“And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
II Corinthians 5:18
II Corinthians 5:18
Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Williams, Jr., is the fourth distinguished Senior Pastor of the prominent Convent Avenue Baptist Church of Harlem, New York City, N.Y. For over 40 years Dr. Williams has preached the gospel, having been licensed in June 1983 at the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, Topeka, KS and ordained in December 1990 at the West Side Missionary Baptist Church, St. Louis, MO. Before accepting the call from Convent Avenue, Dr. Williams pastored 16 years at the historic Washington Tabernacle Baptist Church of St. Louis, MO.
Dr. Williams’ philosophy of ministry centers on reconciliation coming from Paul’s words in II Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” Therefore, it is no surprise that under his leadership the Convent Family has thrived through the seasons of membership growth, stewardship commitments, capital campaigns, joint venture developments, and is currently embarking upon a Rooted and Growing Initiative to better equip Convent disciples for impacting the local and global community through the missional mandate.
His published works include “A Remedy for Itching Ears: Christian Doctrine Remixed for a new Generation of Believers”, birthed out of a year-long Mid-Week Bible Study on the Articles of Faith. This book and workbook serve as a guide for today’s believer seeking to understand the relevance of doctrine. As a visionary, who understands complex societal needs, Dr. Williams constantly seeks God’s leading for wisdom, guidance, direction and discernment to spiritually lead and affect holistic change, not only for his local congregation, but the Harlem Community and beyond.
Dr. Williams committed himself to academic rigors and earned his Doctorate of Ministry (1999) and Master of Divinity (1991) degrees from the Eden Theological Seminary; Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (1986); and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration both from the University of Kansas (1986). In 2005 he completed the Harvard Divinity Summer Leadership Institute in Cambridge, MA. For 10 years he served on the Eden faculty, Board of Trustees and currently serves as the Eden Board Chairman. In 2017 Dr. Williams was inducted into the Morehouse College MLK Jr. Board of Preachers. Dr. Williams serves as the esteemed President of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention and upholds the mission to broaden the reach of the Christian faith across the globe through prayer, financial contributions and technical resources in collaboration with local communities to bolster ministries focused on evangelism, compassion, empowerment and advocacy.
Over the years Dr. Williams has exhibited a spirit of servant leadership through his various other ministry and community involvement. Dr. Williams served as a Clergy Leader in the NYC Living Wage Movement, hosting the Living wage rally in solidarity with community faith leaders and organizers. As a result of his effort in the NYC Living Wage Movement, Dr. Williams was a 2012 recipient of the Micah Justice Award given by the Micah Institute of New York Theological Seminary. In 2014 Dr. Williams was honored and selected by the Jewish Community Relations Council to be a delegate for a complimentary trip to Israel and was presented a plaque in his honor during a Martin Luther King Day Observance by the Jewish Consulate General. In 2010 Dr. Williams was the host pastor and panelist participant for a discussion around Soledad O’Brien’s CNN documentary Almighty Debt: A Black in America Special.
Dr. Williams’ philosophy of ministry centers on reconciliation coming from Paul’s words in II Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” Therefore, it is no surprise that under his leadership the Convent Family has thrived through the seasons of membership growth, stewardship commitments, capital campaigns, joint venture developments, and is currently embarking upon a Rooted and Growing Initiative to better equip Convent disciples for impacting the local and global community through the missional mandate.
His published works include “A Remedy for Itching Ears: Christian Doctrine Remixed for a new Generation of Believers”, birthed out of a year-long Mid-Week Bible Study on the Articles of Faith. This book and workbook serve as a guide for today’s believer seeking to understand the relevance of doctrine. As a visionary, who understands complex societal needs, Dr. Williams constantly seeks God’s leading for wisdom, guidance, direction and discernment to spiritually lead and affect holistic change, not only for his local congregation, but the Harlem Community and beyond.
Dr. Williams committed himself to academic rigors and earned his Doctorate of Ministry (1999) and Master of Divinity (1991) degrees from the Eden Theological Seminary; Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (1986); and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration both from the University of Kansas (1986). In 2005 he completed the Harvard Divinity Summer Leadership Institute in Cambridge, MA. For 10 years he served on the Eden faculty, Board of Trustees and currently serves as the Eden Board Chairman. In 2017 Dr. Williams was inducted into the Morehouse College MLK Jr. Board of Preachers. Dr. Williams serves as the esteemed President of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention and upholds the mission to broaden the reach of the Christian faith across the globe through prayer, financial contributions and technical resources in collaboration with local communities to bolster ministries focused on evangelism, compassion, empowerment and advocacy.
