Pastor James S. Utley is the oldest of three children born to James and Lucille Utley. He was born at Saint Agnes Hospital on the campus of Saint Augustine University, Raleigh, North Carolina. Pastor Utley began his Christian journey at the Fayetteville Street Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, under the leadership of the Reverend J.W. Jones. Upon his graduation from high school, Pastor Utley spent twenty years serving in the United States Air Force. After returning to the Raleigh area, he began serving within several auxiliaries at First Cosmopolitan Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Dr. W. B. Lewis. During this phase of his spiritual formation, Pastor Utley labored to assist Dr. Lewis with Baptist Training Union (BTU), Wednesday evening Bible Study, music ministry, and visitation of the sick and shut-in. He was ordained as a Deacon in 1986. It was while visiting the sick and shut in that Pastor Utley received his call into the ministry. Upon accepting this call, he was licensed in 1997 and ordained by the Wake Missionary Baptist Association in 2000. Pastor Utley continued to work under the leadership of the late Dr. Lewis to develop his gifts as a preacher and teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 2004, Pastor Utley received the call to become the thirtieth pastor of Malaby’s Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church in Knightdale, North Carolina. He says that the people there have embraced him and his family with love and friendship, which has allowed him to grow even more spiritually. Reverend Utley is a pastor who is excited about preaching and singing to the glory of God.
Malaby’s Crossroads is a strong, Christ-centered church under the leadership of Reverend Dr. James S. Utley. It is also our deep commitment to assisting believers in Jesus Christ to advance in their Christian walk toward church membership, Christian maturity, service, and ministry.
Come see us, and experience the welcome of God in us.
Education
Pastor Utley holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion and Philosophy, and also received his Master of Divinity Degree from Shaw University Divinity School in 2010. He pursued doctoral work at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, having received a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2012. With careful and creative attention to planning and preaching, the depth of his education and training has made him a gifted preacher, teacher, and Pastor at Malaby’s Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Utley served as the Fourth Vice Moderator in 2016 and currently is serving (2017) as the Third Vice Moderator of the Wake Missionary Baptist Association, Executive Board. He is an avid supporter of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
Family Life
Pastor Utley is married to the former Dawn Michele Boddie of Raleigh, North Carolina. Mrs. Utley has been a loving and caring wife who has supported her husband over 45 years of their marriage. To this union they have two wonderful sons, Stacy (Crystal) and Shawn (Carla), and five beautiful grandchildren.
In his personal and professional life, there is nothing more prominent than a man with a vision. There is nothing any greater than a visionary that allows himself to be led by God. Malaby’s Crossroads is a church with a God fearing leader and he demonstrates the character of Christ in his everyday living and service. He exemplifies the true meaning of being a “faithful” servant of God. Pastor Utley stands on the entire infallible Word of God, lives by the motto “If I Can Help Someone along the Way then My Living will not be in Vain”.
To God be the Glory!
