Church dedication services were held on June 16, 1968 with the Reverend Vernon C. Wickliffe of the Oakland County Association of Southern Baptist delivering the dedication sermon. The church motto: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
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From the beginning, the 87 founding members, some who are still with us today, envisioned St. Stephen as a spirit-filled church guided by the Holy Spirit and fueled with the Word of God. They showed unwavering faith and God was pleased. Today as we celebrate this great heritage of Kingdom work, we can look back and see God’s hand in it all. We must continue to live the motto that our founders laid down for this church: “AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.” Praise God!!