Our Pastoral Staff

Rohin R. Beach

 

Rohin Robert Beach currently serves as the Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at the St. Luke Baptist Church of Paterson, NJ under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Kenneth D. Clayton.

 

In this capacity, Rev. Beach oversees and leads the ongoing ministry to the congregation’s teenagers (ages 13-19) and young adults (ages 20+).  He is responsible for teaching weekly Bible studies to both of these segmented populations, as well as providing spiritual development and discipleship for this population by engaging them to embrace the congregational goals of Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Outreach, and Service.  His creative and innovative methods in ministry have inspired many and caused for tremendous growth in the lives of youth.

 

In addition to these focused areas, as a member of the SLBC Pastoral Staff, he assists Pastor Clayton and shares in the ongoing Pastoral duties of the St. Luke Church (counseling, preaching, teaching, etc.).  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Luke Community Development Center and is the Director of the CDC’s Summer Youth Employment Program. This program partners with local businesses and provides youth with meaningful summer employment with the intent of developing a mindset toward future career options.

 

A native of Hackensack, NJ, his primary education was completed through the public schools of Bergen County, NJ.

 

He is a graduate of Nyack College where he earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry and Alliance Theological Seminary where he earned the Master of Divinity degree.

 

Having accepted Christ as his personal Savior at a young age, Rev. Beach acknowledged his call to the ministry and was licensed to preach by the Community Baptist Church of Englewood, NJ under the pastoral leadership of the Rev. Dr. Lester Taylor, Jr.  He served as an associate minister of the Community Church prior to joining the staff of St. Luke.

 

He has been privileged to preach and minister throughout the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area and has also preached in California, Texas, Maryland, and Nebraska.  In 2006 he was a part of a teaching team in the Ukraine and in 2007 he led the first mission team from St. Luke to Kenya, Africa and where he also had the privilege of preaching and doing mission work.  He has been a lecturer and teacher for the General Baptist Convention of NJ, Inc. and the Northeast Region of Churches of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

 

Reverend Beach enjoys sharing the gospel through preaching, teaching, and rapping.  He is committed to encouraging youth and adults to live life enjoying God and enjoying life.

 

 

Alesha T. Clayton

 

Alesha T. Calyton is the youngest child born to the late Carol Kendrick. Alesha was born in Passaic, NJ. She spent several years in California and returned to New Jersey in 1990 where she has lived ever since. Alesha is a graduate of the Paterson's Public School #25, Paterson Catholic Regional High School( where she was inducted into the National Honor Society), and Bloomfield College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

 

She is presently pursuing the Master of Divinity degree at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, NJ.

Alesha acknowledged Christ as her personal savior and at a young age was baptized and became a member of the Calvary Baptist Church of Garfield, NJ.

 

In 1994, Alesha's mother Carol died, and Alesha became the oldest child of Kenneth and Lisa Clayton.

 

In 1997, she became part of the St. Luke Baptist Church at the onset of her father's pastored ministry. She has been an active part of St. Luke since that time.

 

In 2004, she acknowledged her call to the ministry and was licensed to preach in August of 2006, the first female in the history of the church; and the first child of an active pastor of St. Luke be licensed.

 

She currently serves as the Associate Minister for Children's Ministry and overses the weekly ministry to Children(Operation Lynx) and the monthly Children's Church services. She also serves as the Director of ASAP(After School Assistance Program) and the former director of the SLBC Summer Camp, Kamp Kreative Kids! In 2010, Alesha will direct SLBC's Freedom School.

 

She has had the priviledge to preach in several local churches and traveled to Africa in 2007 and preached during a church sponsored mission trip.

 

Alesha is a former high school and college basketball player who still is an avid fan and participant of the game.

 

 

Sonya McMillan

 

Sonya McMillan presently serves as the Minister of Christian Education and Discipleship of St. Luke Baptist Church.

She is the youngest of fifteen children born to Leroy and Janie McMillan. A native of North Carolina, she relocated with her family to New Jersey at a young age. She is a product of the Paterson Public Schools.

 

Sonya is a 1988 graduate of Rutgers-Douglas College from which she earned her Bachelor’s degree.

 

She has been employed in the private and public sectors; as an educator in the Paterson School System, an associate for Lakeridge Marketing and the Paterson Housing Police Department. She is currently employed with the Paterson Municipal Police Department.

 

Sonya accepted Christ as her personal Savior in 1990 and united with the Seminary Baptist Church of Paterson, NJ under the leadership of the Rev. Alfred E. Steele.

 

In 2002 she acknowledged her call to the preaching ministry and was subsequently licensed to preach. She is a graduate of New York Theological Seminary where she earned the Certificate in Christian Ministry (2005) and the Master of Divinity degree (2009).

 

She has served the St. Luke Church first as a ministerial intern in 2008 and returned in 2009.

 

She is the proud mother of Morgan McMillan.