Today we’d like to introduce you to Roland Caldwell Jr.
Hi Roland, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ at the age of nineteen in 2011, following a teenage journey marked by trials, adversity, and difficult circumstances. Growing up on the west side of Detroit, Michigan, I experienced firsthand the realities and pressures of the streets. Yet, in the midst of those circumstances, God’s grace opened a door that I could not have opened for myself.
I was given an opportunity to attend American Baptist College, a theological institution in Nashville, Tennessee, despite having few of the traditional qualifications associated with college admission. At the time of my matriculation, I had dropped out of high school, had never taken a state standardized examination, and had only recently earned my General Educational Development (G.E.D.). By conventional measures, my academic journey appeared uncertain. Nevertheless, what seemed like a limitation became the setting for one of the most formative experiences of my life.
It was at American Baptist College, in the privacy of my dorm room, that I encountered Jesus Christ for myself. My faith was no longer simply something I had heard about, inherited, or observed in others. It became personal. That encounter became the foundation of a ministry that has continued to develop for more than a decade.
Since that time, I have served the church through preaching, pastoral leadership, and community engagement. In February, I will celebrate ten years of pastoral ministry, while also marking fifteen years of preaching the gospel. I currently serve as the pastor of The First Baptist Church of Steelton in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
When I reflect upon this journey, I recognize that my story is not simply one of overcoming educational, social, or environmental obstacles. It is fundamentally a testimony to the transformative work of God. My journey from the streets of Detroit to the pulpit, from a G.E.D. to theological education, and from a dorm-room encounter with Christ to pastoral leadership has shaped the way I understand ministry. It has taught me that God often calls, forms, and equips people in places and circumstances that others may overlook.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has certainly not been smooth. Major transitions in life often come with significant tests, and my journey into preaching was no exception. Becoming a preacher was both a privilege and a challenge. The call to ministry carried with it an expectation that I did not fully understand at nineteen. I quickly learned that accepting the call meant accepting a level of responsibility, accountability, and pressure that extended far beyond standing behind a pulpit.
The call also required separation. There were certain relationships, environments, and practices that I could no longer engage in the same way. Things I once participated in and places I once visited no longer felt consistent with the person I believed God was calling me to become. I became increasingly conscious of the responsibility to represent Jesus Christ and His church with integrity. I understood that my life would be part of my witness, and that what I did away from the pulpit could either strengthen or undermine what I proclaimed from it.
That process was not always easy. There were moments when I wrestled with what it meant to live differently while still remaining connected to the people and community from which I came. The call did not remove me from the realities of life; it required me to navigate those realities with a different sense of responsibility.
Along the way, I also experienced loss. I have lost loved ones and friends—some who were fellow preachers and others with whom I grew up. Some of the people who knew me before the pulpit are no longer here to witness the journey. Their absence has reminded me that ministry does not exempt a person from grief, disappointment, or the ordinary pain of being human.
If anything, the years have taught me that the calling does not make life smooth. It does not prevent hardship, disappointment, separation, or loss. The calling does something far more significant: it assures me that no matter how rocky the road becomes, God is present along the journey.
I have learned that ministry is not the absence of difficulty; it is the assurance of divine presence in the midst of difficulty. The call does not promise an easy road. It promises that I will never walk the road alone.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I currently serve as the pastor of The First Baptist Church of Steelton in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a congregation that recently celebrated 145 years of ministry and service. I have had the privilege of serving this congregation for the past year, following nearly a decade of pastoral ministry in Detroit, Michigan. My ministry formation has also been shaped by theological education. I earned my undergraduate degree in Bible and Theology from American Baptist College, a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary, and I am currently pursuing the Doctor of Ministry degree at United Theological Seminary.
While theological education has provided me with the tools to understand Scripture and engage the complexities of ministry, the heart of my ministry has always been serving the community. I believe the church is called to be more than a place where people gather for worship. The church must also become a visible expression of the love of God within the communities it has been called to serve.
During my first year at First Baptist, we have sought to put that conviction into practice. We established a summer program designed to provide meals for children who may otherwise go without food during the day. We have contributed to local food pantries, adopted families experiencing crisis, and intentionally engaged our local high schools. We are also preparing to do something significant this Christmas to bless families within our community. As we look toward the future, I am prayerfully seeking partnerships with additional organizations and individuals who share a commitment to serving the community and addressing the needs of those around us.
These efforts are not simply community programs; they are an expression of who we believe the church is called to be. Our mission is to display love, disciple people, and develop kingdom community. For me, discipleship cannot be separated from service. If we are going to teach people to follow Jesus, we must also teach them how to embody the character of Jesus in the places where they live, work, worship, and raise their families.
I am most proud when I see the church actively involved in the community. There is something deeply meaningful about seeing the smiles and joy on the faces of the people we have been called to serve. Whether we are providing a meal, supporting a family in crisis, partnering with a school, or simply creating a moment where someone feels seen and valued, I am reminded that ministry has the power to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
What I believe distinguishes my approach to ministry is my commitment to serving God’s people beyond the walls of the church. I am continually looking for ways to become the hands and feet of Jesus in a community where people are searching for hope, stability, dignity, and belonging. My ministry is therefore rooted in the conviction that the church should not simply invite the community to come to us; we must also be willing to go to the community.
For me, pastoral ministry is ultimately about presence. It is about being willing to stand where people are hurting, listen to their stories, respond to their needs, and help them encounter the love of Christ in ways that are both spiritually meaningful and practically tangible. I believe the church is at its best when its theology becomes visible through its actions—when what we preach on Sunday becomes something people can experience throughout the week.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If you’re looking for a place to worship come join us at 1850 S 19th Street Harrisburg, PA 17104
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefirstbaptistchurchofsteelton.org
- Instagram: RolandCaldwellJr
- Facebook: Roland Caldwell Jr
- Youtube: The First Baptist Church of Steelton
