Pastor's Bio - Alfred Street Baptist Church

A new worship service was initiated for the young adults age 20 – 30 something. Come As You Are (CAYA) worship service is held on the first Wednesday of every month. In addition, a program that raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ – the AWANA program was started in September 2009. Also, in October 2009, a Saturday worship service was added, increasing the number of worship services to three; a Senior’s Bible study and a Men’s Bible study will be added to the activities of the church.

Under the leadership of Dr. Wesley, the Mission Ministry is placing more emphasis on domestic violence awareness, breast cancer support, mentoring programs and after incarceration assistance. In March 2009, he led a delegation of 60 people to New Orleans to minister to pastors, the homeless and families in need; and also lead the congregation in August 2009 in a Weekend of Community Service. Dr. Wesley has preached in Johannesburg, South Africa for the Progressive National Baptist Convention and is a member of the Pastoral Excellence Program with the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Convention. Dr. Wesley has begun the Christian Life Institute, offering courses throughout the year to help members address relevant life issues and to help with growth in spiritual development as disciples.

Reverend Dr. Howard-John Wesley represents the fourth generation of Baptist preachers in his family. This native of Chicago is the son of the late Rev. Dr. Alvin J. Wesley and Dr. Helene J. Wesley. Rev. Wesley acknowledged and accepted his calling into the Gospel ministry at the age of sixteen and was licensed to preach in 1989. He was ordained in 1997 at his father’s church, the Hermon Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois by the Greater New Era Baptist District Association of the Baptist General State Convention of Illinois. He has also served on the staff of the Orange Grove Baptist Church of Durham, NC and the Concord Baptist Church of Boston, MA.

Dr. Wesley is a 1994 magna cum laude graduate of Duke University where he doubled majored in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering. After his first year in medical school, he yielded to God’s call once again and walked away from a medical career to attend seminary in preparation for serving God’s people. He attended the Boston University School of Theology where he was a Martin L. King, Jr. Scholar and a 1997 summa cum laude graduate concentrating on Biblical Studies and African-American religious history.