Senior Pastor Candidate Information
Hello Church, below is information on our Senior Pastor Candidate, Dr. Michael A. Foster for
your review as you consider who the Lord is leading to become our next leader:
Biography Link: Dr. Foster
Fulfillment Hour Lesson Link: https://highpointbc.org/fh-62925
Worship Service Preaching Link: https://highpointbc.org/sermon_62925
Interview Clip Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjP30s3aBwg&feature=youtu.be
Sermon Links Provided by Candidate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9iDnTdamTY&t=4045s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL96u-ZeYeQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsbY3viICFQ&t=4550s
Pastorate History (currently not serving as Senior Pastor)
First African Baptist Church Tuscaloosa, Al. 2019-2025
Position: Senior Pastor and Administrator
- Sr. Servant leader of the First African Baptist Church, with almost three decades of pastoral experience in preaching, Christian educating, leadership development, and providing an example of moral and ethical accountability for the entire church family.
- Structural organization, day-to-day management and administration, event planning, collaborative decision-making on boards, ministries, and committees, performing church activities, and helping to contour the church's culture through effective communication.
- Serve closely with the Church HR Leadership Committee to recruit and hire qualified employees retain competent employees and provide spiritual support to the ordained ministerial staff.
- Document key performance measures (KPMs) that strategically provide data on the effectiveness of all functional areas of the church. This enables us to retain personnel and volunteers who meet the church’s established standards while unfortunately releasing those who do not meet standards.
- Proficiently intentional in visiting the disabled, hospitals, homes of the healing and recovering, baptisms, weddings, baby dedications, funerals, and attending civic and community functions.
- Host leadership conferences, revivals, and congregational workshops to inspire and motivate individuals. Deliver valuable classes and small-group teachings that assist members in discovering and cultivating their purpose in Christ.
- Champions Christian Education, Discipleship Training, and Leadership Development. Actively participates in the Local, State, and National Baptist Conventions. Serves as an instructor for the local congress (NABDC) and the Alabama State Congress of Christian Education (ASCCE).
- Plans and delivers weekly exegetical and expository sermons and prepares long-term preaching lesson plans (sermon series) that target congregational spiritual growth and maturity.
- Create and manage budgets and encourage ministries to work within them as responsible stewards. Negotiates contracts with vendors and contractors ensuring the successful completion of significant church projects.
- Secured a 501c3, authored and submitted an Alabama Preserving Civil Rights Historical Sites Grant, which produced finances of just under ½ million dollars for the church.
Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church Greenville, Al. 1997- 2019
Position: Senior Pastor
- Experienced Senior Pastor of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church for over two decades of Servant Leadership, focusing on promoting the congregation's spiritual and emotional health and well-being.
- Prioritize leading individuals to Christ, engaging the community, and growing the church through community outreach and missions all while devising strategies to sustain long-term spiritual and physical church sustainability goals.
- Supervise and manage the church's day-to-day administrative operations, overseeing the church calendar, engaging in strategic planning, and providing leadership to ensure that the church's operations align with its mission and vision statement.
- Collaborates with church leadership to develop and implement a core vision statement, and execute strategies to achieve short and long-term spiritual and fiscal goals for growth and success.
- Planned workshops, conferences, and events equipped to improve the overall functionality and health of the church and its staff, volunteers, and leaders. Coordinate accountability meetings to fulfill duties and responsibilities by supporting staff needs.
- Engage and build relationships within the local community, participating in outreach and mission activities, and collaborating with other organizations to address community needs.
- Provides comprehensive spiritual counseling guidance and support to the congregation, in family unity, grief and loss, addiction and recovery, mentorship, and forging deeper partnerships within the community.
- Increase community engagement by leading the church in embracing unbelievers, and accomplishing the church mission to develop disciplines for Christ within the community.
- Planned and oversaw the construction of a 1.5 million dollar education wing and provided and executed a manageable financial commitment plan that led the church to a debt-free status.
Waterfront Rescue Mission Mobile, Al. 2017- 2019
Position: Senior Intake Chaplain
- As Senior Intake Chaplain, I oversee a team of chaplains, conduct client interviews, and provide client recommendations for the addiction and recovery program.
- Recommends applicants for hire, monitors work efficacy progress, observes counseling sessions, develops performance evaluation standards, and evaluates program proficiency. Develop and implement chaplaincy policies, program goals, and objectives. Develops and monitors program material, and equipment needs and justifies budgetary requirements.
- Plan and schedule department-wide spiritual programs, activities, and events. Counsel individuals with addictions with spiritual needs including personal crises, grief, guilt, and domestic problems.
- Coordinates public relations events with community and religious groups to provide information, visit churches, and solicit donations to the mission.
- Performs individual interviews and selects diverse religious representatives qualified to talk to individuals, and orients volunteers concerning chaplaincy policies and procedures.
- Responsible for the overall spiritual guidance and confidential counseling to those recovering, while strengthening Christian character by offering resources related to financial planning, healthy relationships (marriage), and parenting.
- Create customized service plans for individuals to reach personal and facilitate goals. Ensure that clients' privacy and physical safety are always protected. Document clients' progress by, keeping meticulous records of their development while prioritizing their confidentiality.
Union Missionary Baptist Church Brundidge, Al. 1995-1997
Position: Associate Minister
- Supports and assists the Senior Pastor in all areas of the church, including the fulfillment of day-to-day pastoral duties as assigned with a clear definition of my duties and responsibilities.
- Led worship services by preaching and teaching the redemptive power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and organized religious activities for ministry groups as directed by the Senior Pastor.
- Responsible for welcoming visitors and finding ways to reach out to the community and help evangelize and plan events, gather volunteers, and lead events as assigned.
- Attends weekly staff meetings, board meetings, and monthly ministers meetings. Visited the sick and shut-in and assisted in funerals, baptisms, baby dedications perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Pastor.
- Demonstrates excellent interpersonal communication and public speaking skills. Highly teachable and humble, ready to learn and train under a more experienced leader.
New Cannon Missionary Baptist Church Montgomery, Al. 1994-1995
Position: Musician, Choir Director, and Youth Advisor
- As the Musician and choir director communicated scheduled and led rehearsals, using gestures to direct the choir through music. Chooses the music for services, funerals, and weddings, and consults with the pastor about hymns and anthems.
- Recruiting and auditioning encouraged and developed new singers and volunteers, and appointed some to be section leaders, soloists, or assistant conductors.
- Participated in staff meetings, the Worship Committee, and the administrative and budgeting. Prepares the choir for their role in services and special events. Cared for and upkeep of church instruments. Communicate with church members and staff, and may write announcements for rehearsals and performances.
Cannon Hill “Sanctuary” Baptist Church Montgomery, Al. 1991-1994
Position: Musician and Choir Director
- Plan and lead music for church services and events
- Select appropriate music pieces and arrange for services
- Direct and rehearse choirs, bands, and other musicians
- Play musical instruments during services
- Collaborate with clergy and other church staff
- Maintain music library and equipment
- Recruit and train musicians and volunteers
- Organize and oversee special music programs
