Senior Pastor
Reverend Jerry Banks:
Pastor J. L. Banks was born
again in 1977 and called into the ministry in 1978. Elder James Levi Wilson of
the New Holy Chapel Church of God in Christ, York, PA, mentored him. In Tulsa
he graduated from Bible College and went on to receive his Theological degree
from Covenant Bible College & Seminary. Presently a seminarian at Covenant
Theological Seminary he resides in Frederick Maryland with his wife and high
school sweet heart “Denise”. They have been married for 30 years and have four
children.
Reverend Banks was Ordained
at the Frederick Worship Center in 1993 under Pastor Chris Geeslin the same year
he became full time in ministry as chaplain. Now working at the Maryland
Correctional Training Center in Hagerstown and holding the position as
Administrative Chaplain where he through the Holy Spirit planted Grace Church.
In seeking the will of God
the Lord developed ministries at Grace. Such ministries as Genesis Drama Team,
Ministers and Deacon Boards, Right of Passage for young offenders, Scriptural
Training Classes, Right of Freedom (group therapy), and most recently Exodus
After Care Program. Grace Church offers for those who know they have been
called to ministry preparatory training and educational opportunities from CTS.
In December 2002, Reverend
Banks responded to God to become Senior Pastor at Downtown Community Church (First
Love). He stepped into that position in January of the following year, and
was ordained as Senior Pastor in 2003.
Reverend Banks has a passion
for the Word of God. With a desire to see God’s people free from bondages and a
heart to see the lost won to Christ, particularly those incarcerated and third
world people. He preaches with fire and conviction. He is and has been since
1980 actively involved in evangelism/street witnessing, children and youth
ministry, jail and prison ministry, foreign missions and pastoral ministry.
Richard and Charlotte Scott
Richard and Charlotte were born and raised in
Frederick,, Maryland and have a heart for the inner-city work that is being done
at First Love. They have been called to see the lost saved, to reach and
minister to the broken-hearted, those in bondage to drugs and alcohol,
prostitution, and those incarcerated.
Monthly they minister at HED a pre-leased facility
in Hagerstown, MD and have also ministered at MCTC (Maryland Correctional
Training Center) in Hagerstown. Richard is the Head Elder/Chairman of the Board
of Elders. In addition to being the administrator’s assistant, Charlotte
facilitates Second Chance a self-help Christian support group for substance
abuse which meets weekly and weekly she volunteer at the Frederick County Adult
Detention Center.
Richard and Charlotte have strong convictions
about being faithful, available and teachable regardless of whether you are
working in the ministry, at home or at the work place. They were licensed as
Ministers of the Gospel in June, 1997 and have a love for the Word of God.
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