Dr. Rudolph W. McKissick, Sr. is Senior Pastor of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church. He began his Pastorate on April 1, 1966, and with the aid of the Holy Spirit, has provided leadership to a congregation, which has grown to more than 8,000. He is known to many as a “Father in the Ministry”, for he has inspired more than 50 young men and women to the call of the ministry. One being his very own son and partner in the pastorate, Dr. Rudolph W. McKissick, Jr. Known as the “Dynamic Duo”, they have provided guidance and leadership to a rapid-growing congregation which now consists of more than 9,000 members. Dr. Rudolph W. McKissick, Sr. obtained education from a number of colleges and universities being Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama, the Music Institute of Columbia University, Princeton in New Jersey, and Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, FL., graduating from Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, where received an Honorary Doctorate Degree.

Dr. Rudolph W. McKissick, Sr. is noted as being instrumental in the purchase of an entire downtown block of property, which consists of two Sanctuaries, a Family Life Center, and an Education Building. In his honor, the Education Building was named after him recognizing his commitment to education. Identifying his many noteworthy accomplishments the city of Jacksonville agreed to rename the former Hogan Street to Rev. Rudolph W. McKissick Blvd. He is also applauded for augmenting the joint 130th Anniversary Celebration of First Baptist Church Downtown and Bethel Baptist Church for the first time since 1838 which continues presently during anniversary celebrations. He is also noted for having initiated the development and implementation of more than 25 new ministries in Bethel.

Along with his many ministerial accomplishments, he has been cited for receiving special awards. He received in 1992 the Humanitarian award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and, in 1999, selected to tour South Africa by FreshMinistries, Inc. He is the first African American to receive the Human Relations Award by the City of Jacksonville, and a recipient of the 1986 National Association for Equal Opportunity Award. In addition, he received the Meritorious Award for services of leadership, which was presented by Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. Dr. Rudolph W. McKissick, Sr. is currently affiliated with the following: Board of Trustees for Edward Waters College, Board of National Conference for Community and Justice, NAACP, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 100 Black Men of Jacksonville, and Board of Trustees for The Help Center. He was appointed by the governor to serve on a special committee to review the state penal system, and is a Civil Rights Activist. He also implemented the educational program designed to academically enhance students, B.E.S.T. (Bethel Enhancing Students Totally) Academy. He has setup a Missionary Outreach which has adopted three churches located in South Africa, Panama and Jacksonville, FL. He is a former member of the One Church One Child of Florida organization, and the Jacksonville Hospitality Authority; former president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Jacksonville and a former member of the James Weldon Johnson Branch of the Y.M.C.A.

Outside of his pastoral ministry and local and national affiliations, he has a personal life. He is the husband of the former Estelle Teresa Lee Williams, and has been for 41 years. He is the father of one son, Rudolph W. McKissick, Jr. and the Grandfather of three, Jocelyn, Janai and Joshua (The Trinity).