Ministry, St. Paul Baptist Church St. Albans West Virginia

Rev. Michael A. Poke, Sr.

Rev. Michael A. Poke was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a graduate of Park College, Parkville, Missouri, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Psychology and a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Kansas earning a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies.
          He is blessed with a loving and caring woman of faith, his wife Mary, a son Michael Jr. and a granddaughter Trinity.
          As the Under Shepherd, he is a powerful preacher and knowledgeable teacher of the word of God and performs pastoral care and counseling. He brought many other gifts to the ministry. He is strongly supported by the “First Lady, Sis Mary Poke who brings many gifts and skills of her own to the ministry.
         The pastor office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., The Church phone number is (304) 727-1742, Pastor's Study (304) 727-1085, Church Fax number (304) 727-1082. Every Sunday Morning from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. there is “ Coffee with the Pastor”  which is an opportunity for the membership to voice concerns, exchange ideas and get acquainted with others as well as with the Pastor.  A light repast is served with “Coffee with the Pastor” mugs with a picture of St. Paul are distributed to all who attend.
          The Pastor states his and Sis. Poke's overall vision is to follow the divine mandate as Christians, which is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to lead sinners to salvation and an abundant life. It is equally their God-ordained mandate to liberate those who are oppressed in order that they may experience the true and whole freedom for which they were so created.

You can e-mail the pastor by Clicking Here.(Mpoke97706@aol.com)

Radio Ministry: The radio ministry was started January 2002.  Be inspired by the Word from the Pastor every Sunday Morning at 9 a.m. on Praise 101 on your FM dial. Sis. Tiffany McDavid is the announcer. This outreach ministry is an effort to reach those who know not Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, to minister to the sick and shut-in members of the Church and community at large.

Tape Ministry: This ministry provides tapes of the service for the Church's Sick and Shut-ins, and also those who would like to get a tape of the service for personal reasons such as studies or references. Please contact the Church's secretary at (304) 727-1742 if you are interested in receiving a tape or (Click Here) to send a e-mail.

Children's Church: The Children's Church convenes in the J. T. Bennett Fellowship Hall every Sunday morning from 10:45-11:45 a.m. (except 4^th Sunday). The Director of the Children's Church is Sis. Sharon Mullens. This ministry is focused on reaching and teaching children at their level about the Savior and to plant,  water, cultivate, and nurture the Word in the Children seeking a harvest of salvation in their hearts. The service is for children under the age of 12 years old. They learn to pray, locate scriptures easily, memorize scriptures, and witness for the Lord.

Sunday School Class & Men's Sunday School Class: Every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. Sunday school classes are in session to teach the word of God. In addition, a new class was started this year for the men of the church. This class lead by Bro. Sterling P. Smith was created to allow the brethren of the church to explore God's word with each other and build a supporting relationship among the brethren.

Brotherhood: The brotherhood, chaired by  Bro. Lewis Farmer, was created for fellowship, with the men of the Church encouraging each other to walk in the light and edify each other in the Lord . The scriptures read “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. Some specific goals of the brotherhood are to build love between each other, produce spiritual growth among men of the Church, lend a helping had to community and Church, and be a big brother to the Youth. There is several “Just Men Talk” sessions planned. Watch the Event Calendar schedule on this Web site.

Prayer Meeting and Bible Study: (Adult & Youth) Many Church members,  individuals, and families are in regular attendance every Wednesday evening from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Prayer and Bible Study. The adult classes are taught by Pastor Michael A. Poke, Sr., or Associate Pastor Jimmie McKnight. The Youth class instructor is the First Lady, Sis. Mary Poke. The youth ministries include Weekly Wednesday Bible Study and Rap Sessions, Spiritual dance group for girls, Basketball team for boys and Bowling outings for all. There is also a Back-to-School Prayer Meeting every August. The purpose of this prayer meeting is to pull together a number of Churches to pray for a successful school year for our teachers, children, and administrators.

Outreach Ministry: The church emphasis are in the areas of Evangelism and Discipleship. Reaching those who know not Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, bringing the hearer through the power of the Holy Spirit, to faith in Jesus Christ and thus into a right relationship with God. There are many out reach programs planned throughout the year. A Spring and Fall revival are scheduled and appears on the Event Calendar, a Bible Study session is held every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. at the Amandaville Court Community Center. Deacon Andrew McDavid and Deacon Don Epps are the instructors. Plans also include street ministry, prison ministry, and visitation ministry. The scriptures referred to as the Great Commission Matt. 28:18-20 tells us 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: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. A-men".

Bus Ministry: If you need transportation to the Church, please contact Bro. Robert Tyree at 768-7863 or 353-0617.

Mission: Mission meetings are held every 2nd Saturday at 11:00 a.m. This organiation by definition is to propagate/contend for the faith through humanitarian work.

Women's Auxiliary: The Women's Auxiliary meets every 3rd Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Music Ministries: This ministry is directed by a very gifted individual, Bro Lyndon Smith. He oversees three church choirs, the Senior Choir, the Children's Choir (God's Littlest Angels), and the Male Chorus. The church music coordinators are Sis. Francine Wiley and Bro. Philander (Sonny) Smith. God's Littlest Angels choir directors are Sis. Judy Cain and Sis. Yvette Hall.

St. Paul Male Chorus Event Schecule (Click Here)

Questions about The Ministries or for Pastor Michael A. Poke, Sr., (Click Here)
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Calendar of Events (Click Here)