Rev. Roosevelt B. Whitehead, Jr. is the son ofthe late Roosevelt Whitehead, Sr. and Annie P. Whitehead and the late Yvonne (Bonnie Hawkins)Whitehead. He was born and reared in Kinston, North Carolina. Rev. Roosevelt B. Whitehead, Jr. was licensed for the gospel ministry in January 1997 at Greater Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Kinston, North Carolina and was ordained in October 1999 through the Bear Creek Missionary Baptist Church Association, Inc.
His ministry experience includes part-time as Youth Pastor for First Missionary Baptist Church, Kinston, North Carolina for three years.On August 3, 2000, God called and blessed him to begin his tenure as Pastor for The Original Patterson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Kinston, North Carolina.He was then led to start New Seasons Missionary Baptist Church in February, 2006.He served both churches until he was called to pastor First Baptist Church Winton on the fifth weekend in May, 2011.
Rev. Whitehead currently serves as Moderator of the West Roanoke Missionary Baptist Association ,Inc. He also serves as a board member of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina,Inc. Adviser to the Women’s Auxiliary of the West Roanoke Missionary Baptist Church Association Inc.He is the former president of the Eastern Union of Bear Creek Missionary Baptist Association and also served on the board of Ministers of the GBSC under Dr. Charles Bullock.
Rev. Whitehead holds a degree in Criminal Justice, a Masters in Criminal Justice, Christian Education and he has a Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Counseling . Of all his educational and ministerial experiences, his greatest passion is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. His motto is: “God loves me in spite of me so we should love one another in spite of each other.”
From the Pastor's Desk:
Congratulations First Baptist Church Winton!
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let the sea resound and all that is in it. Psalm 96:11
I am wonderfully blessed to be able to share in the joy of a church that has survived One Hundred Seventeen years. Through the years of persecution, trials and hardships, the church has remained the pillar of the community. I think that First Baptist is special because of what God is allowing to happen in such a time as this. A time of high recession, high divorce rates, high unemployment and morality is being redefined. This is a time when our politics has become perverted, parties are disrespecting one another and the church has to let its light shine so that a crying world can have a place of refuge. Here at First Baptist Church Winton we are becoming stronger and learning that we must rise up and care for our community.
I will do my best during my tenure to ensure a legacy of love, mission and hope to flourish and produce and exceed the expectations of those who will be called out of darkness into the marvelous light.
I thank God and I thank First Baptist Church Winton for the opportunity granted to me to serve as the sixteenth pastor in the One Hundred Seventeen years of the church’s existence. I am so appreciative of the opportunity to serve you.