Rev. J. Michael Sanders, 2024 Moral Leader of the Year

Rev. Dr. J. Michael Sanders
Jerry Michael Sanders is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. At present, he is Pastor of Fountain Baptist Church in Summit, New Jersey. He has held this position since December of 1983. Prior to this, Rev. Sanders served as Pastor of the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Pastor Sanders is a graduate of Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, where he received the Bachelor of Arts Degree. He received the Master of Divinity Degree from Duke University School of Divinity in Durham, North Carolina. Pastor Sanders was awarded The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity from Benedict College, The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Florida Memorial University and The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Pastor Sanders is a Life Member of the NAACP and a Life Member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. He is also a member of American Baptist Churches, the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., Summit Interfaith Clergy Association and the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention. Pastor Sanders has led Fountain to be a strong supporter of mission. Over seven hundred thousand dollars has been given to the United Negro College Fund. Fountain gave a grant of thirty thousand dollars to aid churches in Haiti. Fountain has purchased a three hundred thousand dollar office building in Johannesburg, South Africa. The building was donated to the Baptist Convention of South Africa to serve as National Headquarters for the Convention. Fountain in 2006, made a two year commitment for a 1 million dollar donation to help with relief efforts in the Gulf Coast; this donation was realized in 2007. Pastor Sanders is a former member of the Board of Trustees for the New Brunswick Theological Seminary where he led Fountain Baptist Church to make a $300,000 donation to the Seminary which is one of the largest ever given by an African American church. He is former Moderator for the Middlesex Central Baptist Association, and former President of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention. Pastor Sanders now serves as President of the General Baptist Convention of New Jersey

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