Israel Baptist Church

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Rev. Harlie Walden Wilson, II

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12)"

And He gave to the Israel Baptist Church - PASTOR HARLIE WALDEN WILSON, II. One who is a PREACHER, PASTOR, FRIEND, TEACHER, EVANGELIST, A VISIONARY, but most of all, A CHILD OF GOD.

Pastor Wilson is a native of Southampton County, Virginia. He is the eldest of twelve children born to Harlie and Hazel Wilson. He is married to the former Gayla Fitch of Lynchburg, Virginia and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Kristi and Shanel, and one son, Harlie, III; and grandparents of one granddaughter, Kristianna Evans and one grandson, Armani D. Evans.

He attended the public schools of Southampton County, Virginia and is a graduate of the Virginia Seminary and College, Lynchburg, Virginia, where he received an Associate of Arts Degree, Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and the Master of Divinity Degree.

In April, 1977, Pastor Wilson was called to Pastor the Israel Baptist Church of Baltimore City and was installed as Israel's fifth Pastor on April 16, 1978.

Active in several religious, social and political organizations, Pastor Wilson is very much concerned about ministering to the "whole" man. Led by the Holy Spirit to follow the examples set forth in the Holy Bible, Pastor Wilson initiated ministries at Israel to replace auxiliaries, organizations and choirs. The ultimate goal of all the ministries is to evangelize.

As Leader of this spiritual flock, Pastor Wilson teaches that, "To Serve God, We Must Go Out", that we should not feel comfortable and stay within the confines of a beautiful edifice and ignore the problems facing us on the outside. So, he began an evangelistic street service - "Sanctuary Without Walls Ministry" in May, 1990. Since that time, the decrease of drug and violence has had a tremendous impact upon the entire neighborhood. In 1991, Outdoor Worship Services were implemented as another form of Sanctuary Without Walls, as in an ol' fashioned tent style service, with the assembling of worshipers and neighborhood residents, to reach out to the saved and unsaved, praying and listening to the Holy Word being preached and taught. Many drug addicts, dope dealers, alcoholics and those who have given up on life, heard the prayers, testimonies, songs of the saints and the GOSPEL MESSAGE by Pastor Wilson and gave their lives to Christ. PRAISE THE LORD!

"FROM VISION TO REALITY: READY TO BUILD - DETERMINED TO FINISH!" Through God's visions given to our leader, Reverend Doctor Harlie Walden Wilson, II, the expansion project of the Israel Baptist Church of Baltimore City is now a reality. On Sunday, August 22, 2004, the Israel Baptist Church Family and friends marched into God's New Sanctuary, which is located in the same vicinity as the present edifice, on the corners of North Washington and East Preston Streets. The new edifice (sanctuary) seats 1500 parishioners. The purpose of remaining in the vicinity is to better minister to the community, which offers a "wholistic" ministry that is concerned with the "total" man, woman and child. Each ministry is available to provide support and service to ANYONE who is in need.

This man of God loves what he does and takes his ministry seriously. The Church is his first love. He's a God-fearing man who has been blessed with vision, determination, courage and strength.

Pastor Wilson's comments to these many blessings - "I am a Child of the Living God, and I press everyday toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."