We look forward to Pastor Jay preaching on Sunday, November 17 at all three campuses and online. Church members will have an opportunity to vote in person during a celebration at each service, with additional voting instructions provided for out-of-state members via email.

We praise God for a prayerful and intentional search process. This year, our Church Council along with the Lead Pastor Search Team led a nationwide search, carefully reviewing and narrowing down a strong group of candidates. Together with Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr., the team conducted interviews, theological reviews, and extensive reference checks. After much prayer and discernment, the Church Council, Lead Pastor Search Team, and Pastor Johnson are united in their belief that God has led us to this Lead Pastor candidate.

As we prepare to make this decision together, let’s pray daily for discernment and join in a Corporate 24-Hour Fast on Wednesday, November 13. Then, gather at our Church Celebration on Sunday, November 17, to hear our Lead Pastor candidate preach and participate in the church-wide vote. Thank you for your support and voting on Sunday, November 17!

On behalf of the Eastern Star Church Council,
Elder James S. Poore II
Search Team Chairperson & Church Council Vice Moderator

Meet our Lead Pastor Candidate

Brief biographY

Pastor Jay is a dynamic man of God who dreams of changing the world through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He received his bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, before accepting his call to ministry. He went on to receive a Master of Divinity in Hermeneutics from the Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric at Christian Theological Seminary. Pastor Jay has authored his first book, A Story to Tell: A 40 Day Focus on Your Walk With God.   

After graduating from seminary, Pastor Jay worked diligently at Eastern Star Church as the Associate Pastor of Preaching and Teaching. Pastor Jay served as the preaching assistant for his father, Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. During his time at Eastern Star Church, he assisted in developing a multi-site congregation through preaching and teaching. Pastor Jay offered spiritual leadership to congregants and conducted pre-marital counseling, community outreach, and program development to the young adult and online ministry.  

Pastor Jay’s gift of preaching has afforded him the opportunity to preach and teach across the country, including at the National Baptist Convention of the USA. He previously served as an adjunct professor at Martin University. He is a current advisory team member and workshop presenter for the IC3 Issachar Church Conference. 

Pastor Jay is happily married to Janelle Rae, and they are the proud parents of Dylan Kyle, Jeffrey Allen III, and Jeremiah August Raymond.

Pastor Jay’s employment history, starting with his current role:

Senior Pastor
Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church • Indianapolis
2022 - Current

Associate Pastor of Preaching and Teaching
Eastern Star Church • Indianapolis
2014 - 2022

His education:

Paine College
Bachelor: Mass Communications
2006 - 2011

Interdenominational Theological Center
Master of Divinity
2011 - 2014

Christian Theological Seminary
PhD: African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric
2020 - current
Currently preparing for comprehensive exams for spring semester 2025

His Skills: Multi-Site Congregational Leadership, Spiritual Counseling, Church Facility Planning, Operations Management, Community Outreach, and Church Program Development and Management

His Ministry Credentials:

• Certificate of Ordination: in 2017 by Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr., Eastern Star Church – Indianapolis, IN

• Certificate of License: in 2013 by Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr., Eastern Star Church – Indianapolis, IN

Get to know Pastor Jay

Introduction video:

Recent sermons preached at Eastern Star Church: