Our Pastor

Rev. Dr. Michael Alan Lester, Sr. is the youngest child, “the baby boy” of Vivian Lester and the Late Joseph Edwin Lester Sr. He was born on August 8, 1961 in Elizabeth NJ. Rev. Dr. Michael Alan Lester, Sr. accepted the Lord at the young age of 11 when he was baptized as a member of The Liberty Baptist Church in Elizabeth NJ under Pastor Rev. Tyler T. Thomas. Michael immediately joined the Junior Usher Ministry.

In 1976 at the age of 15 he joined Good Neighbor Baptist Church in Newark NJ under the Pastoral leadership of Rev. Malachi Rountree where he served as the first Vice President of the Junior Usher Ministry. Michael would later serve as the President of the Junior Usher Ministry. While at Good Neighbor brother Lester served on the Senior Usher Ministry, Youth Ministry, was the Captain of the basketball and softball teams. Brother Michael served faithfully while in all his assignments while at Good Neighbor Baptist Church.

In 2002 he joined the White Rock Baptist Church in Linden NJ and in 2003 the Lord called him into the Diaconate Ministry, while under Pastor Rev. Dr. Robert C. Morris. Brother Michael faithfully walked under the leadership of Deacon Willie Lockhart. In 2005 Brother Michael A. Lester Sr. was ordained as a Deacon of the Diaconate Ministry of the White Rock Baptist Church of Linden NJ. While a member of the Deacon Ministry; Deacon Michael Alan Lester Sr. has served as the Secretary of that Ministry, Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School and currently is the Superintendent of the Sunday School Ministry which oversees the Adult and Youth Sunday Schools and the Vacation Bible School.

In July 2013, Deacon Lester answered his life-long calling and accepted the call from God to become a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On September 7, 2014, he preached his initial sermon “Is there a Doctor in the House!” Minister Michael Alan Lester Sr. believes as the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:2 “to preach in season and out of season” Minister Michael Alan Lester Sr. has received his Associate Degree in Biblical Studies (Summa Cum Laude), bachelor’s degree of Theology (Summa Cum Laude), master’s degree of Theology in Pastoral Theology (Summa Cum Laude) and Doctrine Degree of Theology in Pastoral Theology (Summa Cum Laude) from the Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camila GA.

While under the leadership of Pastor Victor J Little, Pastor John K White was commissioned to catechize Minister Michael A. Lester, Sr. in preparation for his examination to be ordained. On April 5, 2019, a Catechizing Council was called to examine and upon their examination it was their recommendation that Minister Michael A. Lester Sr. had met the necessary requirements to be ordained as a Reverend of the Baptist Faith. On May 4. 2019 Minister Michael A. Lester Sr was ordained at the White Rock Baptist Church of Linden NJ.

During his walk with Jesus the Christ, Pastor Michael Alan Lester, Sr. met the love of his life in the person of the former Regina Marie Facey. Proverbs 18:22 “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.” On June 4th 2022 the Lord blessed the union of Regina Marie and Pastor Michael Alan Lester, Sr. to become one. From this union a beautiful blended family was created with five children Taheema, Monique, Shaina, Michael Jr. and Ismel as well as twelve grandchildren. Pastor Michael and Leading Lady Regina are following the direction that God is leading them and the Second Baptist Church of Matawan.

While of a member of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Newark and Vicinity where he served on the Devotional Ministry Team as the Team Leader with the responsibility of scheduling the preacher assignments for the devotional message. He is the Founder and Administrator of the Facebook Page “Prayer will Fix It”, a social media page where prayer requests are made, and social media ministry takes place and currently has over 1100 members. He is a Father, a Husband, Grandfather, but more than anything he is a Man that Loves the Lord. His favorite scripture is Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”