About Us >
Our Pastor - Rev. Warren E. Amlet
Rev. Warren E. Amlet is a native of Norfolk, Virginia. At an early age he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He then became a member of the historic First Baptist Church, Bute Street. Pastor Amlet attended Norfolk Public Schools. He is a graduate of Norfolk state University and has done graduate study at Old Dominion University and the University of Toulon in Toulon, France. Pastor Amlet was a bi-vocational pastor until his recent retirement from the Norfolk Public Schools. He is currently pursuing further studies in the local pastors' degree program at the Regent University School of Divinity.
Pastor Amlet is a two-time recipient of the Norfolk Superintendent's School Bell Award. He was selected and is a member of Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities among professional organizations. He also received a Distinguished Counselor Award from the American Institute of Foreign Studies and was a 2002 recipient of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority's "Apple for the Teach Award." Pastor Amlet has been blessed to travel and study in many foreign countries, most recently, Israel.
At a very early age, he began to seek the Lord. His favorite scripture, Jeremiah 29:11-13, encouraged him in his quest to know God: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Finding and accepting Jesus, Pastor Amlet was licensed in 1985.
In 1988, led by the Spirit of the Lord, Pastor Amlet became a member of New First Baptist Church, Taylorsville where Dr. Thomas Melvin Steele was pastor. In his heart, he knew that God had spoken to him and his heartfelt response was "Here am I, send me."
On August 23, 1990, the First Baptist Church of South Portsmouth extended the call to him to become it's teacher, leader and pastor. He accepted and was ordained on September 23, 1990 by the Ordination Council of the Sharon Missionary Baptist Association and Allied Bodies of the Tidewater Metro Ministers' Conference.
He has been pastor of First Baptist 19 years. Under his pastorate, the church has experienced spiritual growth and the birth of many ministries - the Prison Ministry, the Power for Living class, Singles' Ministry, Men's and Women's Ministries, Praise Team, Inspirational Praise Dancers' and most recently: the Special Forces Mime Ministry, the Manna from Heaven Weekly Radio Ministry, the We Care Food Ministry, the church newsletter "The Friendly Corner" and church internet website. His desire is to preach and to teach the Gospel to all people, and all will come to the saving truth of our Lord and be ready to meet Him on His return.
Pastor Amlet resides in Chesapeake, Virginia, with his lovely wife, the former Irene Shears of Surry County, Virginia.