Meet Our Pastor!

Rev. Michael Jefferson, Pastor

Pastor Mike is a preaching and teaching scientist who is the passionate and proud pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Richmond, IN. Pastor Mike serves God’s call through seeking justice through religion, education, and energy. Appointed as the 55th pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Richmond in 2021 at the 183rd Session of the Indiana Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, he has overseen a revitalization of the church’s ministries and community impact. His service to the A.M.E. Church includes being an ordained Itinerant Elder, Secretary of the Indiana Annual Conference, and the First Vice President of the Fourth Episcopal District Young Adult Network of the A.M.E. Church. 

Pastor Mike earned a B.S. Environmental Science from Florida A&M University in 2013 and a dual Master of Public Affairs and M.S. in Environmental Science from Indiana University in 2019. He is also a 2022 graduate with the Master of Divinity student from Christian Theological Seminary. He was a 2014 Teach for America Corps member, teaching chemistry in Byhalia, MS and Memphis, TN and is still a licensed science teacher in Mississippi.

Pastor Mike He is a native of Indianapolis, the eldest of four, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and President of the Indiana Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy and serves on the board of the Center for Congregations.