President

 

BIO – Pastor Welton Pleasant, II

Welton Pleasant was born December 19, 1966. He was educated in the public schools of Los Angeles, California and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from California State University-Dominguez Hills. He has a Master’s Degree in Theology with an emphasis in Pastoral Ministries from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Rev. Pleasant was elected pastor of the Christ Second Baptist Church, the oldest African American Church in Long Beach, California, in November 2009. Due to his exceptional and cogent preaching style, he has:

• Increased church membership exponentially.
• Counseled thousands with sound doctrine and practical advice.
• Erected youth development programs as well as outreach to senior citizens.
• Spearheaded mission campaigns for disaster relief abroad and has used this same model to support the less fortunate in the close proximity of the Church.
• Sponsored numerous cutting edge conferences that address the universal issues relevant to the African American community.

In his community based Men’s Conferences, he addresses a variety of topics in multiple contexts. Such topics included: health and wellness, education and positive career trajectories, male and female relationships, and parenting with purpose. He also features topics on law and pathways to gain expungement from criminal records to better employment and success.

Prior to his pastorate at Christ Second Baptist Church, Rev. Pleasant pastored the South Los Angeles Baptist Church for 15 years. Rev. Pleasant has worked as a Pastor-Mentor for Azusa Pacific University. He has served as Moderator of the Providence District Baptist Association and First Vice President of the California State Baptist Convention. He has preached extensively across the state of California and America in churches, conferences, and seminars.

In 1989, Pastor Pleasant was selected to participate in President Clinton’s Youth Summit in Washington D.C. and was the recipient of the Outstanding Young Man of America Award. In addition, in 1993, Pastor Pleasant was selected from 400 applicants, as one of the twelve team coordinators for former President Bill Clinton’s Summer of Service Program. 

Rev. Pleasant’s secular experience has afforded him the opportunity to work as an import specialist for Expeditors International, one of the Nations leading import/export companies. He also worked as a manager in the logistics branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

His civic and community activities include the following:

• Organizer of the South Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.
• President of Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches.
• Served on the advisory board of community relations under Mark Ridley-Thomas.
• Featured in the Los Angeles Times for the South Los Angeles Baptist Church tutorial program.
• Worked as a community advocate for Avalon Garden Community Projects.
• Recipient of the $50,000 California Endowment Grant for Environmental Justices.
• Recipient of the $25,000 Liberty Hill Grant for Tutorial Project.
• City of Los Angeles Outstanding Citizen Award 1993.
• Philemon Community Fellowship Award.
• Testified before California State Senate Educational Sub-committee for Assemblyman Karl Washington of the 52nd Congressional District.
• Invited in 2009 by the Speaker of the House Assemblywoman Karen Bass to participate in a round table discussion with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Rev. Pleasant participates in the World Baptist Alliance, The National Baptist Convention USA, California State Baptist Convention Inc., and Providence District Baptist Association. Rev. Pleasant is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Rev. Pleasant is currently serving as President of the California State Baptist Convention. Furthermore, he has been recently selected to serve on the Board of the United Negro College Fund. Finally, he is currently serving as Vice President of Strategic Planning for the Los Angeles Baptist Ministers Conference of Southern California and Vicinity.

In June 1992, Rev. Pleasant met Teresa Lynn Campbell and began a relationship that led to their marriage on September 18, 1993. On June 30, 1994, Rev. Pleasant and Teresa were blessed with their first child, Welton Pleasant, III and on February 4, 1997, they were blessed with their second son, Isaac Josiah Pleasant.