Our Pastor
11th Pastor of the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Gerald West-Phipps, Senior Pastor
Reverend Gerald D. West-Phipps, for the past forty years in his calling, has a tremendous passion for God’s word, with a love for God’s people. He’s a man of prayer, faith and truth; a man of valor, vigilance and vision.
He has a contagious and charismatic Spirit that flows through every facet of his personality and ministry. Having received his mandate from God, Gerald obediently answered his calling entering public ministry at Omega Baptist Church, East Cleveland, Ohio. This man of God is a Spirit – filled preacher, a tremendous inspiration to everyone and is totally dedicated to the work of God. Pastor West-Phipps started early dedicating his life in service to God. It was evident that God had His hands on him as He guided him through his service to Him.
Born and reared in Decatur Georgia he received love and nurturing from his parents, Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Lizzie Phipps. He confessed his calling and was licensed in January 1980, and ordained in January 1989. He married the love of his life, Nina Clark-Phipps. They are proud parents of two children, Pedro and Sean, and proud grandparents of two.
Gerald graduated from Collinwood High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He served his county in the U.S Army and in the U.S Marines for seventeen years; achieving the prestigious rank of Sergeant in both branches; parting with Honorable Discharges.
He has held leadership positions locally and district levels, throughout the state of New York overseeing many churches as a Presiding Bishop and has planted four churches and two Bible Colleges. Reverend West – Phipps finds time to contribute to professional and civic activities; faith, patience, love and humility motivate him to respond to the Great Commission given by Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19). He believes that only what he does for Christ will last. Pastor West-Phipps labors in the vineyard for Christ on an on-going basis.
He’s a born again, spirit-fed and Bible-led evangelistic pastor-preacher; engrafted into Christ and is a habitation of the Holy Spirit. He believes in one Lord, one faith and one baptism. Jesus Christ and no other, is the feature, focus and function of his ministry. He is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because he knows that it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes it.
Nina Clark Phipps, First Lady
Nina Clark-Phipps was born in Buffalo, New York, the first daughter of Howard and Irene Abdelaziz-Clark. She grew up with five other siblings. Nina’s life as a child was rich with the tapestry of faith woven throughout her daily experiences as her grandfather, the late Bishop Israel Abdelaziz served as her pastor as a youth and many of her uncles entered ministry and pastored churches as well.
Nina attended and graduated from Kensington High School and later enrolled in a real Estate class where she obtained her certification. She also attended Kensington Business Institute where she studied word processing and business administration. For more than 36 years she served with various companies such as Lloyd Taylor, Macy’s, Kauffman’s and other major retail department stores where she worked as a Make-Up artist until her retirement.
Nina is married to Dr. Gerald West-Phipps, who was named as the eleventh Senior Pastor in the 106th year history of the Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church. She previously served with her husband served as First Lady and Director of Women’s Ministries for Kingdom Dominion Covenant Ministries Fellowship, Inc until 2023 when he stepped down and passed the mantle as founding and Presiding Bishop.
She presently serves the Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church as its 11th First Lady, gladly pitching in to help and to serve wherever she is asked and her gifts are needed. Nina chaired the 2024 Mount Nebo’s Women’s Day celebration where the witness to her ability to reach people generated a where can you find a seat worship experience.
The mother of three sons (one deceased) and the grandmother of two, she enjoys people and is in touch with people and down to earth in her ministry and faith approach to others. She has a strong commitment to her marriage and her family. Her strong generational ties to the Church naturally makes her give and contribute to the well-being of her church family, and she serves as the Assistant Director of Women’s Ministries. Her favorite scripture is, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”
Honorary Past Pastors
Wherefore I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Ephesians 3:7-8 KJV
1917 – Pastor Pratt
1918 – Pastor Elliott
1920 – Pastor Williams F. Early
1923 – Pastor R.S. Jones
1929 – Pastor Dotson (9 years)
1938 – Pastor Norman E. James
1939 – Pastor J. R. Hill
1942 – Pastor Day (7 years)
1949 – Pastor Booker T. Nelson (33 years)
1982 – Pastor Ernest L. Thompson (35 years)
PASTOR'S VISION STATEMENT
“I believe that my vision for Mount Nebo’s well-being, growth, development and continuity is to ensure that she is fully established in the faith; fervent in missions and evangelism, grounded in love, mindful of fellowship, and appealing in it’s multi-generational obligations, to serve young and old, poor and rich, saint and sinner without prejudice or malicious judgment towards any; while maintaining its allegiance to God and His infallible, inerrant word with a full and unabated understanding that through prayer, Biblical teaching and preaching and authentic relationship with Christ Jesus and among its congregants, Mount Nebo can fulfill its calling, purpose, mission and vision.”
To God Be the Glory.
Sunday School
9:30 a.m.
Sunday Wordship
10:45 a.m.
Wednesday Bible Study
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and
6:00 p.m.