The Rev. Donald L Wilson believes he has what it takes to lead the conference.
Reverend Donald L. Wilson, associate minister of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, is ready to do God’s work as the new president of the Baptist Minister’s Conference.
“My goal is to seek the presidency of the Baptist Ministers Conference to serve as a guiding light in our community and beyond,” stated Wilson.
He’s originally from Galveston, Texas, but was raised here in Los Angeles. Wilson is a product of the Los Angeles Unified School District having attended Queen Ann Elementary School, Foshay Junior High School and Los Angeles High School.
He attended Los Angeles Trade Technical College, receiving a certificate of completion in chef training and earned a Bachelor of Theology Degree from the Joint Baptist Theological Seminary.
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He has been preaching for 40 years having pastored at True Way Missionary Baptist Church in South L.A. for 10 of those years. He got called into ministry in the early 80s and began preaching the Word of God.
“A revelation about inspirational messages is what I was receiving,” said Wilson about his call to ministry. “I was a layman in the church, but I was not convinced until the second message that God gave me.”
Wilson continued, “I was convinced—He called me to preach.”
He preached his first sermon and was licensed under the leadership of the late Pastor Vernon G. Calvin. Later, at West Pico Missionary Baptist Church, Wilson was ordained under the leadership of the late Dr. W. M. Brent, Sr. He was introduced to the Baptist Minister’s Conference by Dr. Brent, Sr.
He is currently serving under the spiritual leadership of Bishop Sylvester Washington, pastor of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Wilson is married to Elvia Wilson, a father of two children and three grandchildren.
Preachers are always a popular topic of conversation for either positive or negative reasons. Wilson shared that there is a continuous present-day misconception many have about preachers.
“People cannot forget we are human beings as well,” said Wilson. “I don’t care how well we can preach, how talented we may be, we’re still subject to a banana peel or to slip on some black ice that you can’t even see.
“Scripture says, ‘let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall,’ so we need to brace ourselves as we minister to people because ‘But by the grace of God’ there go I.
“It’s a privilege to be called to preach because it is the highest calling in the land.”
When asked where he sees the body of Christ, the church, Wilson shared that there is still much to be done.
“We’re in a critical stage because if you look at the climate, we still see people dying and going to hell,” said Wilson. “We’ve got to continue to mandate ‘go ye therefore’ and preach the gospel and baptize in the name of Jesus.”
Wilson continued, “The more folks get saved, the better off our community would be. The Bible said the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Everyday, God is directing a Christian, on an individual basis, to witness to somebody.
“That is still at hand today and we cannot cease to rest from that until God calls us home.”
Wilson believes that true witnessing first starts with one’s conduct in their daily life. He preaches that it is important for Christians to live an upright life because they maybe the only “Bible” anyone ever knows.
“None of us are perfect, but we should be headed for perfection,” said Wilson. “Those people, who are not saved, the most Bible that they’re going to ever read is your life.
“It’s not what you say—it’s what you do, so we have a huge responsibility to let our light so shine.”
The Baptist Minister’s Conference of Los Angeles has the largest community of clergy in the nation. The conference’s platform attracts people of influence from across the country. Wilson is seeking presidency of the conference and believes in what he can bring to the table.
“It’s a city that sitteh on a hill and cannot be hidden, so we have a great responsibility to uphold that integrity of the conference,” said Wilson.
He continued, “It’s the type of position that you have to be able to interact, not only with the ministers, pastors and preachers of other councils, but with the community and various groups.
“When I look back over my life and see how God has prepared me for such a time as this—I have the capability to lead people, no matter what capacity—I wear various hats.”
Wilson shared that he’s aware and engaged with civil rights, civic and labor issues and within the political arena. He is a community activist with the National Action Network, a member of BCCLA and has collaborated with SCLC, Urban League, and the NAACP.
Wilson is a retired chef of over 30 years with the Century Plaza Hotel from March 1978 until October 2005. He is the recipient of the Thurston Dupar Employee of the Year Award in 1991. Wilson was organizing director of diversity with Unite Here from October 2005 until June 2020 and chaplain of Unite Here Local 11, which had 30,00 members for 20 years. He is also CEO and founder of the Black Hospitality Workers since July 2020.
“I bring credibility, honesty and fairness to the Baptist Minister’s Conference as a representative, as a president,” said Wilson. “If you check my record, everything that God has elevated me to has been in a leadership position—and I cannot do it by myself.
“It’s a collective job, where we work together.”
Wilson would like to thank all of his sponsors and supporters, which include the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., Danny J. Bakewell, Jr., California State Senator Lola Smallwood Cuevas, Unite Here Secretary-Treasurer Willie Gonzales, AFSCME District Council 36, Business Rep. Nan La Lori Condinus, Dulan’s Restaurant and owner Greg Dulan, Post & Beam Owner Operator Chef John Cleveland, McDaniel’s & Associates, Pastor Paul Burleson of Friendship Baptist Church of Christ Jesus in Denver, Colorado, Fannie Lou Hamer Institute Director Babu Akili, D.N.C. member Carolyn Fowler, and L.A. Councilman Curren D. Price Jr.
