Rev. Dr. Spencer Lamar Booker DMin.
Pastor Booker has traveled nationally and internationally. He has served nationally as a Fellow of the Congress of National Black Churches where he traveled to metropolitan cities seeking models for Economic Development for bleak communities in Atlanta. Also, he traveled internationally as a missionary. His missionary assignment took him to South Africa where he was instrumental in instructing citizens how to vote during the first democratic election. His second visit was during the Centennial Celebration of the African Methodist Episcopal Church where he joined thousands in a celebration of religious freedom in South Africa. He visited the Holy Land where he preached on The Sea of Galilee and reconfirmed his baptism in The Jordan River.
A Life of Ministry
Pastor Booker was called to preach at the age of 17. He's a Licensed and Ordained Itinerant Elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He has 35 years of Pastoral experience in Tennessee, Georgia and Missouri. He has served as the Connectional Vice-President of the Richard Allen Youth Council of the A.M.E. Church. He was elected Delegate-Alternate Delegate respectively to the General Conference of the A.M.E. Church since 1996.
Pastor Booker is a Church Builder and People Builder for the Kingdom of God. At St .James, Monticello, Ga., he led the parishioners to erect a state of the art Family Life Center. At New Grant, East Point, GA., the church facility was gutted out and completely renovated. Several ministries were implemented. Over 400 souls were converted and added to the church. Pastor Booker implemented a radio broadcast entitled, "The Moments of Inspiration Broadcast." He is CEO of Rehoboth Ministries, Inc., where several outreached ministries were developed and implemented. Pastor Booker was the coordinator of City-Wide Safety Summer Initiative in partnership with the East Point Police Department with four satellite sites throughout the city to provide a safe haven for the youth during the summer season. Pastor Booker served as the Lead Chaplain of the East Point Police Department and was appointed to the East Point Housing Authority Board.
On November 3, 2009, in Los Angeles, California, Right Reverend T. Larry Kirkland, the Presiding Bishop of the 5th Episcopal District of the AME Church appointed Pastor Booker to the Pastoral Charge of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to his pastoral appointment, Pastor Booker served on the board of trustees, the board of examiners, and the treasurer of the Midwest Annual Conference.
During his tenure at Bethel, Pastor Booker led Bethel into New Visions and the possibilities of God's grace and provisions. Under his leadership a Spiritual Renaissance took place in the lives of the parishioners. He established a Centennial Renovation Program in which Phase I was completed with a renovated sanctuary. He led the parishioner in the first step of acquiring all the remaining lots across from the church for a future multi-ministry center. A Media Ministry was established with The "Moments of Inspiration" Radio Broadcast and an internet online site to view Worship Celebrations. He coordinated the First City-Wide Martin Luther King, Jr., Youth Parade. He established the Bethel Buck O'Neil Home for Boys where six to eight boys will be housed, nurtured, tutored and trained to become productive citizens. Pastor Booker served as President of The Methodist Ministry Fellowship of Greater Kansas City.
Ministry at St. Paul
On November 3, 2013, Pastor Booker resumed the pastoral charge of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in St. Louis, Missouri, the Mother Church of African Methodism west of the Mississippi River. Inspired by its rich history and the beauty of its architecture and design, he affectionately calls it “The Cathedral at St. Paul.” His leadership has been guided by a 20/20 Vision: “Networking to meet the needs of ALL people through Jesus Christ our Lord,” grounded in Matthew 28:19–20 and Luke 4:18–19. Under his pastoral leadership, souls have been saved and baptized, new members have joined the congregation, and the church has expanded its ministries of worship, outreach, and community service.
Pastor Booker continued the radio ministry, Moments of Inspiration, heard every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on Hallelujah 1600 through iHeartRadio. He also established a Saturday Intercessory Prayer Line led by the Prayer Warriors, strengthening the congregation’s commitment to prayer and spiritual encouragement.
His commitment to young people led to the establishment of the St. Paul Safety Initiative Program (SSIP), which serves youth throughout the year. Funding from the Lutheran Foundation and Missouri state appropriations helped sustain this outreach and the continuing work of the Henning–Harrison St. Paul Saturdays mentoring ministry.
Preserving a Historic Church
After the congregation decided to remain in the West End neighborhood, Pastor Booker led a major effort to renovate and strengthen the church’s physical plant. On July 15, 2017, these improvements were dedicated to the glory of God. Renovations included new windows, an updated electrical system, new sanctuary subflooring and carpeting, fresh paint throughout the church, new padded pews, new pulpit furniture, and upgrades to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. The Priscilla Baltimore Center was also completely renovated, including the Bishop Vinton Anderson Conference Room, the Flex Room for games, and the Computer Center for adults and youth. Additionally, new flooring was installed in Priscilla Baltimore Hall.
Additional improvements included a new roof, a complete renovation of the second floor, additional restrooms, and the reestablishment of the Archives Room to preserve the church’s rich history. These investments reflected the congregation’s determination to remain rooted in the community while preparing its facilities for continued ministry.
