This section is reserved for shining a “Spotlight” on R. R. Alumni as they achieve milestones in their lives and careers. Our first “Spotlight” is on Reverend Dr. Johnny Hicks.
Reverend Dr. Johnny Hicks
Rev. Dr. Johnny Hicks recently earned a Doctorate in Christian Education (D.Min). He currently serves as a Professor at Cornerstone College of Virginia where he has been teaching Christianity since 2014. In addition to earning a Doctorate in Christian Education from Andersonville Theological Seminary, Camilla, GA, he is active in the following capacities:
- serves as the Chaplain of the 44th Engineer Battalion Association, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
- serves as the Chaplain for Veterans Engineer Soldiers and their families.
- serves as the Director of Christian Education and Associate Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Virginia.
- serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Lake Wilderness Home Owners Association — the largest community in Spotsylvania County.
He is currently employed as a Senior Contract Analyst (Contractor) providing contract writing support for the Mission Installation Command Contracts (MICC) for Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
He has been married to his wife Fonda for 20 years. They have two children and six grandchildren.
Rev. Dr. Hicks looks forward to continuing to serve others and building positive relationships with the Lord’s blessings.
The second featured Association member:
Reverend Dr. Robert L. McAdory
Robert L. McAdory is a life-long resident of Irondale, Jefferson County, Alabama. He received his elementary and secondary education in the Jefferson County Public School System. Since graduating from R. R. Moton High School in 1966, he feels that God has blessed him more than he could have ever imagined.
Now, a forty-year gospel preacher and the founding Senior Pastor of the Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Bessemer, Alabama. This mission to the Glory of God is “To prepare and perfect through personal participation and hands on training, a Christian Ministry that touches every aspect of human life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Pastor McAdory’s ministerial building blocks began when he accepted the Call of God to the Ministry. He preached his Introductory Sermon and received his Certificate of Licensure to the Gospel Ministry on May 24, 1981, at the Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, Irondale, Alabama, pastored by the late Rev. J. P. Parnell. In 1982, his gift of teaching and preaching swiftly opened doors as his assistance was sought out by Reverend Charlie Sims to assist with detailed ministerial duties at First Baptist Church, Gary-Ensley, Alabama where he served as Associate Pastor and received his Certificate of Ordination to the Gospel Ministry.
Simultaneously, there were long hours of ministerial work, church administration and theological training. However, there were awards at the end of each cycle of completion. The first Certificate in Christian Training was received in 1983 from the Howard College Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama. Then on to the Birmingham Baptist Bible College and Seminary training at the Birmingham Theological Seminary. The following awards and degrees from the Birmingham Baptist Bible College were the Bible Certificate in 1984, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Christian Education in 1994, Bachelor of Theology Degree in 2018 and the Doctor of Divinity Degree in 2021.
Pastor McAdory has been awarded the following Certifications from the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., Congress of Christian Education, Sunday School Publishing Board, Division of Christian Education Accreditation and Credentials: The William J. Shaw Master Teacher Certification, Dean of Christian Education Certification, Pastor’s Alternative Teacher’s Certification, and the Christian Education Diploma. In addition, Pastor McAdory is a Certified Instructor in several Bible and Christian Education courses.
Presently, he serves as Assistant Dean and Lecturer, Mt. Pilgrim Baptist District Association Congress of Christian Education, Departmental Dean, Instructor and Faculty President, Alabama Baptist State Congress of Christian Education, an Auxiliary to the Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention, Inc.
While being thankful to many persons and organizations for their thoughtfulness, Pastor McAdory highlights only a few special honors, awards and invitations:
- Partner and Certified “Community Health Advisor,” O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
- Partner with the Congregations for Public Health, Inc. and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Center for the Study of Community Health to establish a Congregational Health Ministry that addresses Health Equity and Disparities among African Americans.
- Recipient of the “2018 Healthy Churches 2020 Best Practice Award.” The Balm in Gilead, Inc, 5th Annual Healthy Churches 2020 National Conference, Point Clear, AL. A National, Multi-platform Initiative Bringing Public Health and Faith Together. The mission of The Balm in Gilead is to prevent diseases and improve the health status of African Descent by supporting faith institutions in areas of program design, implementation, and evaluation to strengthen their capacity to programmatically eliminate health disparities.
- Invited lecturer by The Congregations for Public Health, Inc. and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Center for the Study of Community Health to teach the Introduction to the Religion and Health course at the Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College.
- Invited two consecutive years as Visiting Lecturer for the National Baptist Association of Germany, Wiesbaden, Germany to lecture on “The Principles of Pastoral Leadership.”
- Invited by Dr. Richard Powers, Neuropathologist, Director of the Brain Resource Center, Department of Neurology and Pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to participate in several filmed training sessions at the Birmingham Baptist Bible College on Alzheimer’s Disease. The 36-Hour Day Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory Loss, Nancy L. Mace, MA and Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH.
- Interviewed by Deborah Berry, Washington Correspondent, USA Today Network at Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Bessemer, AL on 12/11/2017. The published article was entitled “Some Alabama Religious Leaders Worry Faith is Sacrificed to Politics in Senate Race,” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/11/some-alabama-religious-leaders-worry-faith-sacrificed-politics-senate-race/941914001/
Pastor McAdory is a member of the following organizations:
- National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
- Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention, Inc.
- Executive Board Member, Mt. Pilgrim Baptist District Association
- Birmingham Baptist Ministers Conference
- Bessemer Ministers Conference
In summary, Pastor McAdory is a humble and innovative pastor. He is a sensitive humanitarian, committed to civic and community affairs. He believes in a Christ-centered Ministry through Christian Education and doctrinal training. He encourages a standard, in challenging people to life-changing experiences, with his gift of unique teaching techniques and delivery. At the close of many sermons, he sometimes recites the lyrics to the song “If I Can Help Somebody,” by Mahalia Jackson which is a testimony to his daily life.
Pastor McAdory is married Dorothy Scruggs McAdory and is the father of three sons and eight grandchildren.
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Any Alumni Member can be added to the “Spotlight” by submitting information via the form below. We can’t wait to hear about your recent accomplishments.
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