About us
We are a multi-generational church that believes in connecting community to Faith. We cherish our history; however, we believe that we must be present today as beacons of light sharing the Gospel and Love of Jesus Christ.
Saint James Baptist Church, Inc. is an established church, originally named Hicks Chapel Baptist Church, founded in 1926 by Mrs. Georganna Poole, in which a small group of people gathered at her home to pray and worship the Lord. Although Mrs. Poole was widowed and raising eleven children, she realized the importance of gathering the saints together to pray. Each Wednesday night, she would faithfully lead a small group of friends and family in worship. Later, Mrs. Poole
married Reverend Anderson Sturdivant, who presided as the first pastor. Rev. Sturdivant served as pastor until 1936. In order, Rev. Moses Milligan served as Pastor from 1936 to 1944, Rev. Draper Brown, 1944 to 1955, Rev. William T. Ratliff, 1955 to 1976 (Church was renamed to Saint James Baptist Church, Inc. in 1956), Rev. Walter S. Evans, 1976 to 1981, Rev. Bruce Wright, 1981 to 1983, Rev. George Allison, 1983 to 1988 and Bishop Luther K. Brooks, 1988 to 2018.
our pastor:
Rev. Bianca J. Richardson
Senior Pastor
Bianca J. Richardson is a native of New Orleans, LA, where she began singing at the tender age of 6 years old at her home church, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Sunrise, Louisiana.
Under the tutelage of Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. and Dr. Debra B. Morton she began preaching at the young age of 15 years old, completed the GSS 2 year preaching preparation program and was licensed as a Minister in August 1999 prior to relocating to attend college in Greensboro, NC. Rev. Bianca earned a B.S. in Architectural Drafting & Design in 2003 and M.S. in Construction Management in 2005 from North Carolina A&T State University. Her return home to New Orleans, La. after graduation was shorten by the impacts of Hurricane Katrina; in which she returned to North Carolina to reside. In November 2009, she was elevated and ordained as an Elder. Having served under great leaders, Rev. Bianca is also equipped to do ministry by a M.A. in Christian Education. Our Pastor believes in education and is currently a divinity student at Duke University.
Rev. Bianca served as Assistant Pastor for 2.5 years at St. James Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Luther K. Brooks. Upon his transition to lead Solid Rock International Ministries, she was named Interim Senior Pastor of Saint James Baptist Church. After 1 year and 4 months of serving as Interim Senior Pastor, the membership of Saint James Baptist Church decided to make it official by voting Rev. Bianca J. Richardson to serve as their ninth and first female Senior Pastor.
In the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, Rev. Bianca Richardson, serves as the 1st Assistant to the Overseer Anderson and the Southern Atlantic (FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, WV) Regional Director of the Young Pastors Division.
Professionally, she is also a Project Manager in Construction Management and a Certified Project Management Professional. Her specialty sectors are Pharmaceutical and Industrial; wherein she has also consulted for Fortune 500 featured corporations.