Serving Through Times of Crisis
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pastor Booker led the congregation in becoming a community hub for vaccinations, free food, water, and essential supplies. The church responded to urgent needs while continuing to provide spiritual care and encouragement.
During that same period, he guided the congregation’s transition to hybrid worship. The purchase of cameras, lighting, and a new computer system expanded the church’s ability to share worship through Facebook, YouTube, and Zoom, connecting members and viewers beyond the sanctuary.
In the aftermath of the 2025 tornado, Pastor Booker established a service and healing hub that served more than 20,000 citizens. This response extended the church’s ministry of compassion to neighbors facing displacement, loss, and uncertainty. Working with a network of partners, he also established Family Fridays, a weekly outreach that continues to meet the needs of people throughout the community.
Community Development & Future Possibilities
In August 2026, Pastor Booker led the congregation in establishing the Renaissance Revitalization Community Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to expand opportunities for grant-supported community development and facility improvements. Through this work, the congregation secured grants to replace the retaining wall, restore and pave two parking lots, and address water infiltration in the church basement. Emergency funding was granted by The Black Church Preservation for the repair and replacement of stained-glass windows damaged and destroyed during the tornado.
Building on this commitment to community revitalization, Pastor Booker led the congregation in purchasing land along the Page corridor for a proposed 66-unit condominium development with amenities and an event center. Planned as an extension of the church campus, the development would provide homes for senior citizens and veterans, helping them remain connected to the community. A completed feasibility study identified a need for this development in the North City neighborhood.
Throughout his tenure, Pastor Booker has united spiritual leadership with practical service, guiding St. Paul in caring for its congregation, preserving its historic facilities, and responding to the needs of its neighbors. His ministry continues to advance the vision of a church “Networking to meet the needs of ALL people through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The Next Chapter
On September 26, 2026, Bishop Francine A. Brookins, Esq., Presiding Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church, reassigned Pastor Booker to St. Paul to continue advancing the vision established at his initial appointment. This renewed assignment opens the fourteenth chapter of faithful leadership, purposeful ministry, and service to the community.
The book is open, and the next chapter awaits what God will perform. With grateful hearts for all God has done, Pastor Booker and the congregation move forward in faith, committed to strengthening the church, serving their neighbors, and preparing for generations to come. Echoing the promise of I Corinthians 2:9, they look ahead with holy expectation: eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
The story of St. Paul is still unfolding. Its historic legacy, present ministry, and future possibilities remain joined by one enduring vision: “Networking to meet the needs of ALL people through Jesus Christ our Lord.” To God be the glory for what has been accomplished—and for the blessings yet to come!
“Ministry is my life, my life is my ministry, God called me, and God can depend on me!”
Spencer Lamar Booker is…
a native of Memphis, Tennessee, born on May 15th to the parents of The Rev. Benjamin Roosevelt Booker, Sr. (Retired Presiding Elder) and Mother Roxey Anna Booker Walton. He is the seventh child of this union. He was educated in the public schools of Memphis, Tennessee. Pastor Booker graduated May 1987 from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science & Philosophy. He received his Master of Divinity degree May 1991 from Turner Theological Seminary where he majored in Christian Education at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. He has matriculated at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton Ohio, working toward his Doctorate of Ministry degree. In June 1998 he received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Emmanuel Bible Theological Seminary in Macon, Georgia because of his humanitarian thrust in developing a faith-based community outreach center for the citizens of the community. On May 11, 2018, Pastor Booker was conferred the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio. His dissertation is entitled "The Black Church as Advocate for Families and Communities Against Police Killing of Unarmed Black Men."
Booker Family
He is married to Lady Gail G. Booker and has two sons: Daeryl “Scooter” Booker, an accomplished musician, and Nicholas Lamar Booker, an information security and digital media professional.
Personal Statement of Faith
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My personal statement of faith is rooted and grounded in the Holy Scriptures, which I believe to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. As the Apostle Paul declares, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible serves as the foundation for my faith, my ministry, and my daily walk with God. It reveals God's redemptive plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and provides guidance for the Church in every generation.
I can personally testify to the saving grace and transforming power of Jesus Christ. On August 14, 1976, I confessed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and accepted Him into my life. Thereafter, I was baptized by immersion as a public profession of my faith and experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Since that day, my relationship with Christ has been the defining reality of my life and ministry.
While I do not claim perfection, I do testify to God's sustaining grace. Like the Apostle Paul, I acknowledge that I have not already attained, neither am I already perfect; yet I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14). Through life's triumphs and trials, victories and disappointments, God has remained faithful. His grace has kept me, His mercy has sustained me, and His Spirit continues to guide me.
My desire is to live a life that honors God, reflects the character of Christ, and serves as a witness to the saving power of the Gospel. By faith, I am determined to endure unto the end, remain steadfast in my Christian walk, and ultimately hear the words of our Lord, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21). My hope rests in Jesus Christ alone, and my earnest desire is to make heaven my eternal home.
