PASTOR GRADY CALDWELL II

Born in Albany, Georgia, in 1949, Grady Caldwell completed his public education at Albany High School in 1967. He is the central focus of a book published about Albany, integration and sports during that era, "Made or Broken" by Bill Lightle. In his second year at Albany State, he married his childhood sweetheart, Kathleen Jones Caldwell, which began their forty-two years of marriage. He is the father of four children.

Upon completion of Albany State University with a degree in Business Administration, Grady began over a 30 year professional career yielding diverse experiences in warehousing, sales, proposal writing and evaluation, administration, contract procurement, management, planning and motivational speaking. He grew up in Mount Zion Baptist Church. Through life's experiences, including chemical dependency and all of its negative consequences, Rev. Caldwell developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and accepted his God-ordained purpose to teach and preach the Word of God in 1991 at New Convenant Church, Albany, Georgia.

Pastor Caldwell was ordained by Zion Baptist Church, Hampton, Georgia, in 2003, where he served as Assistant Pastor. His emphasis is on teaching others how to apply the Word of God, and the principles of Jesus Christ to their everyday lives. He has completed an Associate of Theology, a Bachelor of Theology, and a Master of Theology degree from Christian Life School of Theology, Beacon University in December 2007.

After seeking God, Grady and Kathleen agreed to serve God in the Griffin, Ga. area by planting an inner-city church. God led them to Lamentations 3:22, 23, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness. " As a result, God game them the name, New Mercy Baptist Church where he serves as the founding pastor. Now in its third year, New Mercy Baptist Church has been recognized by the Georgia Baptist Convention as a model for church plants in the State of Georgia. Throughout their spiritual journey, God has prepared Pastor Grady and First Lady Kathleen Caldwell for such a time as this.

Rev. Caldwell has served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Soul Changers Recovery Program, Inc. a Christ-centered long-term residential treatment program for individuals suffering from addiction. Pastor Caldwell currently serves as Chairman of the Board of New Mercy Community Services, Inc. ; Board Member , Life Song Ministries, Inc. and the Community Center On Personal Enrichment, Inc (CCOPE). Pastor Caldwell is actively involved in several other religious and community activities in the Griffin, GA area.

REVEREND CARMEN CALDWELL, Youth Pastor

Reverend Carmen Caldwell, affectionately called “Reverend C.C.” or simply “Ms. Carmen” was born and raised in Albany, GA graduating from Monroe Comprehensive High School (1994) and Albany State University (1998) with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. She moved to Seattle, WA to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 office where she remained from 1999 – 2007. She holds a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Washington (2002) and a Masters of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Counseling at Mercer University McAfee School of Theology (2010).

Education is very important to her, but that does not solely define who she is. It is her service and ministry to others that make her most proud. She loves working with people of all ages to help them discover the greatness of God in each of them. Reverend C.C. accepted her call to Word ministry in July 2004 and gave her first public sermon and was licensed on October 31, 2004 at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church (Seattle, WA). From that day on, God has used her voice, through writing and preaching to meet and reach people for Christ.

One of her life mottos is “saved to serve, not to sit.” Rev. C.C. currently serves New Mercy Baptist Church (Griffin, GA) as Youth Pastor under the leadership of her father and mother, Rev. Grady Caldwell II and 1st Lady Kathleen Caldwell. She was ordained by New Mercy on September 13, 2009.

Her life’s mission is to motivate and minister, educate and empower, challenge and cheer others to reach their God-given potential. Rev. C.C. has been sent for such a time as this to proclaim Truth with passion, purpose, and power.

MINISTER NADINE ROUNTREE

Minister Nadine Rountree was born in Mount Vernon, NY where she attended public schools and graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1988.

She accepted the Lord Jesus as her Savior at a very young age and was baptized at Unity Baptist Tabernacle, Mount Vernon, NY where she served on the usher board and sand on the choir. She began singing at the age of four years old, her first solo being, “I Made a Vow.”

In July 1993 she married Reginald “Keith” Rountree. She is the mother of three children.

Minister Rountree accepted her calling into the Gospel Minister and was licenses in October 1994 at Unity Baptist Tabernacle, Mount Vernon, NY.

She attended Georgia Medical Institute where she received her certificate in Medical Assisting in October 2000. She also attended Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA.

In June 2008 she became the Worship Leader for New Mercy Baptist Church in Griffin, GA where she continues to praise God for all that He has done and worship Him just because He is God.

Praise Is My Weapon!