Dr. James E. Pate Jr., PastorPastor James Earl Pate, Jr. is the eldest child of James Earl Pate, Sr., and Elaine Pate. His early years of growth were spent in Cade, Louisiana. God began pursuing him and drawing him closer during his tenure at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. At age 21, Pastor Pate realized that he wanted more out of life, and answered the calling of the Holy Spirit. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, and his life has never been the same!
Pastor James E. Pate, Jr. is both a servant and a leader, gifted by God with a tapestry of experiences to equip him for the office to which he has been elected.
He gained exposure in ministering to and serving children of all ages as the principal of Unity Christian Academy, a pre-K through twelfth-grade school. As a leader in this educational institution, Rev. Pate provided leadership and administration to staff members, students, and parents.
Pastor Pate began his ministerial training at West End Bibleway Christian Fellowship in New Iberia, Louisiana under the oversight of Pastor Francis L. Davis. It was at West End Bibleway Christian Fellowship that he received his license to preach in October 2002.
For nine years, Pastor Pate served as a counselor, minister of God’s Word, and dedicated assistant to Pastor Allen R. Randle at Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church in New Iberia, Louisiana. Under Pastor Randle’s leadership, Pastor Pate was well-trained and exposed to all aspects of church administration. He was known as the MOCA – ‘Minister Over Church Affairs.’ He was ordained by Pastor Randle.
When God moved on his heart to transition to Good Hope Baptist Church in Lafayette, Louisiana, his pastoral preparation continued under the tutelage of Dr. Ricky E. Carter. At Good Hope, he faithfully served in the evangelism ministry sharing the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost. In addition, he was a faithful teacher in Sunday School and a faithful minister of God’s Word in Bible studies and Sunday worship services. Pastor Pate and his wife, Linda, became the ministry leaders of the young adult ministry at Good Hope Baptist Church, and as well they served in Good Hope’s nursing home ministry. These ministries allowed Pastor Pate to share the Gospel with a wide spectrum of ages and cultural backgrounds.
At Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, Pastor Pate earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Religion with a minor in Christian Counseling in 2011 and a Master’s in Human Services with an emphasis in marriage/family counseling in 2012. He pursued and attained a Master of Divinity degree at Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Georgia in 2017.
On July 8, 2018, Rev. James E. Pate, Jr., was elected Pastor of the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church with a resounding majority of the vote! He preached his first sermon as Pastor on Sunday, July 29, 2018 – “Where Do We Go From Here?” – Exodus 14: 10 – 15.
Where does the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church go? – we ‘move forward’ under the Pastorate of Pastor James E. Pate, Jr.! Pastor Pate desires to always be in the center of God’s will, and it is the leadership of the Holy Spirit and his passionate devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that allows him to sum up his role as Pastor-Teacher:
Contending for the faith ~ Speaking the Truth ~ Preaching Sound Doctrine
Dr. James E. Pate, Jr. earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice College & Seminary in May 2023. He is humbled by God anointing him and The Holy Spirit guiding him to continuously “study to show himself approved”.
After God, the greatest loves of Pastor Pate’s life are his wife of 20 years, Linda Pate, and his children, Jalin Judah and De’Ja’ Blue Pate.
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