Rev. Michael J. Pope, Sr., Associate Minister
Michael J. Pope, Sr. was born July 7, 1955, in Raleigh, North Carolina. His deceased parents were Joseph and Lillian Pope, also of Raleigh, North Carolina. He is married to Eline Chavis Pope and has five children, Michael Jr. LaTonya, Cecelia, Teresa and Isaiah. He is proud grandfather of 4 boys and 3 girls. He earned his high school diploma from Needham Broughton High School in 1973, and has done further study at several institutions. Among which are: Field, Radio Operations & Communications School (FROC), 1974, with a top-secret clearance in Radio, Wire, and Teletype Communications; Saint Augustine’s College, 1979-80; North Carolina State University, 1980; American College of Nutripathy, 1981, Scottsdale, Arizona. Nutripathy is the science of using proper diet, nutrition, and exercise for better health; UNC-Greensboro, 1994, North Carolina Star Teach and Reach Leadership Symposium/Certified as Mediation Facilitator, North Carolina State 1994 summer classes in Philosophy and Hebrew University Certified as a Mediation Facilitator; and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1994-95. American Fitness Aerobics Association: Certified Teacher of Exercise/Aerobics (Theoretical and Practical). Certified May 2001 by the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina; Office of Institutional and Specialized Ministries. Keynote speaker at Inmate Graduation Commencement, which was held at Eastern Correctional Institution. Also, taught conflict resolution through Bible Study to inmates and witness the change of 74 out of 103 souls to accept Christ. Reverend Pope was Advisor at Saint Augustine University Summer Camp and taught drama and conflict resolution.
Reverend Pope has received numerous awards in sport, self-defense and writing and his latest award being The Fred J. Fletcher Volunteer award.
Reverend Pope was also the first member of Oak City Baptist Church to sit on the Board of Directors at Passage Home, Inc., an outreach ministry supported by his church. Other church activities include singing in two choirs of the church, active in Bible Study, the Layman’s League, the Sunday School, Recreational programs, and regular Worship Services.
TESTIMONY: I am a man of God with strong Faith, I know that I am a blessed man of God because of my many close encounters with death and yet I am still here to be a witness for God, by any means necessary I pattern my life by Psalm 23 and Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”.