Over the years Dr. Williams has exhibited a spirit of servant leadership through his various other ministry and community involvement. Dr. Williams served as a Clergy Leader in the NYC Living Wage Movement, hosting the Living wage rally in solidarity with community faith leaders and organizers. As a result of his effort in the NYC Living Wage Movement, Dr. Williams was a 2012 recipient of the Micah Justice Award given by the Micah Institute of New York Theological Seminary. In 2014 Dr. Williams was honored and selected by the Jewish Community Relations Council to be a delegate for a complimentary trip to Israel and was presented a plaque in his honor during a Martin Luther King Day Observance by the Jewish Consulate General. In 2010 Dr. Williams was the host pastor and panelist participant for a discussion around Soledad O’Brien’s CNN documentary Almighty Debt: A Black in America Special.
Dr. Williams was a Member of the Board of Directors for the M.L. Wilson Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, the Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) and the National Action Network. He is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and a lifetime member of the NAACP. Additionally, Dr. Williams served as Assistant Financial Secretary for the United Missionary Baptist District Association of NY and member of the Labor relations Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Dr. Williams served as chairman of the Pastors and Ministers Division for the Empire Baptist State Missionary Convention and serves on the ordination Council for the American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan NY and Vicinity.
In 2008 he was the 2nd Vice Moderator and speaker for the New York Baptist Ministers Conference Martin Luther King Day Celebration and host pastor for the Third (2008) Realizing the Dream King Holiday Commemoration. He was the keynote speaker for the 2008 National Baptist Convention Ushers Banquet in Cincinnati, Ohio and served as a Workshop Panelist at the NAACP Leadership 500 Conference in Arizona (2008). He has served as a delegate to the World Baptist Congress held in Melbourne, Australia with a stop in Hong Kong (2000), preached at the Fort Buchanan Army Base in Puerto Rico for the Martin Luther King Celebrations (1996 and 1997), and was a member of the 12th Preaching Team to Africa under the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; where he ministered throughout South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Malawi (1993).
Dr. Williams has been a Lott Carey Group Mentor for the Thriving in Ministry Program, a Faculty Mentor for the Doctoral Studies Program at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio and served as a Field Education Supervisor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, New York. One of his dynamic sermons titled, “How To Use The Silence,” was published in the Winter 2002-2003 Edition of The African American Pulpit. Another sermon titled “How the Preacher gets His Voice Back” was included in the 2002 Gardner C. Taylor: Submission to the Dean publication.
In 2005 Dr. Williams completed a five-year term as president of the Missionary Baptist Minister’s Union of St. Louis and Vicinity. Prior to leaving St. Louis, Dr. Williams received a Proclamation and a Community Service Award from the City of St. Louis in recognition of his community efforts. He was also honored in the third edition (2006-2007) of Who’s Who in Black St. Louis.
Dr. Williams’ leadership impacts individuals, families, churches and communities locally, regionally, and nationally, and has resulted in his receiving numerous awards and accolades. Born in Akron, OH,
Dr. Williams is married to the lovely Gelaine R. (Bailey) Williams and they are the proud parents of one son, Jesse T. Williams, III who is married to Ladayah (Robinson) Williams their daughter–in-love.
Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Williams, Jr. embraces his calling as a chosen vessel and humble servant entrusted with proclaiming the gospel message to the masses of the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
In 2008 he was the 2nd Vice Moderator and speaker for the New York Baptist Ministers Conference Martin Luther King Day Celebration and host pastor for the Third (2008) Realizing the Dream King Holiday Commemoration. He was the keynote speaker for the 2008 National Baptist Convention Ushers Banquet in Cincinnati, Ohio and served as a Workshop Panelist at the NAACP Leadership 500 Conference in Arizona (2008). He has served as a delegate to the World Baptist Congress held in Melbourne, Australia with a stop in Hong Kong (2000), preached at the Fort Buchanan Army Base in Puerto Rico for the Martin Luther King Celebrations (1996 and 1997), and was a member of the 12th Preaching Team to Africa under the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; where he ministered throughout South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Malawi (1993).
Dr. Williams has been a Lott Carey Group Mentor for the Thriving in Ministry Program, a Faculty Mentor for the Doctoral Studies Program at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio and served as a Field Education Supervisor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, New York. One of his dynamic sermons titled, “How To Use The Silence,” was published in the Winter 2002-2003 Edition of The African American Pulpit. Another sermon titled “How the Preacher gets His Voice Back” was included in the 2002 Gardner C. Taylor: Submission to the Dean publication.
In 2005 Dr. Williams completed a five-year term as president of the Missionary Baptist Minister’s Union of St. Louis and Vicinity. Prior to leaving St. Louis, Dr. Williams received a Proclamation and a Community Service Award from the City of St. Louis in recognition of his community efforts. He was also honored in the third edition (2006-2007) of Who’s Who in Black St. Louis.
Dr. Williams’ leadership impacts individuals, families, churches and communities locally, regionally, and nationally, and has resulted in his receiving numerous awards and accolades. Born in Akron, OH,
Dr. Williams is married to the lovely Gelaine R. (Bailey) Williams and they are the proud parents of one son, Jesse T. Williams, III who is married to Ladayah (Robinson) Williams their daughter–in-love.
Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Williams, Jr. embraces his calling as a chosen vessel and humble servant entrusted with proclaiming the gospel message to the masses of the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
