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GUEST PREACHER THIS SUNDAY
Rev. Nikita Giselle McCalister was born to the Rev. Robert, Sr. and (late) Rev. Deborah L. Shumake. Rev McCalister received her license to preach the Gospel in 2001 and was ordained in 2005, under the leadership of Rev. James C. Perkins, Pastor of Greater Christ Baptist Church (Detroit, MI).
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources Management from Central Michigan University (1993), a Master of Business Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy (1999), and a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology (2005).
She currently serves as the Transitional Consultant for the American Baptist Churches of Michigan. She previously served as the Associate Executive Minister for Administration for the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island (ABCORI); Senior Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, Pawtucket, RI; Assistant Pastor of Ministry Development at Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit, MI; and the co-youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Randolph, MA. While at Boston University School of Theology, she worked as administrative support for the Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence Program in Boston, MA., a two million-dollar Lilly Endowment Fund project. Formally, Rev. McCalister was employed in management at Electronic Data Systems.
Rev. McCalister currently serves on the Boston University Alumni Council Board (BUAC), Boston University Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB), the School of Theology Dean's Advisory Board for Boston University School of Theology, The Ministers & Missionaries Benefits Board (MMBB), and the Advisory Board Member American Baptist Women in Ministry (ABWIM). She was the assistance coach for the Girl’s Varsity Basketball team at Southfield Christina School. She was a member of the ecumenical planning team for the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations in New York which hosted a Parallel Event entitled: "Sacred and Safe: Building Capacity of Faith Communities to Address Gender-Based Violence." Also at the invitation of the Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Botswana to the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Charles Thembani Ntwaagae, she helped plan the Side Event: Real Talk/Real Action: Engaging Men and Boys in Prevention and Intervention Strategies that Address Gender-Based Violence.
She has been a NCAA Women’s Division I basketball player and track and field athlete, guest preacher, workshop leader, liturgical dancer, and singer at various conferences and churches throughout the nation.
She previously served on Rep. David Cicilline's Women's Advisory Council, Board Member of Rhode Island Kids’ Count, Member of Chaplains Association of the University of Rhode Island (URI), Treasurer of Minister’s Alliance of Rhode Island. She has served as the Chairperson of the American Baptist Churches of United States of America (ABC-USA) Transformed by the Spirit Journey Team Task Force, the Board of Directors for the Robert S. Shumake Foundation, the Metropolitan Detroit Association of American Baptist Churches, the Benjamin E. Mays Male Academy, and treasurer of ABC-MI Ministers Council. Her other organizational ties include: past President of the Black Seminarians, Boston University School of Theology, Roothbert Fellow, Boston University Woman's Graduate Club, Boston University School of Theology Seminary Singers, and the National Black MBA Association Incorporated, Central Michigan University Women’s Basketball, and Magni-Beigan Scholar Athlete.
Rev. Nikita McCalister is married to Rev. Jabulani McCalister. They are the proud parents of two children Jaden and Azriel McCalister.
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