Our Pastor
REVEREND JAMISON D. H. HUNTER
On November 22, 2009, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church of Dayton, Ohio, ended its six month pastoral search when the “overwhelming majority” called The Reverend Jamison Douglas Hytche Hunter as its 6th pastor. An energetic, excitable and strategic visionary, Rev. Hunter ‘hit the ground running.’ Under his dynamic and spirit-filled leadership, Macedonia has matured spiritually and its membership has grown considerably, as evident by the church’s financial increase since his calling. His love for the Macedonia church (congregation), as well as the sanctuary, led the congregation to support Rev. Hunter’s notion to rename and fully furnish the conference room in honor of the church’s oldest tenured member, as well as upgrade furnishings in other key meeting rooms in and around the church. Second to his ongoing spiritual mission as pastor, his greatest accomplishment, to date, was met by ushering Macedonia into the 21st century with a closed-circuit television system for overflow and enhanced audio and visual equipment.
Reverend Hunter understands that the call to preach is a call to continual preparation. God started preparing Reverend Hunter at a young age. On September 15, 2002, he accepted God’s call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the Toliver Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. He preached his initial sermon on January 12, 2003 and was licensed on July 27, 2003. Reverend Hunter was ordained on October 30, 2009, under the loving and nurturing guidance and pastoral leadership of his father and role model, the Reverend Dr. Jimmy D. Hunter.
God has provided Reverend Hunter several opportunities along his journey to prepare him for the life, knowledge and skills of becoming a preacher/pastor. From 2002-2006, Reverend Hunter served as Youth Pastor at the First Baptist Church in Salisbury, Maryland, under the pastorate of the Reverend Lewis N. Watson. A highlight along this journey came in December 2006 when he was invited by Dr. Thelma B. Thompson, President of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES, Princess Anne, Maryland) to deliver the sermon at the University’s Interfaith Based Prayer Breakfast. He was and is the first and only student in the University’s history to preach at such an auspicious occasion. This invitation came on the heels of Reverend Hunter having completed his Bachelor of Arts degree. From 2007-2009, he served as Assistant Pastor to Senior Pastor, the Reverend H. Walden Wilson II of Israel Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. In December 2009, Reverend Hunter became further prepared for his calling by graduating with a Master of Divinity Degree from Howard University School of Divinity (Washington, District of Columbia). During his tenure at Howard, he served as a Recruiter on the 2008 Student Government Association.
Reverend Hunter is highly ambitious and knows it is his responsibility to continue to prepare himself spiritually to preach the Word of God to all people, but especially to the flock that has entrusted him with their spiritual growth and development. He also knows it is equally important to prepare himself academically to become better equipped (theologically, psychologically and sociologically) to address the changing demographics (cultures, genders) and complex societal needs/ills with which pastors are faced within their churches and communities. To this end, Reverend Hunter has entered the Doctor of Ministry degree program at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Reverend Hunter proudly serves his community as an active member Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
A loving family has been the stabilizer in Rev. Hunter’s life, born on February 16, 1982 in Austin, Texas to Dr. Jimmy D. and Pamelia H. Hunter. In October 2009, he married the love of his life and best friend, Patrice A. Hunter. He is the grandson of Georgia M. and the late Jimmie D. Hunter (Austin, Texas) and Deloris J. and the late Dr. William P. Hytche, Sr. (Princess Anne, Maryland), who was President Emeritus of University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Reverend Hunter shares a special bond with sister and brother-in-law, J’Naudia D. and Jason T. Phillips, and is the proud uncle of his one and only niece, Kaitlyn H. Phillips.
Since his call into the Gospel ministry, God literally has him on the fast track. He has opened doors, which has allowed him to stand in pulpits of great/historic churches across the country, which he otherwise would not have experienced were it not for God’s hand on his life.