Our Team
Dr. Stanley Long
Executive Director
Stanley Long is Pastor Emeritus of South Bay Community Church of Fremont CA, which he founded in 1985. After retiring as lead pastor of SBCC, Dr. Long has continued to serve on a variety of boards and to develop his consulting business, pastoral coaching, and leadership training both in the United States and abroad. Prior to planting SBCC, Mr. Long served as President of Fellowship Urban Outreach a San Francisco based organization that consisted of a community outreach program, Little Friends pre-school and Fellowship Academy an elementary school of over 200 students.
Dr. Long has also served as lead pastor for three churches in Camden, New Jersey, Mahwah, New Jersey and Ridgewood, New Jersey. He has taught at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, at Nyack College in Nyack, New York, and Patton College in Oakland, California.
Dr. Long has served on several boards including the National Black Evangelical Association, Board of Trustees of Fuller Theological Seminary, the Evangelicals for Financial Accountability, the Editorial Board for the Leadership Journal, the Tri-City homeless Coalition, the Executive board for the Evangelical Covenant Church, the Evangelical Training Association, the PETNA Foundation, and Urban Ministries, Incorporated.
Dr. Long earned his undergraduate degree (BS) at Nyack College, an MBA at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Rutherford, New Jersey in 1977, an MA in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree from his alma mater Nyack College in 1983.
Dr. Long is married to Ruby Pitts of Bridgeton, New Jersey. He is the proud father of three children, grandfather of five boys and the great-grandfather of one beautiful daughter.
Jonathan Banks
Chief Operating Officer
Jonathan Banks actively serves his church and community and strives to help others reach their God-given potential in every area of life. Jonathan earned an undergraduate degree in engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Northwestern University. Jonathan has enjoyed an amazing career path including Non-Profit Leadership, Youth Ministry, Food Ingredient & Flavor Research, Real Estate Finance, Teaching and Tutoring K-12 & College level courses, and, now, full-time ministry. He served as the Director of Ministry at Apostolic Faith Church for over 11 years, where Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. is the Pastor and now serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Urban Outreach Foundation, serving an international group of pastors and leaders. His academic and tutoring experiences helped him form an effective approach to success that he willingly shares with the next generation. Additionally, his life experiences, which include being raised in the Jewish faith and getting saved as a college student, give Jonathan a unique perspective from which to share God’s wisdom and purpose with others. Jonathan is an ordained minister living in Illinois with his wife, Jacinta, and their courageous sons.
Lakita Garth Wright
Lakita Garth Wright is a graduate of the University of Southern California and has addressed millions through motivational assemblies across the United States and internationally. She has testified before the U.S. Surgeon General, the U.S. Senate, and consulted with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as Kenya and Puerto Rico. Lakita has also consulted Hollywood , including The Bernie Mac Show, My Wife and Kids, and was also an Emmy nominated host and associate producer. She is an accomplished dancer, rapper, and executive producer of live events and has also been a voting member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. She has been a former Miss Black California, modeled for Nike, Reebok and has appeared in numerous commercials and television shows including Anderson Cooper, The View, Tyra Banks, Bill O’Reilly, Inside Edition, The Morning Show, Joy Behar, Nightline, Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect, Focus on the Family’s Mind Over Media, BET, MTV and toured as a rap artist on MTV’s “Rock the Vote” tour. She has also been featured in various magazines including People, ESSENCE, Seventeen, Vogue, Vibe, Gospel Today, and Charisma.
Yvonne Thigpen
Yvonne Thigpen serves as the President of ETA, a bridge organization between academics and the local church. Since 1930, faculty from evangelical schools and leading churches have written transformational core course materials for lay leadership development. ETA packages and distributes the courses among churches, mission fields, and multiple school initiatives. The courses distill subjects in Bible, theology, ministry skills, outreach skills, evangelism, and leadership for today’s culture. It is imperative that graduates of faith-based schools know a ready curriculum is available to equip believers and volunteers for service.
Rev. Dr. Robert L. Owens
Rev. Dr. Robert L. Owens is a graduate of North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois where he received a Master of Divinity degree. Dr. Owens also holds a Master degree in Public Administration from Pepperdine University located in Malibu, California and a Doctorate degree in New Church Development from Columbia Theological Seminary located in Decatur, Georgia. He has over thirty years in church ministry, pastoral care, evangelism, and community involvement, emphasizing building the lives of people, both spiritually and economically.
Rev. Dr. Carl E. King Sr
Rev. Dr. Carl E. King, Sr. is our founding pastor and visionary leader. Heeding the call from God, Dr. King founded Christ Community Church in 1987. Under his Pastoral Leadership, Christ Community has become a beacon of light in the community with the mission of “connecting SOULS to Christ.” Christ Community is home to over thirty ministries, a School of Ministry and numerous community-based programs aimed at transforming lives through the love of Jesus Christ. A man of great wisdom, Dr. King’s preaching and teaching draws people into the word of God, and helps them grow by applying the timeless principles of the Word of God. Dr. King was called by God to start a church where the community existed within the church. In addition to creating a community of faith and love for members, Dr. King is active in the surrounding communities and encourages members to stay connected and engaged in the community. Dr. King serves as a Chaplain for South Holland Fire and Police Departments. He has also served as the President of the South Holland Ministerial Alliance, and currently serves on its Executive Committee. He serves on the Education Commission for the Village of South Holland and is the former Board President for the Thornton Township High School District 205 School Board.
Gary Walter
A graduate of the University of California-Berkeley and North Park Theological Seminary, he previously served as President of the Evangelical Covenant Church, pastor at Newport Covenant Church in Bellevue, Washington, and Clairemont Covenant Church in San Diego, California. He and his wife, Nancy, are founding members of DeerGrove Covenant Church in Palatine, Illinois, and have three daughters: Amy, Alissa, and Lauren.
Terri Hannett
Terri Hannett is the Executive Director of The Church Of God In Christ Publishing House, the publishing entity of The Church of God in Christ, Inc. (COGIC). COGIC is a Christian organization in the Holiness-Pentecostal tradition and is identified as the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Its membership is predominantly African-American, with congregations in 112 countries worldwide. Terri is the former Vice President of National Accounts for UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.), where she worked for 23 years traveling throughout the country, speaking and analyzing the needs of various Christian organizations. Terri has been instrumental in equipping church leaders with multiple training programs and resources for transforming communities. Her journey has allotted her the opportunity to work with various Christian organizations such as AME, ABCOTS, COGIC, COCH, FG, NBCA, NPBC, UCOGIC, WOTC, and many more in identifying challenges within the African American market and developing executable programs.
Terri is a certified trainer with Darkness to Light Stewards of Children®, ETA (Evangelical Training Association), dfree® (Say yes to no debt), and Apna Ghar Domestic Violence training. She currently serves on the advisory board for The Hampton University Ministers Conference. She holds a BA in Advertising and Marketing from Columbia College in Chicago. She is embarking on completing a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) in Pastoral Leadership and Congregational Development from The School of Religion at Hampton University. Terri is married to Mr. Brian J. Hannett and has been blessed with two children, Garrett Hannett and Blake Hannett (deceased). Terri is committed to making a difference and embracing the challenges of addressing the needs of pastors, the African American Christian market, and the African Diaspora.
