Our Pastor

Biography of: The Reverend Terrence K. Porter

Rev. Porter was called as the 14th Pastor of the historic Pilgrim Baptist Church in February, 2003. Prior to his Pastorate at Pilgrim he served for 12 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 as part of Fountain's 1OOth Anniversary celebration. 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 31 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 emphasize on Christ-Centered Worship and Praise, as well as relevant Bible Teaching, Rev. Porter 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 not only re-write its by-laws and constitution, but also to use its properties to accommodate additional ministries. The PBC Annex is one such property. The Annex provides meeting space for ministries and is utilized for the churches Teen Worship Service and Youth Activities. Other facility improvements include; upgrading the church's audio, security, and cooling/heating systems, and the expansion of its parking facilities to accommodate the growth of the congregation.

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 partnerships - rather than in isolation". The Pilgrim congregation has embraced the community empowerment and mission vision of Rev. Porter by contributing over $65,000.00 since May of 2003 to mission, benevolent and student scholarship efforts, both domestically and abroad. Through his leadership Pilgrim has partnered with the Red Bank School District and Wachovia Bank to develop a community computer lab; the Great Start Program which provides educational support for pre-school children; the Red Bank High School S.O.U.R.C.E. Program to provide college bound student/parent workshops, S.A.T. preparation classes, Annual College Tours and an Hispanic Student Program in conjunction with Brookdale College; the A.S.L.A.N. Youth Ministry; the Mocha Moms support group for stay-at-home mothers and support of local N/A – A/A Groups. He has also led the church to establish the Pilgrim Community Development Corporation. This not-for- profit entity will allow 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.

Rev. Porter has been committed to the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. He serves as a member and instructor with the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention and has led Medical Mission Teams and Mission Work Teams to rural areas of Jamaica. He has also proclaimed the gospel in other regions of the West Indies.

Currently, he serves on the S.Q.U.R.C.E. Advisory Board, the Riverview Medical Center Advisory Committee, the Fathers In Touch, Inc. Board of Directors, as well as being a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the N .A.A.C.P., the Red Bank Clergy Association and the Westside Ministerial Alliance.

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 Church." He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his faithful service to the kingdom. However, he is 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 accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He continues to serve in Athletic Ministries as a Chapel Speaker for many professional and collegiate teams.

He is native of McDowell County West Virginia and the grandson of an A.M.E. Zion Pastor/Preacher. Rev. Porter is a gifted teacher, who has served as an instructor of New Testament Theology for The Institute for Christian Discipleship (Somerset, NJ), Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary - School of Christian Ministry with an emphasis in Practical Theology 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 and daughter Naomi Olivia. The family's oldest daughter, Ayesha Elizabeth serves in the United States Navy.

Rev. 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