Reverend Dr. Barbara R. Chisholm 

“Christ, Chisolm and the Church”
Reverend Dr. Barbara R. Chisholm
Chisolm a Name You Can Trust
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Candidate for Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church

She has been featured in “Grace Magazine” for two years as the leading female among strong male leadership in South Carolina, in an article, “Building A Bridge between Male and Female Leadership: “The Quest Toward Racial and Spiritual Equality in the Lowcountry”. Dr. Chisolm has written books intitle, “ A Life Of Service, “ The Transformation of Churches for New Communities through Hospitality and currently is writing a Daily Christian Devotion for Prayer. Dr. Chisolm is a preacher, teach, community advocate and entrepreneur. Dr. Chisolm has received many prestigious awards and remains a  humble committed servant leader of the AME Church. Choose Chisholm for Bishop in 2024, as she’s always at work!

Chosen
Reverend Dr. Barbara R. Chisolm was born in Dorchester County, South Carolina. She was the final-born child of the Reverend Regina Capers and late the Mr. Jerry Capers, making her a third generation of women in ministry. She was raised in Ridgeville, SC, being reared under strong female leadership. The Mt. Pisgah AME Church family and community provided her foundation of a strong, charismatic faith, and she has maintained lifetime membership. Her activities at Mt. Pisgah included choir directing, YPD’ers, church school teacher, youth congress delegate, among other ministries. In 1981, Dr. Chisolm graduated from Cross High School in Cross, South Carolina. She enrolled at Regent University in Albany, New York, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. She later earned a Master of Divinity degree from Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, South Carolina. By May 2015, she received a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, District of Columbia. Related to ministry work, by 1993 Dr. Chisolm was ordained as a deacon. Within the next two years she became an ordained Elder in the AME Church. As of today, Dr. Chisolm has 32 years of serving in ministry with the AME Church.

God’s Willing Worker
Her first charge to serve as Pastor occurred at Bethel AME Church in Denmark, SC. She remained pastor of Bethel AME Denmark, SC until 2002. During her time in Denmark, the membership of the congregation doubled. There was a complete revitalization of membership and remodeling of the church and fellowship hall. She added technology, enhanced the music ministry, and developed relevant ministries for the vitalization of church and community. Her trademark was created, which had a focus of building the Lay Organization through training, Christian education, and creating a strong team through appreciation factors.

Dr. Chisolm created a ministry serving the students at Voorhees College in Denmark, where she became a pivotal support for students away from home and a religious representative within the chapel ministry to the student body.

With all of her creating, building, and renovations upon her leaving Bethel AME, the church was debt free and financial solvent. At the request of the late Bishop John Hurst Adams, Dr. Chisolm was assigned to Bethel AME in North Charleston, SC. Her ministry work expanded from 2002-2008. Bethel North Charleston achieved financial stability, revitalization and training within leadership, the lay organization, and young adult and youth ministries. While working at the Citadel College in Charleston, the attendance doubled, and active ministries included feeding the hungry, youth development, and regaining of property the church had lost by partnerships with North Charleston City council and Mayor Keith Sumney. Dr. Chisolm led the new congregation into building a new sanctuary and fellowship hall after the city condemned the former church. The dedication was done by Bishop Henry Allen Belin, and the church prospered and continues as a strong, vibrant organization.

A Charge to Keep I Have, a God to Glorify
In July of 2008, Bishop Henry Belin appointed Dr. Chisolm to Jehovah AME Church in Cross SC. Under her leadership, the church persevered with renovations, eliminated a mortgage, acquired a new parsonage, and purchased transportation, paid in full. Other church growth occurred as ministries developed, laity was trained, and new leaders were established. Dr. Chisolm began a weekly bible study in two community apartment complexes located in Goose Creek and Summerville SC. Within one year the bible study had increased in over 50 members, and she founded New Life Ministries. New Life has been the most recently added congregation in the 7th Episcopal District .This is an example of Pastor Chisolm’s evangelistic work and God’s calling on her life to reach people wherever they are. In September 2008, Pastor Chisolm also founded a ministry entitled Women of Destiny. This ministry provided mentoring, and she acted as advocate when needed. Along with many other services to women, she was motivated by the Holy Spirit to develop a Ministerial Alliance in Cross, SC. She started a second service that engaged a contemporary young adult ministry. People traveled from as far away as North Carolina to be a part of God’s move. Souls were saved, and the church increased as the Holy Spirit worked. Upon her departure to the next level of ministry, much progress was evident: the church was financial solvent, spiritually renewed, and advanced through Christian Education. Membership numbers soared, technology was enhanced, and young adult ministry and youth department exploded.

Her Vision for the Future
On November 13, 2009, the Rt. Reverend Dr. Preston W. Williams II, presiding prelate of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church, appointed Rev. Dr. Barbara R. Chisolm to the position of Presiding Elder of the Wateree District. Her appointment occurred at a critical time in the development of the AME Church: It opened the eyes of the church concerning their approach and preparation for the new millennial AME church. Dr. Chisolm was the first female Presiding Elder of the Wateree District of the Central Conference. Under Dr. Chisolm’s leadership, a strategic training course was implemented in leadership, membership increased by 60%, church mortgages were liquidated, and district participation increased by over 80%. The Wateree District was on fire. She coordinated the first District-wide Pentecost and Ash Wednesday Services and Summer Conferences. She served in this capacity from 2009-2013. In November 2013 Dr. Chisolm was assigned to the Greater Zion A.M.E. Church in Awendaw, South Carolina under the leadership of Bishop Richard F. Norris. At Greater AME Zion, she revitalized the membership spiritually as well as financially. Lay, leadership, and youth ministries grew and expanded. Senior ministries were restored, and she leads an effort that feeds over 100 senior citizens in the Awendaw Community on a weekly basis. She has instituted the church’s first Credit Union. As Pastor of Greater Zion AME, Dr. Chisolm has written a book entitled, “An Intentional Hospitality.” As a pastor of rural churches, she has gathered years of experience and service that are included in the book’s contents. She embraces hospitality in her teaching and training sessions for facilitating church growth. She addresses the issues surrounding declining church attendance. Dr. Chisolm believes churches are stagnated because many churches don’t know the practical steps in implementing hospitality on a consistent basis. Her scripture of aspiration is, Matthew 24: 37, Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them; ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, [a] you did it to me.” 41 Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.” Prior to Dr. Chisolm’s arrival, Greater Zion AME Church had attempted for ten years to build a new church. Dr. Chisolm is now leading this project, and as of today, Greater Zion AME Church has launched and is attentively working on a 3.0 million-dollar project that includes a new church. Since her arrival, technology, leadership, training have advanced and membership has increase with special attention on a growing youth ministry. She completely renovated the present structure adding comfort style in the house of God. Greater Zion has now become one of the leading churches in the 7th Episcopal District. Due to the depth and breadth of Dr. Chisolm’s work and contributions, this article is not able to fully document all of the developments that have occurred under the hands of Dr. Chisolm, with God’s guidance.

“Chisolm A Name You Can Trust”
Christ. Chisolm. Church

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, Says the Lord". Isiah 54:17