Bishop John Matthew Borders III
In 1981, Rev. John M. Borders III became the pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church located in Boston, Massachusetts. At that time, the church had 75 members, and it has since grown to several thousand members. Under Rev. Borders' leadership, Morning Star Baptist Church completed a $12 million edifice in 2004, which is the largest sanctuary project by an African American congregation in the history of Boston. He was consecrated to the office of Bishop by the International Bishops Conference in June 2010. Nearly fifty ministers have been licensed and ordained under Bishop Borders' tutelage.
Over 18,000 people have accepted Christ under Bishop Borders' ministry and leadership. Individuals from more than twenty countries around the world receive his ministry through online broadcasts. For thirty years, The Beacon Light, a radio broadcast of Salem Communications, reached over 50,000 listeners per week. He is the author of Unlikely Blessings: Discovering Happiness Through the Life of Joseph (PostHill Press, 2014).
Bishop Borders has worked with local, state, and government officials in direct response to local gang violence, and he served as the chaplain of Suffolk County Jail for fifteen years. In 1992, he led a coalition of ministers from over thirty different faith traditions to address gang violence, which led to the birth of the Ten Point Coalition. Bishop Borders also helped coordinate the interfaith service in response to the Boston Marathon Bombing, which was attended by former President Obama. Additionally, he has worked to improve Black and Jewish relations during the 1990s through the Anti-Defamation League. He has also served on the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission for Governor William Weld and the Governor's Anti-Crime Commission for Governor Deval Patrick.
John M. Borders III attended Eastern Nazarene College. He also holds a diploma in Religion from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He furthered his studies at the Boston University School of Theology. He holds Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from St. Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida, and Maryland Theological Seminary of Baltimore, Maryland. Bishop Borders received a Kellogg Executive Scholars Certificate from The Kellogg Center for Nonprofit Management. He has also been inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Speakers Bureau by Morehouse College.
Bishop Borders has been married to First Lady Sandra Elizabeth (McBride) Borders since 1983 and is the proud father of Leylana, Matthew, and Brittany. He is also the proud grandfather of Madison, Bailey, Jack, Malcolm, and Preston.
Over 18,000 people have accepted Christ under Bishop Borders' ministry and leadership. Individuals from more than twenty countries around the world receive his ministry through online broadcasts. For thirty years, The Beacon Light, a radio broadcast of Salem Communications, reached over 50,000 listeners per week. He is the author of Unlikely Blessings: Discovering Happiness Through the Life of Joseph (PostHill Press, 2014).
Bishop Borders has worked with local, state, and government officials in direct response to local gang violence, and he served as the chaplain of Suffolk County Jail for fifteen years. In 1992, he led a coalition of ministers from over thirty different faith traditions to address gang violence, which led to the birth of the Ten Point Coalition. Bishop Borders also helped coordinate the interfaith service in response to the Boston Marathon Bombing, which was attended by former President Obama. Additionally, he has worked to improve Black and Jewish relations during the 1990s through the Anti-Defamation League. He has also served on the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission for Governor William Weld and the Governor's Anti-Crime Commission for Governor Deval Patrick.
John M. Borders III attended Eastern Nazarene College. He also holds a diploma in Religion from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He furthered his studies at the Boston University School of Theology. He holds Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from St. Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida, and Maryland Theological Seminary of Baltimore, Maryland. Bishop Borders received a Kellogg Executive Scholars Certificate from The Kellogg Center for Nonprofit Management. He has also been inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Speakers Bureau by Morehouse College.
Bishop Borders has been married to First Lady Sandra Elizabeth (McBride) Borders since 1983 and is the proud father of Leylana, Matthew, and Brittany. He is also the proud grandfather of Madison, Bailey, Jack, Malcolm, and Preston.