Senior Pastor 

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Rev. Michael J. Ross, Sr., is a native of Lake Providence, LA. Upon graduating from high school, Rev. Ross enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. During this time, he attended Grambling State University located in Grambling, LA, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He graduated in the top of his class with honors. While at Grambling, he met his wife, Annette. Their union has been blessed with four beautiful children, Tawasky, Michael, Faith, and Hope.

Rev. Ross accepted Christ at the young age of seven. On June 27, 1993, he accepted his call to the ministry. He attended both Golden Gate Baptist  Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, CA, and American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, CA. Rev. Ross graduated with honors in May 1999 with a Master of Divinity degree. At his convocation, he was awarded the prestigious L. Doward McBain Preaching Prize for Outstanding Preacher in his graduating class.

Of his sixteen years of experience in the Gospel ministry, he has served in various capacities, some of which are Minister of Christian Education & Discipleship, Life Development Institute Instructor, and Commitment Counselor. From 1998-2001, Rev. Ross served on staff at the oldest Black Baptist church in Alameda County, the Beth Eden Baptist Church, as the Minister of Youth and Young Adults. He also worked in the area of Health Education for the Bay Area Urban League and the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Prior to relocating to Idaho, he taught grades 7 and 8 at James Madison Middle School in Oakland, CA.

Since March 2001, Rev. Ross has been serving as the Senior Pastor of the St. Paul Baptist Church in Boise, ID, the only predominantly African American Baptist Church in Boise and the oldest in the state.

In July 2006, Rev. Ross was selected to teach in the National Baptist/German Baptist Congress in Wiesbaden, Germany. As a firm believer in community involvement, he served as Board Member of the Idaho Black History Museum in 2007. Rev. Ross served four years as President of the Intermountain General Baptist Convention, Congress of Christian Education. He was elected and is serving as President of the Intermountain General Baptist Convention for the 2008-2010 term.

As of July 2008, Rev. Ross has completed his course work as a Doctor of Ministry candidate at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, WA - Pacific Northwest campus. He is currently working on his Doctor of Ministry project and plans to graduate in 2010.

Rev. Ross is very compassionate, energetic, positive, disciplined, well grounded in Bible truth, and loves the Lord. His greatest joy comes from touching lives through the Word of God and spending quality time with his lovely wife and children.

God has truly been working through Rev. Ross. Under his leadership at St. Paul, several ministries have been implemented, such as the Scholarship Ministry, Marriage Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, Prison Ministry, Technology Ministry, Youth Choir, Sweet Melodies Bell Choir, and Drama Ministry.

Other accomplishments include the following: core values, mission statement, and strategic goals developed for the church; three ministers ordained, three ministers licensed; five deacons and five deaconesses ordained; first female minister at St. Paul came aboard and one female announced her call to the ministry (and has since been licensed); annual Pre-Thanksgiving Service, and Church Christmas Gala (2002-2006) were implemented; hired several musicians; five youth received the France A. Davis scholarship for college; church sanctuary renovated and entire church painted; purchased a screen/projector system; church marquee; and a new church van. The Leadership Banquet was implemented in 2007 in order to recognize outstanding leaders. In 2009, a Family Life Education Discipleship Program was implemented, which took the place of the traditional Sunday school.

St. Paul has fellowshipped with several churches in the Treasure Valley during Rev. Ross’ tenure including the Beth Eden Baptist Church in Oakland, CA, and Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, UT. Most importantly, over 340 people have joined God’s family, establishing membership at St. Paul by Christian experience, candidate for baptism or by letter under Rev. Ross’ leadership. All praises to our Father in Heaven!