4. Reverend Walter Ray Gibson, Jr.
Pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and board member of Capital City Community Action Network
Reverend Walter Ray Gibson, Jr. was born in Houston, Texas on November 15, 1971 to Walter and Opal Gibson. As a child, it was evident that God had placed a special calling on Reverend Gibson’s life. Reverend Gibson accepted Christ at an early age at Greater Jerusalem Baptist Church where the late Dr. C.D. Daniels, Jr. was the pastor.
Reverend Gibson attended Forest Brook High School in Houston where he served as sophomore, junior, and senior class president. Upon graduating number thirteen out of a class of 355 students, Reverend Gibson received a full athletic football scholarship to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. While at SMU, Reverend Gibson earned a bachelors degree in communications. At SMU, Reverend Gibson met the love of his life, Tarsha (Henry) Gibson of Shreveport, Louisiana, and they were married on June 3, 1995.
In 1999 Reverend Gibson joined the New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church family under the leadership of Pastor Willie Jones. Reverend Gibson served as Pastor of Outreach, Pastor of Youth & Children, Pastor of Christian Education, and Church Administrator/Assistant Pastor. Reverend Gibson attained a Masters degree from Houston Graduate School of Theology in 2001, and authored his first book entitled, “No More Business As Usual: Straight Talk for This Generation of Church Goers.”
Reverend Gibson along with his wife Tarsha are the founders of the for profit ministry People of Integrity. The ministry’s goal is to promote spiritual growth through workshops dealing with leadership and family, literature, and acts of agape love.
In October of 2006, Rev. Gibson was called to pastor the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church of Lansing. Since his arrival, the church has continued to grow spiritually and numerically. Pastor Gibson believes that church should be one of the most exciting and encouraging places a person attends each week. His life changing messages and lively deliverance makes it possible for any person regardless of age or denominational background to understand the word of God. Pastor Gibson believes that Pilgrim Rest has a great future and is looking forward to what God is about to do.
Reverend & Sister Gibson are the proud parents of two dynamic young men of God: Cameron (14), and Christian (10). While in Houston, Reverend Gibson was a very active participant in the community. Reverend Gibson served as a little league, soccer, football, track and basketball coach, and served on numerous boards. He is currently a board member of Capital City Community Action Network in Lansing, MI.
