Bishop Rex M. Waddell

Senior Pastor/Teacher of the Church of the Living God of Fairview Heights, Illinois 

1989 - present

 

• Nestled in the poverty riddled areas of East St. Louis, within the first five years of ministry, we guided the congregation of less than 20 in attendance; residing in a property valued under $20, 000.00 to a growth of 1200 members and property valued in excess of 2 million with over a 200% increase in annual income.

• Conduct two worship services and three separate bible studies each week.

• Pastoral care ministry: visitations, basic counseling, conflict resolution and all other sacerdotal duties.

• Provide on-going leadership training and staff development

• Provide oversight of all para-ministries ie. Campus, Midnight Basketball League, Prison Ministry, Transitional Living Ministry and Project Positive Force (a community development corporation). Mentoring Programs

• Work collaboratively with church leadership to raise all necessary funds for ministry.

 

 

Overseeing Elder Second Episcopal District

 

2006 - 2011

 

• Worked collaboratively with the presiding bishop to provide administrational oversight and guidance to twelve churches and their senior pastors in my charge.

• Designed and planned state-wide youth jamborees consisting of well over 500 youth; hosted on various university campuses designed to expose the youth to campus life as well as provide a fun and spiritually uplifting experience.

• Provided personal counseling and encouragement to pastors experiencing various levels of church related problems and personal issues.

• Develop district wide strategic planning for district-wide growth. 

 

Dean of Students Ministerial Training Institute of the Church of the Living God

 

​2005 - present

 

• Worked with registrar in the recruitment of students, staff and faculty

• Provided training and leadership to student advisors

• Assisted with the curriculum design and teaching strategies and implementation.

• Provided academic instruction in church leadership and administration. 

 

Chairman Greater St. Louis Minister's Alliance

 

2005 - 2008

 

• Chaired annual fundraising efforts for at risk students raising an annual budget of $200,000.00

• Planned and implemented ecumenical services throughout the Greater St. Louis metro area.

• Designed and implemented on-going minister training in various areas of ministry.

 

General Treasurer for the Church of the Living God

 

2006 - 2011

 

• Provided fiscal oversight of all income and expenditures, designed and executed an annual budget and provided supervision over all financial staff, generated and presented detailed financial reports.

• Provided instruction for local treasurers and trustees regarding church financial operations.

 

Auxiliary Bishop Church of the Living God 

 

2011 - present

 

• Currently provide assistance executive level assistance to other presiding bishops (especially those who are elderly or require assistance in some way); work in collaboration with the national board of bishops being directly responsible for the executive operations of the national church and it subsidiaries.

• Implemented the “Renewing the Passion” efforts to spearhead direct evangelical efforts within the various communities where our national meetings are held. These efforts have partnered with “Feed The Hungry”,” National Food Search”, “Dress for Success “ all of which work collaboratively providing assistance to hundreds of needy inner city families each year. 

 

 

 

 

 

Founder Words of Wisdom Text Blast Ministry

 

2012 - present

 

• A text based audio ministry of short but powerfully inspirational sound bytes sent directly to subscriber’s cell phone. Implemented in January of 2012, the ministry currently reaches over 500 regular subscribers and many more who receive the messages through subscribers forwarding the message to other. 

 

Executive Director of Project Positive Force C.D.C.

 

1999 - 2006

 

• Collaborated with grant writers and resource development personnel to raise an annual budget of $450,000.00.

• Provided supervision and leadership for ten paid staff and over one hundred volunteers working in areas of : community beautification, youth entrepreneurial  training, father’s workshops, and mentoring programs.

• Purchased well over one thousand school uniforms for elementary aged students.

• Funded afterschool latch key programs providing a safe place for tutoring and a nutritious meal for more than 200 students district wide each day.

 

 

WESL Christian On-Air Radio Personality

 

1990 - 2000

 

• Hosted a daily segment during drive time entitled. “The Reverend In the Rush.” Played popular gospel artist, interviewed celebrities on air, interacted with callers during various promotional efforts and provided on the air traffic news and weather. 

 

 

Elementary-Middle School Educator/Instructional Liaison 

 

Various years

 

NOTE: During my tenure as a classroom teacher the majority of my students were all African-American males. I used this same gender educational experience to further my research in improving teaching stategies for the successfully engaging African-American male students in the classroom. My findings were published in a thesis entitled ""Meeting Myself Head-On!"An Ethnography Of One Teacher Being and Becoming." 2012

 

• Classroom teacher for grades 3rd through 4th (1994 – 1996) Kirkwood Public Schools

• Classroom teacher for 6th grade (1996 – 1998) University City Public Schools

• Classroom teacher/instructional liaison (providing in service instructional training to teaching staff. (2009 – 2011) Hazelwood Public Schools