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Dr. James A. Boyd, Pastor
Dr. James Alvin Boyd is the second child born to Reverend Garfield Sr. and Mrs. Alberta Boyd. He was born on July 30, 1941, in Oktibbeha County. His father had prayed to the Lord to give him a preacher and believed this child, now Dr. James Alvin Boyd, was the answer to his prayer. Mrs. Alberta Boyd had testified on many occasions that she could hear him crying from her womb.
Growing up in a Christian home, Dr. Boyd knew the Lord from a very early age. He was active in his local church, First John Missionary Baptist Church. He traveled with his father to attend the local District Congress, District Associations, State Congress and State Conventions.
It was during those early years that Dr. Boyd heard the voice of God, but like many young men trying to find his own way in the world, he refused to accept his calling. But, after his father’s death, Dr. Boyd surrendered to the call of God and preached his first public sermon in April of 1960.
Dr. James Alvin Boyd attended Sand Creek Elementary School in Starkville, Mississippi where he completed grades one through eight. He later continued his education at the Oktibbeha Training School, now known as Henderson High School; graduating with a high level of academic success. After high school, Dr. Boyd continued his education at Stillman College where he graduated in the spring of 1964. He also attended Iowa State University and Mississippi State University. He received his Bachelor of Theology from Mississippi Baptist Seminary, Jackson, MS, and completed the requirements for a Doctorate of Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, CA. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Mary Holmes College in West Point, MS on May 4, 2002.
He is united in Holy matrimony to the former Kathrene Peterson. Dr. and Mrs. Boyd have been blessed with two beautiful daughters, Sandra Boyd and DeWanda Crawford. They also have three fine grandsons, James, Stevan, & Evan, and two great grand-daughters, Layla & Jazmyn. Displaying his strong sense of family, Dr. Boyd often shares the love he has for his family many times over; often with tears in his eyes, while noting all the sacrifices his mother made for her children.
In 1965, Dr. Boyd entered the pastoral field. He became pastor of Zion Gate Missionary Baptist Church and El Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Mississippi. In 1970, again hearing the voice of God, he resigned as an English Teacher in the Columbus School System and as pastor of the El Bethel Missionary Baptist Church to become the full time pastor of Zion Gate Missionary Baptist Church. Fifty-four years of Pastoral Ministry at Zion Gate and 59 Years of Preaching is a great milestone. The ministry of Dr. James Alvin Boyd has blessed the sanctity of this church, this city, this state, and this nation.
Dr. Boyd’s personal achievements are endless. They include the following: President of the Ministerial Institute and College, Homiletics Instructor at the Ministerial Institute and College, former President of the Northeast Mississippi Baptist State Convention, Inc. (10 years), Board Member at-Large of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., former President of the Northeast Mississippi Baptist State S.S. and N.B.C. Congress (23 years), Lecturer for the Mt. Olivet District Association, Evangelist for revivals, seminars and conferences across the nation.
During the 135th Annual Session of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.- September 2015, Dr. Boyd was honored with an award for 50 Years of Continuous Pastoral Ministry at Zion Gate Baptist Church.
On December 6, 2016, Mayor Robert E. Smith, Sr. and The Columbus City Council dedicated 4th Avenue South and 5th Street South to 15th Avenue South as “Rev. James A. BOYD Lane” in honor of Reverend Dr. James A. Boyd to commemorate the many years of service he has given to the City of Columbus, his Church and the Citizens of Columbus.
Because of the relentless efforts of Dr. James Alvin Boyd and the dedication of his congregation, the church on the corner is now known all across the country. God has helped the Zion Gate Missionary Baptist Church family to prosper in her pilgrimage under the leadership of Reverend Dr. James Alvin Boyd.
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