Ours Pastor

Dr. Dwight C. Jones, a visionary leader serves as the beloved Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of South Richmond, where he will celebrate 51 years of service this year. He has been an active faith leader and public servant in the City of Richmond, where he has made significant strides and accomplishments in the church, immediate community and the city of Richmond Standing as an ever-present force working for causes that positively affirm his heritage and beliefs, Dr. Jones’ efforts have impacted the City of Richmond and also the state at large. He is a diligent advocate of economic empowerment for those who are not in the mainstream.

Dr. Jones is a gifted leader having founded the South Richmond Senior Center, the First Baptist Church Child Care Center, the Imani Intergenerational Community Development Corporation. Under Dr. Jones’ leadership, Imani CDC developed a full block of property in the Blackwell community of the City of Richmond, 68 apartments and 23,000 square feet of retail space which has served as a catalyst to bringing businesses back Hull Street and led the church in expanding its ministry to Chesterfield County, with the building of a second worship site where it has grown tremendously over the past eight years.

Dr. Jones has dedicated his life to improving the lives of God’s people through his service in the community. He was appointed to the City of Richmond’s School Board, where he served as Chairman. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, serving the 70th District for 12 years. While serving in the legislature he was elected Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. Under his visionary leadership the Caucus developed and launched the Minority Political Leadership Institute to develop future leaders. The MPLI is now housed under VCU’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute and continues to produce leaders.

Dr. Jones was elected Mayor of the City of Richmond in 2008 and re-elected in 2012, serving as the second Mayor-At Large. As Mayor he successfully led Richmond in laying a strong foundation for a well-managed government, economic growth, building a strong transportation system, creating a sustainable and natural environment and most importantly attacking the city’s 26% poverty rate. As a result of his leadership the City now enjoys Bus Rapid transportation and has expanded transportation to surrounding counties. The poverty rate now stands at 17 ½ person and the Office of Community Wealth Building, created under his leadership, recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, honoring the work of Mayor Jones.

Dr. Jones earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Divinity degrees from Virginia Union University, and a Doctorate from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. Dwight C. Jones, a visionary leader serves as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of South Richmond, where he has served for nearly 50 years. He has been an active faith leader and public servant in the City of Richmond, where he has made significant strides and accomplishments in the church, immediate community and the city of Richmond.

Standing as an ever-present force working for causes that positively affirm his heritage and beliefs, Dr. Jones’ efforts have impacted the City of Richmond and also the state at large. He is a diligent advocate of economic empowerment for those who are not in the mainstream.

Dr. Jones is a gifted leader having founded the South Richmond Senior Center, the First Baptist Church Child Care Center, the Imani Intergenerational Community Development Corporation. Under Dr. Jones’ leadership, Imani CDC developed a full block of property in the Blackwell community of the City of Richmond, 68 apartments and 23,000 square feet of retail space which has served as a catalyst to bringing businesses back Hull Street and led the church in expanding its ministry to Chesterfield, with the building of a second worship site.

Dr. Jones is a gifted leader having founded the South Richmond Senior Center, the First Baptist Church Child Care Center, the Imani Intergenerational Community Development Corporation. Under Dr. Jones’ leadership, Imani CDC developed a full block of property in the Blackwell community of the City of Richmond, 68 apartments and 23,000 square feet of retail space which has served as a catalyst to bringing businesses back Hull Street and led the church in expanding its ministry to Chesterfield, with the building of a second worship site.

Dr. Jones was appointed to the Richmond City School Board in 1979 and served as its chairman from 1982-1985. He was elected to the Virginia State Legislature and served from 1994-2008, in the House of Delegates serving the 70th district. During his tenure in the House of Delegates, he served as Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. Dr. Jones elected Mayor of the City of Richmond in 2008 and re-elected in 2021served two terms. As Mayor he successfully led Richmond in laying a strong foundation for a well-managed government, economic growth, building a strong transportation system, creating a sustainable and natural environment and most importantly attacking the city’s 26% poverty rate.

Dr. Jones earned a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Divinity degrees from Virginia Union University, and a Doctorate from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He is truly the beloved Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of South Richmond.

Serving with his father Dr. Dwight C. Jones who after 49 years is still the church’s Senior Pastor. First Baptist Church of South Richmond is a pillar in the Richmond community as it continues to grow with a membership well over 4,000. First Baptist recently completed construction on phase 1 of Imani Village, a 4 phase building project that saw the construction of a 2,000-seat worship center located in Richmond is neighboring Chesterfield County. First Baptist South Richmond is one church in two locations operating 3 to 4 services each week.

Pastor Jones is a graduate with honors from Virginia Union University where he double majored in history and political science. He is also a graduate of The Divinity School at Yale University, where his concentration lied in biblical studies. Pastor Jones holds an earned Doctor of Ministry Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts. His doctoral dissertation focused on new paradigms for creativity in preaching in the 21st Century black church.

Dr. Jones is a former member of the Richmond City School Board, a consultant with AARP on behalf of the Council of National Black Churches and serves on the board of directors of the Imani Community Development Corporation that works to bring affordable housing to the city of Richmond. Dr. Jones’ ministry has allowed him to travel extensively across Europe and Africa. As part of a select delegation of religious and community leaders, Dr. Jones traveled to Israel in 2016. Dr. Jones led a delegation to Egypt in 2018 and will lead another delegation to South Africa in 2023. Dr. Jones has two siblings: one brother Dwight Brenton, and a twin sister Nichole Danielle. He is married to his lovely wife Tamara Elise. They are the proud parents of their daughter Raegan McKinley who is 12 and Derik II who is 6 years old. Dr. Jones takes pride in the fact that he is the fifth generation of preachers in his family.