ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—Rev. Preston E. Thompson, Jr. is the senior pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Englewood.
A native of New Jersey, Thompson received most of his formal education in the Teaneck Public School System. Upon graduation from high school, Thompson matriculated to the University of Pennsylvania where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Basis of Behavior.
In 2005, Thompson received a Master of Science in Elementary Education from St. Joseph University, as well as a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia with honors.
A gifted and creative educator, Thompson has a passion for making theological lessons applicable to various areas of life. He has conducted workshop on various topics including: music ministry, singles ministry, evangelism, men’s ministry and general education.
Known for his creativity and interactive lessons, Thompson challenges those that are present to “think outside the box” and to apply spiritual lessons to our contemporary circumstances. He is a firm believer that the preaching moment should always contain a didactic component so people can grow and mature in their faith.
Recognized for his community service, Thompson received the 2008 Educational Leadership Award from the Urban Education Fund and the 2008 “Men Making A Difference” award from the American Cities Foundation.
While living in Philadelphia, Thompson served as a member of POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower and Rebuild), and the Men’s Ministry Steering Committee of the Philadelphia Baptist Association.
Thompson currently serves as the president of the Ebenezer Community Development Corporation, a member of the Mayor’s Clergy Council, the Teaneck High School Class of 1982 Scholarship Committee. He is also a founding member of the North Jersey Black Caucus For Civil Rights and is a member of Faith in New Jersey.
During his 24 years of ministry, Thompson has ministered in various places within and outside of the United States. During the summer of 2004, Thompson was privileged to travel with Bishop Hunter to minister in Cape Town, South Africa.
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Hillary Viders: What is the mission of the Ebenezer Baptist Church?
Rev. Preston E. Thompson, Jr.: Our mission is to mobilize and motivate families of all cultures to embrace the mandate of maximizing ministry by strengthening faith, teaching God’s word, outreaching communities, nurturing families and empowering disciples (S.T.O.N.E.).
HV: What do you feel are the greatest challenges that the Englewood community faces today?
PT: One of the greatest challenges in Englewood right now is our school system and we have to find ways to give our children the best possible education. This problem is systemic, all the way to the collegiate level. I’ve spoken with friends at Bergen Community College and others in the community and what I’ve heard is that several of our students qualify to go to Bergen Community and they get money to go; however, they spend so much time in remedial classes trying to catch up that by the time they have finished all the remedial classes they have used up all of the money.
In conjunction with the problem of our children’s education is the fact that many families in this community are facing some very difficult challenges—economic struggles, not being able to find affordable housing, social inequality, insufficient nutrition and other problems—and we need to recognize and address them so that students do not come to school bearing those problems.
HV: You were a speaker at the recent Englewood vigil for the shooting victims in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. What do you feel has to be done to combat gun violence?
PT: It’s not an easy fix. We need to look at our gun legislation, fill in any loopholes and hold our elected officials accountable. We need to look at the availability of guns. I do not believe that anyone who is not in the military needs a semi-automatic weapon. The purpose of the Second Amendment was for militias to protect our government.
Most of all, this country also needs to search its soul and get to the place where we see others as humans all created in the image of God and begin to care for each other. Historically, in this country we have isolated and demonized groups of people, using words like “infestation,” and hate rhetoric that motivates mentally unstable people to justify violent extermination.
HV: Every year, on Martin Luther King’s birthday, you lead a march from Englewood’s City Hall to the Ebenezer Baptist Church where you hold a memorial service. Why is Martin Luther King such a cornerstone of your beliefs?
PT: There are several reasons. First and foremost, Dr. King was an American hero whom I aspired to model my life after. So, when I came to Ebenezer Baptist Church I learned that this church had been holding a memorial service for him every year. I am proud to carry on that tradition which in 2020 will mark 50 years.
Now, we need to take up the mantle of his journey and his ideals. We don’t want to just honor Dr. King one day a year; we need to take the lessons that he taught, duplicate them and apply them to our lives every day.
HV: The Ebenezer Baptist Church also hosts the summer enrichment camp for the Defining Moment Foundation. What does that camp offer?
PT: The Defining Moment Foundation helps a multitude of people from all ethnicities and all walks of life. The camp usually has 50 kids, but this year we expanded to 60. The camp has field trips every week that offer bowling, skating, miniature golf and other fun activities.
We also have an educational component and many wonderful guest speakers and teachers such as Dr. Sharon Bernstein, Ph.D. president of the Defining Moment Foundation. Several times a week, Dr. Bernstein teaches substance abuse prevention, anti-bullying and self-esteem building. This year we also had Rev. Rosemary Perry who taught the children sign language and we had a performance by a chamber ensemble called Engle Winds that plays at Lincoln Center.
HV: Can you tell us about your experience ministering in Cape Town, South Africa?
PT: Having the opportunity to travel to Africa was the fulfillment of a childhood dream and I look forward to returning next year. I went with my mother in the ministry, whom I consider my bishop, and she oversees over 70 different churches in South Africa. What I loved about Africa is that some of the people would travel 3 hours on foot to get to a revivalist tent. Over there, when people hear that a preacher from the United States is coming, everyone gets excited.
It was a wonderful experience, but in certain poor townships, there is a lot of violence and gang activity, so we could not travel through them at night. There was one particular place that I’ll never forget. It was a meeting club for a gang. The gang leader got converted and saved, and now it is a church!
HV: What are the most common problems for which people come to you for guidance?
PT: In my 24 years of ministry, I’ve encountered everything from rape, incest, domestic violence to suicide. One of the most common concerns that people have is how do I navigate life? How do I deal with losing a loved one with my faith? How does God care about me even though I am going through this tragedy? There is no one solution for everybody, and I advise each person to grieve as long as they have to, not according to any preconceived standard.
HV: Do you have a favorite passage of Scripture that you use to inspire your congregants?
PT: I am deeply moved by Jeremiah 29:11, that says, “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
HV: At this point in your life, what inspires you?
I am inspired to serve this community and to serve God’s people. I never aspired to be famous or well known. I have this kind of saying that I created and dwell on quite a bit: “I don’t need to be famous. I just want to be effective, and if I can be effective at what God has called me to do, I think I will have lived a successful life.”