The Leadership of
Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church

Rachel De-Vore Stephens, M.A., Ph.D., DDiv.

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Dr. Stephens relocated to North Carolina after retiring from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, OH. She then served and recently retired from Halifax Community College in Weldon, NC as a Communications Professor. After 38 years of service, she decided to relax for a while, but wasn’t quite ready to rest. She now serves as an Adjunct Professor at Cape Fear Community College, where she enjoys teaching Public Speaking to young adults.

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Her focus has always been on preaching and teaching the word of God, as well as and instructional

development for her students and consistently works hard at making sure students stretch their ability to focus on the real world. She states, “teaching goes beyond the textbook and reports.”

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Whether teaching in the classroom or preaching the Word of God, her motto is: “you will encounter defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, who you belong to, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it.”

Dr. Stephens has received many awards. Just to name a few:

•    Halifax Community College Spirit Award

•    Pender County NAACP Community Leadership Award

•    NAACP Lorie L Graham Outstanding Service Award

•    New Hanover County NAACP Community Service Award

•    Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, James R. Fullwood Service Award

•    Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Outstanding Service and Leadership Award    
     (Wilmington, NC)

•    Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Community Service Award (Akron, OH)

•    Who’s Who of American Women Award
   

Dr. Stephens is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Psi Omega Chapter, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

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She served as the Chairman of the Mid Atlantic Regional Spiritual Care Team. She states, “There is nothing more rewarding than lifting up God's children in prayer as she gives Him the Praise.”

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She is the former President of Alpha Psi Omega Chapter serving six (6) consecutive years.

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She is also the former President of the Pender County NAACP, as well as secretary for the Wilmington Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, where she currently is an Alumna member.

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Dr. Stephens is the Senior Pastor at Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church. (Burgaw, NC.)

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She has earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, Master of Arts in Communications, Ph.D. in Business Administration and Doctor of Divinity in Ministry. She received her Certificate of Ordination from the New Beginning Baptist Church in Mansfield, OH under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Irece T. Bradley.

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She is a widow of Charles Stephens and continues to trust in the Lord to give her strength, and holds

Philippians 4:13 in her heart which states, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” She finds joy in their three adult sons, (Kirk, Reggie, and Demetrius) and their eight grandchildren.