The Reverend Dr. Willie A. Gholston, II.

The Historic Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church welcome it’s new Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Willie A. Gholston II, formerly of First Community AME Church in Grand Rapids, MI.

Since his arrival in Grand Rapids in 2015, First Community AME Church grew numerically, spiritually, and served as a beacon of hope for social justice at the corner of family and faith experiencing the favor of God.

Rev. Gholston served faithfully in the community of Grand Rapids on the City's public safety commission, the Police Chief Advisory Team, Clergy on Patrol, the Family Outreach Center board, Community Advisory Board of Versiti and Cherry Health Board. Rev. Gholston also served on the Secretary of State Benson's Truthseekers Task Force, Voter Confidence Council and Michigan's Physical Activity Coalition. He worked with the MLK Academy Community School Leadership Team.

He has been a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for 30 years and served as chair of Social Justice and Political Action for Eta Nu Lambda Chapter. Pastor G was on the executive board for Grand Rapids Association of Pastors, clergy leadership team of Together West Michigan and co-chair of the Faith Based Committee for Grand Rapids 175, America 250.

He believes in community organizing and uplifting people in all facets of life. Rev. Gholston was extensively elected to serve on the General Board once as a lay person and now clergy representative for the Fourth Episcopal District.

He has pastored Bethel AME Church-Madison, Illinois and Bethel AME Church-Chicago where the churches flourished under his leadership.

Currently, Rev. Gholston is secretary for the Michigan Annual Conference Board of Examiners of the AME Church, member of the Stewardship Finance Commission, Fourth District Christian Education team and co-chair of Michigan Conference Social Action.

Rev. Gholston is a native of Indianapolis, IN and holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health degrees from Indiana University Bloomington; as well as a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary and Doctor of Ministry as a Gardner C. Taylor Fellow from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Rev. Gholston is also happily married to Sis. Myesha Melvin-Gholston, and they are the parents of a son, Aaron. Also known as “Pastor G”, he lives, as it was instilled in him, that “it pays to serve” and to remember “that only what you do for Christ will last.”