First Baptist Church of College Park, Maryland
A native of Washington, D.C., Pastor Stephen L. Wright, Sr. is the son of the late Reverend Lee and Gracie Wright. He has served the last 25 years as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church Lakeland (College Park), located in College Park, Maryland. A third generation Pastor-Preacher, Pastor Wright began his elementary education in the District of Columbia Public Schools and continued in the Ohio County Public School System in Wheeling, West Virginia. After completing Junior High School, he became the first Black American admitted to what was then the Linsly Military Institute (now The Linsly School) in Wheeling, becoming the first of his race to receive admission and to graduate in the Class of 1972 while achieving the rank of Second Lieutenant. In 2022, he was recognized by West Virginia’s Ohio County during Black History Month as the first Black American to achieve this distinction.
He worked at the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation from 1973 until 1983. Upon relocation to the D.C Metro area, he was employed for 15 years with the Bell Atlantic Corporation’s (now Verizon) Network Services Incorporated in the Logistics Management Division, employed in their Computerized Accounting, Purchasing, Receiving, and Invoicing unit until shortly after his election as Pastor of the First Baptist Church.
Pastor Wright was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1981 at the First Baptist Church in Saint Clairsville, Ohio, under the pastorate of the late Reverend Ozzie Pope. He was ordained there by the Mt. Zion Baptist District Association in 1983. Pastor Wright continued his theological education and is a two-time graduate of the Washington Baptist Seminary, Washington, D.C, where he earned a Diploma in Theological Studies as well as a B. A. Theology. He also received an Advanced Diploma in Biblical Counseling from Light University, Forest, Virginia.
For his leadership, commitment, and work in Christian Education, and upon recommendation of the First Baptist Church of Lakeland, Pastor Wright was recognized by the United Missionary Baptist Convention’s Congress of Christian Education as a recipient of a Distinguished Service Award and a Distinguished Leaders Award. Under the administration of former Maryland governor Robert Erlich, he was awarded the State of Maryland Governor’s Volunteer Service Certificate for engaging in prison ministry. Pastor Wright has received official recognition for his community service contributions from the Office of the Mayor of the City of College Park, Maryland; the Office of the Prince George’s County Maryland Executive; the Maryland State House and Senate; and some Maryland elected officials in the United States Congress.
Pastor Wright and his beloved wife, Linda, reside in Bowie, Maryland. Married 47 years, they are the blessed parents of three and grandparents of two. The ministry to which the Lord called him is guided by John 8:32, where Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (NKJV). The guiding Scripture for his life is Revelation
3:11, where Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (NKJV).