Edward Joseph, III was born on July 16, 1965, to the union of the late Edward Joseph, Jr. and Ceedga B. Hill. In 1968, his family settled in Marrero, Louisiana. Rev. Joseph received his spiritual nurturing early and was baptized by the late Rev. Joseph Howard at the New Zion Baptist Church in Marrero. Rev. Joseph is a 1982 Graduate of West Jefferson High School.Rev. Joseph graduated from Southern University (Baton Rouge Campus) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology in December 1987. While attending Southern University, Rev. Joseph attended the Highway Baptist Church in Vacherie. It was while attending the Highway Baptist Church that he had an experience which caused him to seek a better understanding of God’s Word.
In April of 1988, Rev. Joseph moved to Birmingham, Alabama. God arranged for him to visit the First Ebenezer Baptist Church. There he met many people who helped to nurture his life. The chief among these people was Rev. Robert E. Dawson, who took him in as a spiritual son. Rev. Joseph often refers to Birmingham as his Midian and Pastor Dawson as his Jethro. Prior to his calling to the ministry, Reverend Joseph was active in the church music ministry, singing in various church and community choirs. His work in Alabama was highlighted by his devotion to Project Adam, a program designed to help troubled young men, and he co-wrote the play “Innocence by Virtue of Forgiveness.”
Rev. Joseph married his high school sweetheart, Renata Mikell Thompson, maternal granddaughter of our founding Pastor and first lady, the late Rev. Mansfield and Cecilia Thompson. They are the parents of three children, Kayla, Darius, and Deston Joseph.
While in Birmingham, Alabama, Reverend Joseph accepted his call to the Gospel ministry on April 26, and preached his first sermon on June 6, 1992. To equip himself for his calling, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Birmingham-Easonian Baptist Bible College where he also taught classes as a student instructor. As an associate minister of First Ebenezer of Birmingham, Alabama, Reverend Joseph served as Assistant Superintendent of the Church School, Assistant Teacher of the weekly Bible Study, and conducted serves at Olivia’s House, a drug rehabilitation center for women.
In May of 1995, following God’s command, Rev. Joseph, his wife, and three-month old Kayla moved back home to Marrero, Louisiana. Rev. Joseph at that time, worked for the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). This proved to be a pivotal move in his preparation, returning to New Orleans. After returning to New Orleans, Reverend Joseph and his family united with the St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church of Marrero. On December 26, 1996, the Westside Missionary Baptist Association at the request of Rev. Dr. Wilbert Tross, Jr. and the St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church ordained Reverend Joseph. Reverend Joseph served in several areas of ministry as requested. In January of 2003, Rev. Joseph was appointed to serve as the Pastor’s Assistant.
