A Warm Welcome to
Our New Pastor
Reverend Ken Jelks
Reverend Ken Jelks
We are excited to welcome our new Pastor Reverend Ken Jelks to St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church! With a passion for community and a commitment to spiritual growth, we look forward to the inspiring journey ahead as we strengthen our faith together.
About Reverend Ken Jelks
Rev. Ken L. Jelks currently serves as the seventh Pastor of the St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church in East Point, Ga. A native Atlantan, Jelks accepted Christ at the age of 12 and was reared at the Wheat Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga., under the Pastorates of the late Rev. Dr. William Holmes Borders, Sr., and Rev. Dr. Michael N. Harris. He later joined, served, and was further reared at the Antioch Baptist Church North under the Pastorate of the late Reverend Dr. Cameron M. Alexander, and was subsequently licensed and ordained by the Antioch Baptist Church North under Dr. Alexander in 2004 & 2013, respectively. Jelks served as Senior Pastor of the Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia for nearly 12 years, and during his tenure led the church in the acquisition of two properties dedicated to outreach, the integration of multi-media and social – media ministries, and led the church in a quarter million dollar church renovation project, completed with no remaining debt during the 2019-2020 pandemic.
He served as Vice Moderator for the Mt. Calvary Baptist Association in Columbus, Georgia, and was awarded the Columbus American Red Cross Hometown Hero Award, for helping to facilitate the rescue and placement of community families left homeless amidst a fire that destroyed their neighborhood housing complex homes.
Jelks’ academic preparation includes undergraduate study at Bethune-Cookman College, 1989-1990, transferring to Clark Atlanta University 1991-1995 (B.A. Business Administration), The Interdenominational Theological Center (Certificate of Theology) in 2009 and Carver Bible College (B.A. in Biblical Studies) in 2012. Pastor Jelks is currently working toward the Master of Divinity Degree at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University to complete the M.Div. program work than began at the Morehouse School of Religion (Interdenominational Theological Center).
While the majority of Jelks’ professional background is steeped in Media Broadcasting per earlier work with the Collegiate Broadcasting Group, Inc. under his father—pioneer broadcaster, Lo Jelks; he enjoyed a valuable stint of social/human services training while working for the Atlanta Urban League for several years in housing, and then transitioned back into broadcasting at Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters, Inc. (AIB-TV) as Manager of Sales and Marketing. In addition to his work in full-time ministry, Pastor Jelks serves as Chaplain for the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management.
Jelks is the son of Lo Jelks and Jane Jelks Jones; he is married to his self-proclaimed (“Girlfriend In God”) Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at her Alma Mater - Spelman College, and they are the proud parents of 15-year-old Kenyatta Jelks, Jr., a 10 th grader at Maynard Jackson High School in Atlanta, Georgia- who they call “K.J.” A socially conscious preacher, Jelks is a passionate and progressive proclaimer of the gospel, who lives and leans on
Philippians 4:8, “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”.
Senior Pastor
Earl L Calloway
Pastor Calloway has served at the pastor of St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church for thirty plus years. Progress that he has made during his tenure at St. Stephen’s includes an 85% growth in Church Membership, Sunday School Attendance, Bible Study Classes, increase in the Church’s Ministries, as well as the Stewardship Ministries.
His education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, a Master of Education in Political Science, A Master of Divinity from Interdenominational Theological Center of Atlanta University. Pastor Calloway retired from Delta Airline after twenty-five years of service.
God gave Pastor Calloway a vision to build and develop the ministries to be used as a Spiritual Outreach; to minister the word of God, feed the hungry, clothe the naked and provide training for Missionary services. Our Outreach Ministries: the Bridge Over Trouble Water, Bread Ministry and the Christian Women in Action Ministry assist an estimated five to six hundred individuals a month. These Ministries have made a significant difference in the lives of those in need (East Point, Metro Atlanta and the surrounding counties).
A vision to build and develop
On August 29, 2009, St. Stephen opened a Saturday School Ministry offering tutorial classes in Math, Science, English, Reading, with assistance with CRCT, SAT, and ACT Prep. St. Stephen’s Christian Academy opened August 12, 2013.
In conjunction to this vision, Pastor Calloway and the St. Stephen family have achieved some major Milestones. On September 16, 2003, St. Stephen was approved for a $3 million dollar loan to construct a Multi-Family Life Center. The project was completed on September 30, 2005.
Pastor Calloway has been married for forty plus years to Linda Praylo-Calloway. They are the proud parents of two daughters; Skie and Shayla, and two sons; Earl and Sherod, and one granddaughter; Neferteri
Pastor Calloway is a servant for the Lord. He teaches and preaches God’s word to enhance the growth of his congregation and the community. He leaves with his listeners a knowledge of God’s salvation for all believers.