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Our Pastor

Meet Our Pastor

Pastor Steve Chesney

Faith and Family
Reverend Chesney’s life is built on strong foundations of faith and family. As a born-again believer with over 30 years of ministry experience, his spiritual calling guides his every endeavor. This is beautifully complemented by his 34-year marriage to his high school sweetheart, Tonya, and their two accomplished adult children, reflecting a deep commitment to family values.
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Community-Oriented Leader
With over three decades of diverse ministry experience, including roles as Executive Pastor, Youth Pastor, and Prison Chaplain, Reverend Chesney has consistently demonstrated a profound dedication to serving and uplifting various communities. His commitment extends beyond the pulpit, as he actively engages in leadership and support roles that positively impact the lives of those around him.
Reverend Steve L. Chesney, PhD(c), MBA is currently honored to serve as the pastor of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. Formerly, he served as the Senior Pastor of Exousia Christian Fellowship Church in Sanford, NC for 19 years. In January of 2026, he will graduate with a PhD in Data Science & Analytics from North Carolina A&T State University, where he is also an adjunct professor, teaching Management Information Systems and Big Data Analytics. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Theology from Andersonville Baptist Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Union University.
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A Born-Again Believer
As a born-again believer, Pastor Chesney accepted the call into Christian ministry in September of 1993. He was licensed as a minister under the leadership of Dr. Robert L. Cook, New Birth Jerusalem Church of God in Christ, Clarksville, TN and has over 30 years of ministry experience. During his ministerial career, he has served in several roles such as Executive Pastor, Faith, Victory & Freedom Ministries International (under the leadership of Bishop, Dr. Halvester Gupton), Youth Pastor, Prison Chaplain (Southeastern Correctional Institution, Troy, NC), Psalmist and Praise & Worship Leader, to name a few. Reverend Chesney is a Data Scientist supporting the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Intelligence Community and has achieved over 27 industry certifications.
A Picture of What God can Do

He has been happily married to his high school sweetheart, Tonya Bethune-Chesney, MHS for 34 years, and they have two wonderful adult children, Attorney Kaitlyn Chesney-Morris of Newark, NJ and Stephen Xavier Chesney (Business Expert, Apple, Inc.) of Houston, TX. 

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-chesney/