Highpoint Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Michael Anthony Foster, a 2024 Recipient of the President of the United States’ Lifetime Achievement Award for his stellar leadership and commitment to community service, is a distinguished minister, educator, and community leader whose influence extends beyond pulpits, classrooms, and boardrooms. A proud native of Brundidge, Alabama, Dr. Foster began his journey of service and leadership with the Pike County School System before entering the field of Criminal Justice, graduating from the esteemed Alabama Advanced Criminal Justice Academy in Montgomery, Alabama.

His academic prowess reflects a deep commitment to both scholarship and service. Dr. Foster earned an Associate of Science with a concentration in Personnel Administration from Enterprise State Community College. He later graduated from Troy University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with an emphasis on Public Administration, and subsequently earned a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration, which he received with academic honors. His expertise led to a faculty appointment at Troy University, where he served as a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice.

Answering God’s call to ministry, Dr. Foster deepened his theological training at the University of Mobile’s School of Theology and Religion, where he earned a Master’s degree in Theology with a concentration in Biblical Studies, receiving the highest academic distinction award. He culminated his academic journey with a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership from Andersonville Theological Seminary. His doctoral dissertation presented a groundbreaking comparative analysis of pastoral-led versus committee-led leadership and governance models to enhance congregational health within the local Baptist District Association of metropolitan Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His significant research has culminated in a book scheduled for release in 2027.

Dr. Foster is a staunch advocate for leadership development and social awareness. He is the president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, a former District Moderator and Congress President. He is also the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award, the Shelton State Community College Leadership Award, and serves on several boards, including the Reenter & Reclaim Prison Reform and the Unity Foundation Board of Trustees. Additionally, he is a member of the Bloody Tuesday Civil Rights Committee, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He is also a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

A sought-after voice in Christian education, Dr. Foster teaches pastors, ministers, laypeople, and leaders throughout the state and serves on the Moderator’s Education Cabinet. A former President of the Congress of Christian Education, he is also a respected instructor in the Alabama State Congress of Christian Education (ASCCE). In addition to his ecclesiastical commitments, he is deeply involved in community service, particularly through his mentorship with the Boys 2 Men Mentoring Program and his compassionate counseling work with Mothers Who Lost Sons to Gun Violence.

Dr. Foster is joyfully married to the love of his life, the former Beverly D. Kidd. They are now on the proud journey of being grandparents. As a passionate Bible teacher and dynamic gospel preacher, he has inspired thousands across the nation with his unique ability to connect with the young, while encouraging the elderly, and leading everyone to a deeper walk with Christ.