In his classic book, The Prophets, scholar Joshua Abraham Heschel describes a prophet as one who identifies with the pity of God, is stirred by the heartbeat of God, and is called to be the uncompromised mouthpiece of God. This notable description epitomizes the life of the Reverend Adrian J. Chester. A gospel preacher, teacher and friend to all who may grace his presence, Reverend Chester has been a modern day Isaiah, preaching God’s good news to the poor, binding up the broken hearted and proclaiming liberty to the captives.
Reverend Chester was born January 2, 1991 in Columbus, Georgia and is a graduate of the G. W. Carver High School. He serves as Pastor of Greater Beallwood Baptist Church in Columbus, Ga. Adrian has been blessed to encounter many people who have had a major influence in his life. In addition to his loving family, the most influential people have been Reverends Willie L. Hill, Robert E. Buckner, J. C. Harris, Sr., Mr. Christopher B. Lindsey and Ms. Lisa Norris.
Reverend Chester’s preaching and teaching experiences have afforded him the privilege to spread God’s Word throughout the Southeastern United States. During the summer of 2011, he was the only student from among students enrolled in ten seminaries, selected by the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc. to preach and train pastors on eight different Caribbean Islands to include Trinidad and Tobago.
Reverend Chester believes that God is not going to come back and say, “You built great cathedrals for me; you had great choirs; you raised large amounts of money, etc.” But rather God is going to ask, “What did you do for the least of these?”
He has been affiliated with a number of civic and religious organizations, to include the Mount Calvary Baptist Association, Greater Columbus Urban League Board member, Leaders of Today and Tomorrow, Annual Black History Breakfast Committee member, City of Columbus Community Development Board (appointed by Mayor Teresa Tomlinson), Columbus Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and United Negro College Fund.
Reverend Chester is a graduate of American Baptist College (Main Campus) in Nashville, Tennessee where he received the B.A. degree in Religious Studies with a concentration in Pastoral Care. Rev. Chester is currently pursuing the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree at Morehouse School of Religion of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Ga. Reverend Chester realizes that he can plan anything in the world; however, it is God who ordains his plans. He holds close to his heart God’s Word as recorded in 2nd Timothy 4:17 “But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And the Lord rescued me from certain death.”