Called by God to Preach the Gospel
My call to ministry was not one that I readily embraced. Like the prophet Jonah, I initially resisted God's call upon my life. Jonah sought to flee from God's assignment, yet God pursued him until he surrendered to the divine will (Jonah 1:1–3; 3:1–3). Likewise, God pursued me even when I was reluctant to answer.
As a young boy attending a church conference, I experienced a life-changing event that forever shaped my understanding of God's purpose for my life. While playing around the swimming pool, I was pushed into twelve feet of water, I began to drown. In that terrifying moment, it was only when I said, yes Lord, I will preach, my brother pulled me from the water and God saved my life. Looking back, I recognize that God was preserving me for His purpose. Much like Jonah's deliverance from the belly of the great fish, God delivered me from death and granted me another opportunity to fulfill His calling.
Yet even after that experience, I continued to wrestle with God's call. It was not until the age of seventeen that I finally surrendered and said “yes” to the Lord. Since that day, I have sought to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, understanding that “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14), and believing that God equips those whom He calls (Jeremiah 1:4–9).
Jesus Christ: The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever
At the center of my faith is the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:8 declares, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” I firmly believe that while methods of ministry may change to meet the needs of different generations and communities, the message of the Gospel never changes.
The Church must be willing to adapt its methods to effectively reach people in an ever-changing world. Technology, worship styles, outreach strategies, and communication tools may evolve; however, the saving message of Jesus Christ remains constant. As Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Romans 1:16).
I believe that salvation is available to all people through faith in Jesus Christ. God does not discriminate based on age, race, ethnicity, social status, economic condition, educational background, or one's past failures. The Gospel is God's invitation to all humanity. As Jesus declared, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). I further believe that salvation is found exclusively in Jesus Christ, for the Scriptures affirm, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
The Bible teaches that one day the Lordship of Jesus Christ will be universally acknowledged, for "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). Salvation is received through faith in Christ and confession of Him as Lord. The Apostle Paul writes, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9). Likewise, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).
Because Christ died for all people, His saving grace is available to all people. Jesus declared, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32). Therefore, I believe the Church has been entrusted with the sacred responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel to the world. In obedience to the Great Commission, we are commanded to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19-20). The mission of the Church is to evangelize the lost, disciple believers, baptize converts, and help all people grow into mature followers of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, I have committed to proclaim the Gospel to children, youth, adults, seniors, and individuals from every walk of life. Regardless of their preconceived circumstances or life experiences, every person deserves the opportunity to encounter the transforming power of Jesus Christ. The Church must remain a place where all are welcomed, loved, discipled, and encouraged to grow in their relationship with God.
The Church: God's network for Meeting Human Needs
I believe the Church is God's chosen instrument through which He ministers to the spiritual, emotional, physical, intellectual, environmental, and social needs of humanity. Jesus declared that He came so that people might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). The ministry of Christ addressed both spiritual and practical needs, and the Church must do the same.
Acts 2:42–47 presents a model of the early Church as a community that worshiped together, learned together, cared for one another, and met the needs of those around them. Likewise, James reminds us that faith without works is dead (James 2:14–17). The Church must not only preach the Gospel but also demonstrate God's love through service and ministry.
For this reason, I believe in developing strong networks and partnerships that advance the Kingdom of God. Effective ministry requires the local church to collaborate among denominational leaders, clergy colleagues, community stakeholders, civic leaders, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and residents. The Apostle Paul teaches that the Church is one body with many members working together for a common purpose (1 Corinthians 12:12–27).
My ministry philosophy has long been guided by the conviction that “The Church should network to meet the needs of all people.” Through evangelism, discipleship, education, community engagement, outreach, and strategic partnerships, the Church becomes a visible expression of God's love in the world. By working together for the common good, we can bring hope to the hurting, strength to families, guidance to youth, and encouragement to those seeking a deeper relationship with Christ.
Conclusion
In summary, my faith is anchored in three fundamental convictions: First, that God's call upon my life was established through His divine providence and confirmed through His Word. Second, that Jesus Christ remains the unchanging Savior whose Gospel continues to transform lives in every generation. Third, that the Church is God's network for meeting the needs of all people through faithful ministry, compassionate service, and collaborative partnerships.
As I continue to serve God's people, my prayer remains the same as Isaiah's response to the Lord: “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). I am committed to preaching the Gospel, making disciples, building bridges within the community, and advancing the Kingdom of God for His glory. After nearly five decades of walking with Christ and more than forty-five years of ministry, I remain convinced that Jesus Christ is the answer to the world's greatest needs. He is Savior, Lord, Redeemer, Healer, Sustainer, and Coming King. My faith is not merely rooted in doctrine, but in a personal relationship with the One who saved me, called me, kept me, and continues to direct my path. Therefore, I dedicate myself anew to preaching the Gospel, making disciples, serving God's people, and advancing the Kingdom of God until He calls me home. Like the Apostle Paul, I can declare, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). Until that day comes, I remain committed to the call of God upon my life and to the ministry of Jesus Christ.
To God Be The Glory.
Rev. Dr. Spencer Lamar Booker