Pastor Mack H. L. McConnel          

      Pastor McConnel was educated in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools and New York City Public School System. Pastor McConnel is known as a man of character, integrity and wisdom. Pastor McConnel attended Union Baptist Church with other family members during his youth. He attended Tuskegee Institute of Alabama and later received a degree from Piedmont Bible College in Winston-Salem, NC.  He was ordained as an Elder at Wells Temple Church of God in Christ  in 1963 and was ordained a deacon in 1970. Pastor McConnel received his calling to the Gospel ministry and was ordained as a Baptist Minister in 1975 under the pastorate of the late Dr. A. H. McDaniel.On May 18, 1977, Pastor McConnel was called as the Pastor of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church for 26 years before being led to establish Saint James Missionary Baptist Church. Under his leadership, the church body has grown from membership to discipleship.

          The membership has a genuine desire for the Word of God to guide their daily lives and to lift up others by sharing a “loving “ spirit. Pastor McConnel believes that the power of God can only be magnified if the church works as one body with God’s vision for the church being their ultimate objective, operating as a team in all respects of ministry. God has truly equipped him to be a voice for a “changing generation”. Pastor McConnel has always been an intense student of the bible and annually attends expository preaching seminars, training conferences and workshops on his personal pursuit to strive for excellence.