Reverend Dr. Samuel & Lola Simpson, Pastor & First Lady

Reverend Dr. Samuel Simpson, Pastor of the Bronx Baptist Church (since 1964) and Wake Eden Community Baptist Church (since 1972) in the Bronx was born in Jamaica W.I. He relocated to the United States in the early sixties. He is married to the formed Lola Campbell and has three children (Erica, Stephen, and Kim) and five grandchildren. He has been a long time resident of the Bronx.

Ordained at Evergreen Baptist Church in 1963, Revevered Simpson is well known in the Bronx and the West Indian communities throughout the State and beyond. He is fondly referred to as the "Bishop of the Bronx." He is a firm believer in serving the total person and has worked tirelessly to demonstrate and promote that concept within his congregations and in the community.

He received his Master of Professional Studies from New York Theological Seminary, was a Merrill Fellow at Harvard Divinity School; Senior Common Fellow—Regents Park College, Oxford University; and received Honorary Doctorates from Asia Bible College and Martha’s Vineyard Theological Seminary.

In addition to leading the Bronx and Wake Eden congregations, Rev. Simpson has been instrumental in starting Protestant Community Church in the North Bronx, the Honeywell Baptist Chapel, and New Hope Mission in Spring Valley, NY. Grace Baptist Chapel in the northern section of the Bronx is also an off shoot of Bronx Baptist Church.

Rev. Simpson also communicates his strong belief in helping people via the media, and currently writes a weekly column for the Carib News, New York. Periodically has been heard on Family Radio and has been the subject of many articles and two books: "What God did for Me" and "Sam Simpson, Architect of Hope." Most recently he has authored the book, "To Dream the Impossible Dream."

He is a founding member of the Bronx Shepherds Restoration Corporation and the Clergy Coalition of the 47th Precinct and has served as president of both groups. He has served as Chairman of the Board for the Council of Churches of the Chity of New York and served as the twice elected president of the Baptist Convention of New York.

His awards and recognitions have been numerous, and has received a proclamation from Congressman Elliot Engle.

Dr. Simpson is known as a man of faith, vision, and integrity.

The Reverend Frank Williams was born on the beautiful island of St. Kitts, W.I. He migrated to the Bronx in the early 1980's. Currently, he serves as the Assistant Pastor of the Bronx Baptist Church and the Interim Pastor of the Wake-Eden Community Baptist Church. He has been a member of Bronx Baptist Church congregation since 1993.

Frank is a graduate of New York Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity degree and was ordained to Christian ministry in 2002. Frank also serves as the Director of the Black Church Leadership Network of New York, which is a fellowship of over 40 churches that focus on missions, leadership development, and prison outreach. He also serves as the Secretary for the Caribbean Diaspora Baptist Clergy Association, which is an association of Caribbean ministers who now reside in the Northeast.

In 2007 through 2009, Frank served as the Interim Executive Director for the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association and was responsible for leading this association of over 225 churches scattered across southern Connecticut, northern New Jersey, New York City, and as far north as Dutchess County, NY. Frank has also served on the Baptist Convention of New York (BCNY) Executive Board for two terms, was the 2007 BCNY Annual Meeting Conference Preacher, and is currently a member of the BCNY Administrative Committee with responsibility to head the state evangelism and missions team.

Frank and his wife Tisha have been married for five years and they have two children - Timothy and Tiffany.