Reverend Dr. Willie J. Thompson Jr., was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. Dr. Thompson received his BS degree in Religion and Philosophy from Benedict College, his Masters of Divinity degree and a Ph.D. in Sociology with concentrations in Social Inequality and Urban Development from Howard University of Washington, D.C. While at Howard, Dr. Thompson became national and internationally sought after thought leader, researcher and facilitator. He also was a recruiter for the School of Divinity and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Community Director leading efforts by providing a healthy living and learning environment for undergraduate and graduate students.
Dr. Thompson teaches introductory courses on theories and concepts of Sociology and Religion at Northern Virginia Community College, Sterling, Virginia and was a lecturer at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. His first book “Suffer The Children” was published in 2014 and in the fall of 2017, Dr. Thompson will release his second and third books: both compilations of Dr. Thompson’s research and writings to and about growing faith communities who seek to address the digression of sacred influence on contemporary society.
Dr. Thompson has held many offices which include: Political Action Chairman of the South Carolina NAACP Youth and College Division, Vice President of the Graduate Student Council, President of the ORL Leadership Institute and Hearing Officer at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Vice President of the National Black Graduate Student Association, New York, New York. Assistant Dean and Second Vice President of the Gethsemane Baptist Association, Congress of Christian Education. Currently, he is President of the Just Lead Christian Leadership Conference and organizer of the W2W Prophetic Gathering. His list of awards and honors consist of Director’s Award, Office of Student 
Leadership, Benedict College; Dean’s List, Unsung Hero Award, Howard University; William F. Gibson Leadership Award, NAACP; and Honorary Doctorate of Divinity, Southeastern Religious Consortium, Richmond, Virginia.
Dr. Thompson is the founder of non-profit religious organization, “In His Presence” Ministries, Inc., dedicated to evangelizing to the lost. In His Presence” Evangelistic Crusade is composed of ministers, psalmists, dancers, missionaries, and teachers committed to taking the presence of God to the world. He is also the founder of Willie J. Thompson, Jr. Ministries, Inc., a non-profit institution formed as a religious education and empowerment initiative. This organization provides teaching and leadership resources to emerging faith leaders of interdenominational influence.
Rev. Thompson served as Youth & Young Adult Pastor at the Oak Grove Baptist Church (Elgin, South Carolina), and Youth & Young Adult Pastor at the Prince George’s Community Presbyterian Church (Springdale, Maryland). While at Oak Grove Baptist Church Rev. Thompson serves as the Dean of the Baptist Training Union (BTU) mission trip organizer, Teachers Training Facilitator, Choir Director and Church Growth Institute Instructor. While at Prince George’s Community Church, he strengthened the youth and young adult program by establishing a vibrant college ministry; youth mission team, and co-founded a national association for youth ministers. There, he débuted his theatrical gifts by writing and producing stage plays; The Rock: A History of African American Worship; When Sunday Comes and a Mitchellville Christmas.
Reverend Thompson is the proud Senior Pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church in Clairton, Pennsylvania. Under Pastor Thompson’s leadership, Morning Star adopted, released and branded a new logo, website and clothing line;
enlivened its entry ways, pastors study, classrooms, Junior Church area and sanctuary; expanded annual men, women and youth days to group emphasis months; added a spring ministry and a fall business fair; reorganized annual revival into a March Madness revival series featuring local and regional preachers; reorganized the noonday bible study; introduced a membership care plan; renamed church meetings to church conferences including a meal of fellowship; introduced an annual staff retreat; and raised capital for the revitalization of the Baptism area and Dining Facility. Morning Star adopted a new mission, (Impacting the World as a Worshipping, Witnessing, Working and Welcoming Community of Believers in Jesus Christ) atmosphere (“Welcome Home”) and slogan (“You Belong Here”). When joining Morning Star each member will receive their newest assimilation guide called “The M Book,” a directory and orientation to the life and legacy of the Morning Star Church. Pastor Thompson reintroduced the role of a Minister of Music and garnered the musical talents of aspiring musicians. Out of this movement a Women’s Choir was born and the music department revitalized.
Dr. Thompson is the founder of non-profit religious organization, “In His Presence” Ministries, Inc., dedicated to evangelizing to the lost. In His Presence” Evangelistic Crusade is composed of ministers, psalmists, dancers, missionaries, and teachers committed to taking the presence of God to the world. He is also the founder of Willie J. Thompson, Jr. Ministries, Inc., a non-profit institution formed as a religious education and empowerment initiative. This organization provides teaching and leadership resources to emerging faith leaders of interdenominational influence.
Under the leadership of Pastor Thompson Morning Star ordained Deacon Michael Gressem, Deacon Robert Scott III, and opened a second facility named, the “Morning Star Performing Arts Center.” And, at its dedication, consecrated Church Mother Bertha Murray after a first ever march drum majored from the existing campus to Morning Star’s new addition.
In its almost 100 year history Morning Star ordained its first females to ministry: Rev. Alice Flood, Rev. Gloria Gressem and Rev. Gloria Ruffing; and since 2013 licensed Min. Richard Stevenson, Min. Dr. Marjorie Davis, Min. Rikell Ford, Min. Angela Gressem-Corley, Min. Robin Prince, Min. LaPhon Flood Francis, Min. Ann Brown. Min. Jean Gressem-Jacobs, Min. Natasha Scott and Min. Brittany Prince-Underwood. Under Pastor Thompson, Rev. Deborah Taylor, Rev. Jill Clemons and Evangelist Cynthia Chaney have also joined the associate ministers team. These ministers, area ministers and pastors engage a monthly intensive training course with Pastor Thompson and carry out their vocation by providing visitation and worship services to Kane and Southwestern Nursing Homes and participation in the Clairton Interfaith Alliance, Jefferson Clergy Convening, The Jefferson Department of Spiritual Care, The Greater Pittsburgh Interfaith Coalition and The Micah 6 Pastors Coalition of Pittsburgh.
Community wise, Morning Star and her youngest leader ever, have forged new partnerships with The Jefferson Regional Foundation, The Forbes Foundation, Economic Development South, The Negro Education Emergency Drive (NEED), The Program To Aid Citizen Enterprise, Health GTECH Strategies, National Network of Library Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Allen’s Place Community Services, The Clairton Youth Collaborative, The Pittsburgh Dream Center and Gwen’s Girls. Pastor Thompson led Morning Star teams on national mission initiatives and increased our ladies participation in national conferences. And Pastor’s passion for this community revitalized Morning Star’s partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank, thus the Soup Kitchen is now inclusive of a team of certified food handlers. And Morning Star now serves as a Produce to People Drop Zone allowing Families in the metropolis of Clairton to receive 30-50lbs of food when facing a food crisis without discrimination.
The church has grown in membership, leadership, financial giving, investing and Godly practices and those are reinforced through weekly sound biblical exploration, 5am morning prayer and a 40-day season of fasting. Pastor Thompson, the lead worshipper, has been dubbed a present-day David because of his zealous passion for true praise and worship. He is an anointed preacher, teacher, advisor, prayer warrior and team leader who has become a man after God’s own heart.
