Spiritually enriching the lives of the members of his church and Clairton residents is at the top of a long list of goals Rev. Jerome Stevenson has as the new pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church.

“I want to work with the people of the city and partner with organizations in the city of Clairton to promote renewal in the city,” said Stevenson, who began pastoring Morning Star last March. “We don’t have any recreation or a grocery store and our business district is non-existent except for a few stores. I want to help attract those kinds of businesses and I think the church should be a vital part of that.”

REV. JEROME STEVENSON

Stevenson began his mission from inside the walls of the church.

The Braddock native started afternoon Bible study from 12:30-1:30 p.m., afternoon prayer meetings from noon to 12:30 and a Saturday night worship service from 7-8 p.m.

The Saturday service is geared toward those who don’t worship,” Stevenson said. “It affords people the chance to visit Morning Star and not have to miss services at their home church.”

In addition to the extra services and meetings, Stevenson also created a pastoral advisory board, a new choir for 20- to 40-year-olds and a watch care ministry to acclimate new members to the church.

Lifelong Morning Star member and Clairton resident Anita Hammons believes Stevenson is good for both the church and the community.

“He has a vision and an energy that has rejuvenated Morning Star,” said Hammons who serves as a deaconess. “He teaches and preaches and that’s awesome. His ability to teach the Word is amazing. He’s revived ministries in the church and has the ability to take you to another level.”

Before joining Morning Star in Clairton, Stevenson served as pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church in West Mifflin. According to Stevenson, he presided over a congregation of about 200.

Morning Star in Clairton has a membership of 90, according to church secretary Phyllis A. Perry, and is growing steadily. The church was organized on April 9, 1919. Stevenson was established as pastor-elect of the church Feb. 22. His installation services were held May 25.

“The clergy and city of Clairton have embraced me with open arms and that has helped me with the transition. I’ve entered into a city of colleagues instead of a city of competitors and I thank God for that. Morning Star is a great church with great people serving God.”

The married father of one worked in the private sector as a customer service representative for Duquesne Light and then at the County Treasurer’s Office before accepting his call to minister in 1989. He preached his first sermon later that year. In Feb. 1991, West Mifflin’s Morning Star called Stevenson to be its pastor.

The dedicated minister earned a bachelor’s of science degree in community ministry from Geneva College in 2003. He also earned his master’s in theological studies from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2005.

“In my career I always wanted to be a teacher. In a sense I feel like that desire and quest has been met through the ministry,” Stevenson said. “I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody. That somebody is Jesus!”

When Stevenson isn’t preaching and teaching, he can be found enjoying time spent with his wife of 29 years, Elaine. He also enjoys playing bowling and tennis on his Wii, and working out on his treadmill.

With Morning Star’s congregation on the rise, Stevenson hopes to expand the church’s building, which is located at the corner of Boundary and Shaw avenues.

“We’re getting crowded and I’d like to develop a community center and develop senior citizen housing,” he said.

It seems like Stevenson is well on his way to making those dreams a reality.