Our Pastor

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me;
Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengence of our God;"
(Isaiah 61:1-2 -KJV)


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
OF
REV. DR. CHARLES R. DEKLE, SENIOR PASTOR
ST. LUKE BAPTIST CHURCH
BERRYVILLE, VIRGINIA 22611

Charles R. Dekle was born in a small southern town in the "great state of Georgia." After completion of thirty years active duty in the United States Army, which included two tours in Viet Nam, two tours in Korea, one in Japan, and one in Germany, this First Sergeant retired in January of 1985 from Ft. Meade, Maryland.

He studied Business Administration at the City Colleges of Chicago; Leadership at Baylor University of Texas, where he also received a degree in Communications in a Faculty Development Program; He studied Literature "advance writing" at George Washington University of Washington, DC; and culminated his collegiate studies at Washington Bible/Capital Bible Seminary in Lanham, Maryland (with honors), walking away with the prestigious "Rev George A. Miles, preaching award". In 2004 he graduated from Loyola Graduate School, Columbia, MD with a Masters of Art degree in Pastoral Counseling/Spiritual Pastoral Care.

He has served as both a Deacon and Assistant Pastor for "First Jericho Baptist Church of Washington, DC; Assistant to the Pastor at Jericho Baptist Church of Largo, Maryland currently, (New Jericho Community Church of Laurel, Maryland); Adjunct Professor for "Adult Education" currently known as, ‘EQUIP' at Washington Bible College; Professor of "Old Testament Studies" at the Wilbur Waters School of Religion, Washington, DC where he was also conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity; and since December 10, l993 he has served as the Senior Pastor of "St. Luke Baptist Church" Berryville, Virginia. In May of 1999 he was elected Moderator of the Winchester Semi-Annual, Brackett Morrell Association in the American Baptist Churches of the South, of the American Baptist Conference, and in 2005 he was selected as a member of the Board of Director's for the American Baptist Churches of the South. Pastor Dekle served as Moderator for the Winchester Semi-Annual for (8) eight years, and was elected as Moderator of the Brackett/Morrell Association August 24, 2007 which is a four year term.

Pastor Dekle is committed to equipping the saints, encouraging the children, evangelizing the sinner, and exalting the Savior. He began this ministry with a wonderful and committed help mate, but lost her in a horrific vehicle accident June 30, 2006. They were together, as always, on their way to conduct a revival meeting in Florida.

St Luke Baptist Church
17 Liberty Street
P.O. Box 261
Berryville, Virginia 22611
Tel: (540) 955-1883 Parsonage: (540) 955-2038