Bethany Baptist Church

Pastor@bethanybca.org

The Reverend Doctor Craig E. White, Sr.

Dr. Craig E. White, Sr., was born in Ft. Rucker, Alabama to Warren and Jenese White. He grew up with two older sisters and one younger brother. Dr. White grew up in church and was baptized at age fifteen at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Hinesville, Georgia. He sang his first duet with his mother in church and was taught how to raise hymns by the senior deacon (Deacon Bennie Cummings). Singing, preaching to his sisters in the backyard, it was clear that Craig White was chosen by God and that God had a special plan for him.

Dr. White knew that God had spoken to him at age fifteen but did not have the needed spiritual direction and guidance in his life. He acknowledged and accepted his call to preach at age nineteen. He preached his first sermon and was licensed by the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in College Park, GA, under the leadership of the Reverend Doctor C.L. Carter.

Dr. White's passion for learning and pursuit of higher education for ministry preparation has never ceased. He enrolled in the Conroe Normal and Industrial College for his bachelor's degree, where he was the salutatory graduate in 1991. He continued to press forward with his education, while pastoring, by enrolling in the Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College-Stockton Extension School. There, Dr. White earned the degrees, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Theology, earning top academic honors, and graduating as valedictorian in both classes.

Dr. White attributes much of his ministerial development and progress to his late mentor, the Reverend Doctor Emmerett Wilbur Roland, who served as his Pastor, Counselor, Teacher, Comrade and Friend.

God used Dr. White in many ways in the Merced community. He baptized in excess of 500 souls while pastoring Friendship. Dr. White was an organizing Trustee of the Golden State Baptist Conference of Churches and served as the Dean of Education in the conference teaching arm, the Leadership Training Institute. He served as an adjunct professor of Conroe College and he was the Faith-Based representative for the Merced County Youth Council.

Dr. White is currently pursuing another master’s degree in divinity (MDIV) from Indiana Wesleyan University, with emphasis on Pastoral Administration
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Dr. White has been connected with many churches where he was able to exercise the gifts that God has given him. He served as the spiritual leader at the Gospel Service at Castle Air Force Base, and as associate minister at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church of Merced, CA under the leadership of the late Reverend Thomas Russell Simpson. From 1991 to 1996, Dr. White was privileged to serve as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Los Banos, CA. In 1996 upon the home-going of his pastor, he was called back home to Friendship to serve as pastor where he graciously served until December 2006.
In November of 2006, the members of the Cornerstone Baptist Church of Christ in Dallas, TX extended a call to Dr. White to be her second pastor. Dr. White responded positively and humbly accepted. Dr. White became an influential voice in the DFW metroplex. He served as the President of the Dallas Baptist Minister's Conference. He served as a Member of The Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention of America. Dr. White was an adjunct professor at Aspen Bible College. Dr. White was also a strong supporter of the Bethlehem Foundation, a not-for-profit organization organized by his predecessor, Dr. Robt. H. Wilson, Sr., aimed at ministering, holistically, to the needs of the community.

In March of 2014, Dr. White received a call to be the Pastor of the Bethany Baptist Church. With an ignited passion, an inflamed heart, and an invigorated spirit, Dr. White embraced the call and the sweet Saints of Bethany and a Beautiful relationship has commenced. Bethany is in the process of renewing, redeveloping, and redirecting under Dr. White’s leadership.

Christian Education is without question the hallmark of Dr. White’s ministry, and through it, he is leading Bethany to be Stimulated by Spiritual Education, Steadfast in Spiritual Evangelism, and Striving for Spiritual Excellence!

Dr. White has been sought throughout the country for preaching and teaching engagements. He and his lovely wife, Brenda currently reside in Jonesboro, GA. They are the proud parents of three wonderful children, Craig Jr., Anngelica, and Brendan Paul.