ABOUT THE PASTOR

Dr. B.W. McClendon, Sr.’s magnetic personality, blended with an explosive delivery style, has drawn audiences to hear his sermons nationwide for more than three decades.  He has emerged as one of the most influential spiritual leaders of this generation.  As Senior Pastor of the St. James Baptist Church, his priority is expansion through evangelism.

Dr. McClendon was born in Mt. Enterprise, Texas to the late LeRoy & LeOra McClendon.  He was raised in a devout Christian family environment with strong moral values.  It was these strong and deep-rooted values that led him to answer his call to the ministry, at the tender age of eight years old.

Dr. McClendon received a Bachelor of Arts from LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas; a Political Science Certification from the University of Texas @ Tyler; a Masters in Theological Studies and earned Doctorate of Ministries from Perkins School of Theology at SMU @ Dallas, Texas.  He was Adjunct Professor of Religion at Jarvis Christian College @ Hawkins, Texas.  Currently, Dr. McClendon is a certified instructor for PREP in Within Our Reach, as well as a Family Wellness Instructor through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

He and his lovely wife, Bernetta, founded the Maranatha Marriage & Family Ministries, International organization designed to strengthen marriages and families.  They are the proud parents of five wonderful children and grandparents to 10 spry and energetic grandchildren.

Dr. McClendon has been pastor of the St. James congregation for 16 years.  He was the shepherd of several churches prior to being called to St. James. (Longview, Marshall and Terrell, Texas)  Under his leadership at St. James, he has given birth to several ministries and campaigns.   In 1997, he and the St. James family engaged in a “United We Build Campaign” which resulted in the new $8 – million dollar edifice at 3417 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Austin, Texas.  This edifice seats over 2500 congregants and has a plethora of classrooms and meeting spaces .  The St. James Center for Biblical Studies was created and is now certified under Shaw University, in Raleigh, North Carolina.  St. James has over 25 certified instructors for the center.

Dr. McClendon has served several terms as a Board Member of the Marriage and Family Therapists, the Texas State Board of Examiners, and presently, the Juvenile Probation Commission of Texas. Dr. McClendon has also served as the National Director of the Men’s Conference of the National Baptist Convention of America and as the Associate Dean of the National Congress.  He encourages men to be the “prophet, priest, provider and protector” of their families.  His love for God’s people and preaching the uncompromising Word of God has gained him the notoriety of being “a Pastor with a heart for the people”.

Email Pastor at: pastor@stjamescmbc.org

ABOUT BERNETTA ANNESE SIMON MCCLENDON

Bernetta A. Simon McClendon is a native of Longview, Texas.  She is a woman, who loves the Lord and enjoys sharing her many testimonies of the goodness and faithfulness of God.  Being married at age 18 and becoming a minister’s wife at age 19 she has just a little bit to share about God’s Grace and Mercy.

Bernetta is a certified facilitator for Franklin Covey’s 8 Habits of a Successful Marriage and 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. PREP ( Within Our Reach) trained and certified Family Wellness Instructor Training through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

She is a Speaker-Teacher who conducts workshops and seminars for various conferences, retreats, along with being a prolific Women’s Day speaker. She is an instructor at the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.

Bernetta has been married to Rev. Dr. B. W. McClendon for 38 years. They are co-founders of Maranatha Marriage & Family Ministries International, Inc., where she serves as Executive Director.

Her greatest earthly attainment is being a wife, the mother of five, and the proud grandmother of ten.