What do you get when you mix a bundle of bubbling, rare and enviable gifts
of communication with a burning zeal to reach the world for Christ? You get the soulful, insightful and powerful
pastor of Columbus, Ohio's Faith Ministries Interdenominational Church - Dr. C. Dexter Wise III.
As a communicator, who has gone from the "hood" of Baltimore, MD to the top of
his class at Harvard in Cambridge, MA, Dr. Wise is prepared to speak effectively and authentically to virtually any occasion.
As a preacher and pastor, Dr. Wise was called to preach
at 12; licensed to preach at 16; ordained to the gospel ministry at 19; served as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Providence,
RI 1977- 1982; served as pastor of Columbus, Ohio's historic Shiloh Baptist Church, 1982-1991. In November of 1991,
Dr. Wise was led to organize Faith Ministries Interdenominational Church in Columbus, OH.
This
church grew from six members to more than 500 members in less than one month! (See www.FMCTV.com) Faith Ministries now has a weekly television ministry, a host of outreach ministries locally and around
the world (see www.IFFMUS.com) and has built a brand new multimillion dollar church on a 29 acre plot of land in Columbus,
OH.
As a scholar, Dr. Wise received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania,
Cum Laude, 1975; received a M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, Magna Cum Laude, 1978; received a MA from Harvard Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences, 1980; received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Virginia College and Seminary in
Lynchburg, VA, 1980; and earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH, May 1997.
Dr. Wise also has a school of ministry which can be accessed online, on video tape or through live classes. (See www.thewiseschool.com)
As the " Rappin' Reverend ", Dr. Wise recorded his first rap album "I Ain't
Into That!" which was the number one song on the number one rhythm and blues station in Detroit, Michigan. The song soared
to number fourteen on the dance charts in London, England in the summer of 1987. Other Rappin' Reverend publications are his
book, " I Ain't Into That!" (The Book), and his rap album, "Crack Attack". In connection with this, The
Rappin' Reverend went on a fifty school tour and in ninety days got more than 18,000 Columbus, Ohio school children to make
public commitments to live drug free, crime free and alcohol free lives.
As an author
and publisher, Dr. Wise has written several books which include: The ABC's of Effective Parenting; Stand: Seven
Sermons for Saints in a Red Sea Situation; No Place for A Prophet: An Unconventional Preacher Trapped in A Traditional Church;
and Everything You Need to Know to Preach Like a Pro!
As a husband and father,
Dr. Wise and his wife Shirley (since 1973), their three daughters, Sybil, Sheri (James), and Shonna (Isaiah), one son Ceylon
(Ashley) and four granddaughters Angela, Anye', Maya and Mariah and two grandsons, Ceylon D. Wise V and Isaiah make their
home in the greater Columbus area.
