Our Pastor

Pilgrim Baptist Church was founded in the belief that communities must learn to help themselves. Our work is founded on the following five pillars of faith:

On October 23, 2004, the Pilgrim Baptist Church, after much prayer, voted Reverend Dr. Lonnie E. Rector to become the fifth Pastor and leader.  Pastor  Rector gave his acceptance Sermon on Sunday, November 21, 2004 and relocated to Newark, Delaware.

We are so very grateful for his leading, teaching, and guiding us on our quest for Heaven.  He teaches and implements what God would have us to do.  His purposeful work for the Lord is "Winning Souls for Christ!"
We also Thank Pastor for God’s vision of “Growing from Information to Application to Sanctification,” as this vision helps us in obtaining our P.H.D.s, the Power to Handle the Devil.
The Pilgrim Baptist Church Family absolutely “Loves” our Pastor and Leading Lady.  “Come and See” what the Lord is doing with the Pilgrim Baptist Church Family!

• A duty to reach out to the less fortunate
• An obligation to lead by example
• An all-inclusive approach: We help everyone regardless of their religious beliefs
• Acceptance of the fact that we, too, may someday require assistance in our time of need
• The path to salvation lies in volunteering

The Reverend Dr. Lonnie E. Rector is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina.  He is married to Lady Virginia Rector and they are the proud parents of Scott Rector.

At the age of fifteen, Pastor Rector realized his calling into the ministry.  He began to accept a number of public speaking engagements at youth revivals and youth day services.  In August of 1983, he acknowledged his call to the gospel ministry.  On Sunday, January 22, 1984, Dr. Rector preached his initial sermon and was given his license to preach the Gospel at the Harrison Grove Baptist Church under the pastorate of his father, Dr. Leon C. Rector Jr.  On Sunday, March 17, 1985, he was ordained under the Tyger River Association in Roebuck, South Carolina.

Pastor Rector received his early education from the Florence Chapel High School.  In 1969, he was among many of the first African Americans to be a part of the integration in the Spartanburg County School System.  After graduating in 1971 from James F. Byrnes High School, he went on to further his education by earning an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Spartanburg Methodist College, Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Wofford College both located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  He also received a Master of Divinity Degree from Erskine Theological Seminary in Dew West, South Carolina, a Doctrine of Theology from Andersonville Baptist Seminary in Camilla, Georgia, and received the Doctrine of Ministry from the Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, Georgia.

Pastor Rector is the past President of the United Baptist Convention of Delaware Inc. where he served faithfully for 8 years and the 2nd Vice-President of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Association of Delaware.  On August 17, 2009, Pastor Rector received the certification as Dean of the New England Missionary Baptist Convention.  Pastor Rector is also a 10 Year past instructor of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education U.S.A. Inc (National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.).