Pastor's Bio - Alfred Street Baptist Church

concentrating on Biblical Studies and African-American religious history. His passion for preaching and learning led him to the Associated Chicago Theological School’s Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program where he graduated from the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary with his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2003. His thesis, “Prescriptive Preaching: Effective Homiletical Methodology for the Next Generation of Black Churchgoers” is now being prepared for publication. Rev. Wesley has also completed post-doctoral studies at Oxford University in Oxford, England and has served as an adjunct professor of homiletics at Boston University and an adjunct professor of church administration at Hartford Seminary.

In 1997, God called Rev. Wesley to the historic St. John’s Congregational Church in Springfield, Massachusetts. By the grace of God, under Rev. Wesley’s faithful and committed leadership and through his passionate and loving spirit, he led St. John’s into a period of unprecedented growth, as the church grew from fewer than 200 to nearly 3,000 members with three Sunday services, two weekly Bible studies, daily prayer hours, and over 35 active ministries.

He is passionate about proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ, making the Word of God relevant in the lives of believers, and building the Kingdom of God in the congregation and community. He is currently leading Alfred Street Baptist Church in participation with the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Baptist World Alliance, the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Convention, the Baptist General Convention of Virginia, and serves on the Executive Board of the Northern Virginia Baptist Association. The keynote speaker for the People’s Inaugural Project Prayer Breakfast for President Barack Obama, Dr. Wesley is a highly sought after lecturer and preacher.

Now a resident of Alexandria, Virginia, he is associated with the Alexandria NAACP, the Northern Virginia Urban League, the Community Coalition for Haiti, a member of the Board of Directors for the Hopkins House and the Institute for Responsible Citizenship. He has also served as honorary chairperson for the African American Adoptions, Inc.

For his labor Rev. Wesley has received numerous awards and accolades, including being recognized by the African American Pulpit as one of the top 20 preachers under forty in the Black Church. He has also received the Alexander Mapp Black Achievement Award (for his work with the school system), the Black Men of Greater Springfield Community Service Award, Brianna Fund for Children with Disabilities recognition, and was recognized and honored four times by the mayor of Springfield for his leadership and community work.

He is an avid golfer who also enjoys movies, reading, and working out. He celebrated his 20th year in the ministry on November 29, 2009.