Rev. Joel L. King, Jr. has served in the Christian Ministry for nearly 40 years and is the cousin of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has been an active member of the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Commission since it began in 1985.

Rev. King was called to pastor the Jerusalem Second Baptist Church in Urbana, Ohio, in 1992 and served the congregation for more than 13 years. He also previously served as an associate minister of the Mount Hermon Baptist Church Mansfield and Union Grove Baptist Church Columbus. Rev. King presently serves as associate minister of the Mount Hermon Baptist Church Columbus.

In addition to his work in the ministry, Rev. King represents the state of Ohio on the National Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Advisory Committee in Atlanta, Georgia. He also serves on the board of trustees of Directions for Youth and Family Services, member of the Columbus Baptist Pastors Conference as financial secretary, member of the Urbana Ministerial Alliance, member of the board of advisors of the Black Church Web site and Columbus NAACP, president of the National Action Network Columbus Chapter, and chair of the Baptist Housing Alliance of Ohio.

He is also former first vice moderator of the Western Union Baptist District Association; former executive secretary of the Ohio Baptist General Convention, Inc.; and former treasurer and second vice president of the Columbus Baptist Ministerial Alliance.

In February of 2001, Rev. King had the opportunity to travel to Hyderabad, India, In support of the missionary organization, Global Gospel Ministries. This group is sponsored by 61 Pastors from the United States of America, whose goal is to build 1000 Christian Churches in India by the year 2020. Jerusalem Second Baptist has 4 Church’s named in their honor for their support.

After serving a year as the chaplain of the Columbus Fire and Police Departments, in March of 2001, Rev. King was appointed Chaplain of the Gahanna Police Department where he currently resides. In October 2007, he was elected to the Columbus Community Action Board now known as IMPACT. In 2009, Rev. King was elected 1st Vice-President of the State of Ohio Interdenominational Ministers Alliance.

Rev. King earned an Associate of Arts degree in accounting from Cecil’s Business College in Spartanburg, S.C. He is a part-time matriculated student at the Ohio Dominican College in Columbus, Ohio, and retired from the United Parcel Service after more than 23 years as a driver, supervisor and manager.