Dr. Dwight Clinton Jones
Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of South Richmond

Dr. Dwight C. Jones currently serves as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of South Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.  Although a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he has entrenched himself in the Richmond Community serving as an active public servant.  Currently the Mayor of the City of Richmond, he in the past year has brought a collaborative and cooperative leadership style to the City, which has helped to move the city forward in many areas.

Dr. Jones is a prolific orator and visionary leader.  Most recently he, along with the support of the congregation, implemented a Church Succession plan, in which his son was elected pastor to minister along with him in advancing the ministry of the church.  Under the new leadership model the church is realizing tremendous growth in its ministries and membership.  He has also led the First Baptist Church in building the Imani Intergenerational Center, a banquet/conference facility and the Imani Mews Apartments & Retail Center, 68 Apartments and 23,000 square feet of retail space.  The church has purchased 23 acres in the county of Chesterfield, Virginia, which will house a second worship center.  Currently the church holds three worship services each Sunday, two in the City of Richmond and one in the county of Chesterfield.

Dr. Jones is the former Pastor of St. James Baptist Church in Varina where he served for twenty-five years.  He earned both a Bachelors degree in Sociology and a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Union University and completed his Doctoral degree at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. 

Dr. Jones was appointed to the Richmond City School Board in 1979 and served as its chairman from 1982-1985.  He continues to serve actively in the Richmond Community.  He served in the Virginia State Legislature from 1999 until 2008, when elected Mayor,  as an honorable member of the House of Delegates representing the 70th house district.  During his tenure he also served as Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. 

As Mayor of the City of Richmond, Dr. Jones has quickly gained the respect and support of the community.   He has a passion for people and a desire to empower others to reach their highest potential. 

Rev. Dr. Derik Elton Jones

Pastor

 Rev. Dr. Derik Elton Jones is the pastor of the historic First Baptist Church of South Richmond, Virginia serving with his father Dr. Dwight C. Jones who after 37 years is still the church’s Senior Pastor. First Baptist Church of South Richmond is a pillar in the Richmond community as it continues to grow with a membership well over 3,000 and the construction of Imani Village a 4 phase building project that will manifest a 2000 seat cathedral and family life center being built at a second location in neighboring Chesterfield county.

Pastor Jones is a graduate with honors from Virginia Union University where he double majored in history and political science. He is also a graduate of The Divinity School at Yale University, where his concentration lied in biblical studies. Pastor Jones holds an earned Doctor of Ministry Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts where he studied with one the great preaching voices of the past 50 years, Dr. Haddon Robinson. His doctoral dissertation focused on new paradigms for creativity in preaching in the 21^st Century black church.

Dr. Jones sits on the Board of Directors of the Imani Community Development Corporation that brings affordable housing and employment opportunity to the South Richmond Community on behalf of First Baptist Church of South Richmond as well as the board of directors of the Greater Richmond YMCA. He is also a member of the capital region collaborative, a think tank that brings community leaders together to strengthen the quality of life in Central Virginia.

Dr. Jones has two siblings: one brother Dwight Brenton, and a twin sister Nichole Danielle. He is married this year to his lovely wife Tamara Elise. They are expecting their first child later this year. He also takes great pride in the fact that he is the fifth generation of preachers in his family.