Meet The Pastor
Pastor Terrence K. Porter, Senior Minister
Pastor Porter was installed as the 14th Pastor of the historic Pilgrim Baptist Church in May of 2003. Prior to his installation, he served for 13 years as the Assistant to the Pastor at Fountain Baptist Church under the mentorship of Rev. Dr. J. Michael Sanders. He was ordained for vocational ministry in June 1996.
Since his installation at Pilgrim he has guided the congregation through a period of transformation which has led to unprecedented spiritual and numeric growth. With over 40 active ministries and auxiliaries designed with; ''People In Mind and the Community at Heart," Pilgrim has become a place of; “Praise, Prayer and Preparation.” With an emphasis on Christ-Centered Worship and Praise, as well as relevant Bible Teaching, he continues to empower the congregation to recognize the privileges and responsibilities of being children of God. Biblical models and principles are central to his
leadership style and administration. With the affirmation of faith and the foundation set by his predecessors, he has led Pilgrim to utilize it’s facilities and properties to galvanize community relationships to extend Pilgrim’s Christian Witness in the community of Red Bank & beyond.
Philosophically, he believes the church should never compromise its message of love and hope for all. To that end, he has promoted a community ideology that "we can achieve more in partnership - rather than in isolation.” Pilgrim has embraced his community empowerment and mission vision by contributing over $125,000.00 since May of 2003 to; mission, benevolence, crisis intervention and student scholarship efforts, both domestically and abroad.
He has also led the church to establish the Pilgrim Community Development Corporation. This not-for-profit entity allows for additional partnerships and the creation of community based programs that are intended to improve the quality of life for the entire Red Bank community. In 2008, as part of his Community Wellness Vision, Pilgrim sponsored their first annual Community Work Day. Over 125 volunteers came together for various work projects throughout the community. In 2008, Pilgrim also became part of a unique partnership with; Lunch Break of Red Bank, the Parker Health Center & Branches Catering of West Long Branch. The goal of this initiative is to provide a Thanksgiving Day meals for members of the community at the Lunch Break facility, as well as delivering meals to those who are homebound or who reside in residential facilities in Monmouth County. He also has been committed to the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. He has led Medical Mission Teams and Mission Work Teams to rural areas of Jamaica, as well as
proclaiming the gospel in other regions of the West Indies.
Rev. Terrence & First Lady Wilma Porter
The Porter Family (not pictured: Ayesha)
Currently, he serves as President of the Board of Trustees for the Red Bank Affordable Housing Corporation and the Founder/President of the Pilgrim Community Development Corporation. He has also been appointed to the Love Inc. Advisory Committee, the S.O.U.R.C.E. Advisory Board, the Fathers In Touch, Inc. Board of Directors, as well as being a long time member of the N.A.A.C.P. and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He is a graduate of Montclair State University and has received his Masters Degree from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. It is his desire to continue his education as a doctrinal student focusing on; "The Tradition of Pastoral Care and Counseling in the African American Context." He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his faithful service to the Kingdom of God. However, he is most proud of his inductions to the Mahwah High School and Montclair State University Athletic "Halls of Fame." He cherishes his athletic career, because it was as a professional athlete with the Chicago Bears that he was led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He continues to serve in athletic ministries as a Chapel Speaker for many professional and collegiate teams around the country.
He is native of McDowell County West Virginia and the grandson of an A.M.E. Zion Pastor/Preacher. Pastor Porter is a gifted teacher, who has served as an instructor of New Testament Theology for The Institute for Christian Discipleship (Somerset, NJ), Palmer Theological Seminary - School of Christian Ministry and The Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Missionary Convention - Mission Studies Program.
He resides in the city of Scotch Plains (NJ) with his wife Wilma and two of his children: son Nehemiah James (a student at Rowan University) and daughter Naomi Olivia. The family's oldest daughter, Ayesha Elizabeth has recently retired from the United States Navy and resides in San Diego, Ca.
Pastor Porter's ambition is to; "Bring Glory to the name of Jesus Christ, by rendering service to others" and he affirms the truth of scripture that "We can do all things through Jesus Christ which strengthens us"……...Philippians 4:13
