OUR PASTOR

Greetings from the Pastor

The apostle Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, said: “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31 (NKJV). Paul was speaking on love. Not just any form of love but “Agape love”. The love that goes beyond race, gender and family ties. It’s the kind of love that Jesus demonstrated when He died for the sins of the world so long ago on Calvary’s cross. It is with this understanding that I write this letter to all of Gods’ children, sincerely inviting you to worship with us any time you are in Tuskegee, Alabama. We are a family of baptized believers living under the will and way of the cross. I pray that every one of you are blessed beyond measure and prosper in the love and understanding that Christ is ALPHA and OMEGA and HIS word is true.

Reverend Andrew Joseph Sheppard was born in Fayette, Alabama, second born son of four children to Master Sergeant-Retired Cornelius and Dorothy Sheppard Sr. He is the father of four children, two sons and two daughters, and the grandfather of two, one boy and one girl.

He graduated from Tuskegee Institute, Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Georgia State University, Georgia with a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Grand Canyon University, Arizona with a Master’s Degree in Theology and Pastoral Ministry. He also studied at Ashland Seminary, Ohio with a concentration in New Testament studies. Beyond the Gospel ministry, Reverend Sheppard is a Major, United States Army (retired); Deputy Director for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (retired); and Human Resources Manager, City of Detroit, Mi.

Pastor Sheppard was called to the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in 1995 and after serving as Pastor of Shady Grove MBC, Detroit and First African MBC, Columbus, Ga. in 2013 he has been called to Pastor Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Tuskegee, Ala. His guiding scripture comes from 1st Corinthians 12:31: But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way (NKJV).