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Financial Advisory/Treasurer


Ms. Suzette Y. Blount – Currently serves as the Chairperson for the Board of Trustees for the Greater Free Gift Baptist Church, Incorporated, Brooklyn, New York, a position that she has held for the past nineteen years. Ms. Blount previously served as the Treasurer for the Women’s Ministry, President of the Pastor’s Aid Ministry and Financial Secretary for the Church. Ms. Blount is a graduate of Farmingdale University.


She is employed by South Street Advisors as the Director of Administration, where she has administer global custody accounts for over 20 years, with experience at JP Morgan Chase and at Deutsche Bank. At JP Morgan Chase, she was responsible for handling over $2.0 billion in client assets. Ms. Blount believes that becoming a part of CFF would allow her to bring awareness to those who would not normally come in contact with the knowledge of Cervical Cancer and HPV. “It’s a must” to get out there and spread the word!! If Nike can say “just do it “we can stand together and say “It’s a must”

Healthcare Advisor


Ms. Elana Martins is the founder and president of the Art of Self-Esteem, Inc. She holds a Master’s degree in public administration from The School of Business, Public Administration and Information Sciences at Long Island University and a Bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.


Ms. Martins currently works with the NYC Department of Health Office of School Health as a Special Project Assistant. Ms. Martins has an extensive career in program management working with multi-sized private corporations and the public sector delivering quality services to clients that include cross ages and socio-economic spectrums. In addition to her work, Ms. Martins has traveled across the continent leading grade school children as Ambassadors of the United States for People to People Student Ambassador Program. She also is a published photographer and spends time volunteering, community organizing and advocating for social justice & human rights.

Community Liaison


Reverend Shaun J. Lee is a native of the Bedford-Stuyvesant area in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated valedictorian from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School and proceeded to matriculate into Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. While at Morehouse College he served as a chaplain assistant in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. Reverend Lee has also spent extensive time studying in various foreign countries including India, Israel, Nepal, Thailand and Japan while at Morehouse.


After graduating from Morehouse College with honors he continued his studies at Brooklyn College where he received his Master of Arts Degree in Education. While pursuing this degree he taught in the New York City public school system and served as youth pastor at the Mount Lebanon Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Bernstine. It was during this time that Rev. Lee felt the call to full time ministry. After 5 years of teaching and serving as Dean of Students, Rev. Lee and his family moved to Princeton, New Jersey in order to attend Princeton Theological Seminary where he graduated with high honors, received his Masters of Divinity, and was the recipient of various awards of distinction.

On May 17, 2008, the day that Reverend Lee graduated from seminary, he was also called to be the 7th pastor of the historic Mount Lebanon Baptist Church. His pastoral leadership has led to both spiritual and numerical growth. Reverend Lee’s ministry focuses on getting individuals to establish a real relationship with Christ, meaningful membership in God’s church, and a concrete connection with the surrounding and global community. Rev. Lee’s focus on discipleship, leadership and fellowship has both challenged and motivated the congregation to be “A Ministry of Love” that reaches beyond its walls to effect change. Rev. Lee is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He delights in the nurturing of his daughters Sian and Sanai.

Community Liaison

 

Bishop William Raymond Whitaker, II was born in Newport News, Virginia on November 12, 1959. Bishop Whitaker is a product of the Bedford Stuyvesant Tompkins Project community. In June 1985, he was licensed by the Greater Free Gift Baptist Church and ordained in November 1986 under the inspirational leadership of the late Dr. Daniel Webster Batts. On December 13, 1994, Bishop Whitaker was called by the Lord to serve as Pastor of this great church and moved into full-time ministry.

 

Bishop Whitaker’s commitment to the community is evident by his service as the Former Chair of Evangelism for the Eastern Region of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. He served as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Director of the Music Department of the New York Missionary Baptist Association. Bishop Whitaker is the former Ecumenical Director to the Honorable Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns. He graduated from Exponent ARRIVE as a licensed HIV/AIDS counselor and also served as mentor to the students at IS 33. In January 2013 he was appointed as Chaplain for the New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association.

Bishop Whitaker earned his Bachelor of Theology degree in 1999 (Lighthouse Christian College – Beebe, Arkansas); Master of Theology degree in 2004 (summa cum laude - Chelsea University – London, England); and Doctor of Divinity degree in 2005 (Master’s Graduate School of Divinity – Evansville, Indiana). In 2004, the Hope for All Bible College bestowed upon Bishop Whitaker an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree.


His Motto – “I BELIEVE GOD”

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