Originally from Portsmouth Virginia, Pastor Fisher began preaching at the age of 18 years old. He was steeped in the faith by his dear Mother, who was a music director for the majority of her life. With her steady influence Pastor Fisher was destined to live a life directing others to Jesus Christ. His journey has led him to pastor churches in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. At each church on his journey he has enriched and increased their membership, and their impact on the community as a whole. HIs vision as the Pastor of Beulah A.M.E. Zion is to exceed his previous successes with the guidance of Jesus Christ.
His ministry style is fueled by his commitment to help every one he knows reach their fullest potential and form a lasting, deep, intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In addition to using his gifts of oration, Pastor Fisher is an accomplished gospel artist. He has harnessed his musical gifts into his CD "Breathe On Me", with the express purpose of using all of the gifts he has been blessed with to save souls for the Lord. A sought after revivalist he has had the honor to preach throughout the country, most notably in Alabama, New York, Tennessee, St. Louis, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and South Carolina.
He preaches, teaches, sings, and with GOD's help lives his life in a manner that honors GOD. Affectionately known as the "Touchable Pastor", his down-to-earth and relatable manner allow him to make an impact beyond his congregation in to the greater community. Pastor Fisher brings more than three decades of experience ministering in the A.M.E.Zion church, yet approaches each day with the same zeal he began with. His is a life dedicated to GOD and the work which GOD has anointed him to do.
Born, educated, and married in Georgia, Reverend Vernita Thomas was raised in a loving home with Mother Anita Woolfork and Grandparents (John and Annie Liza). She is also a devoted mother to Yolanda Thomas. Reverend Thomas moved to St. Croix in 1984 as a Home Economics teacher at the Elena Christian JHS and the St. Croix Vocation Ed. Food Service Program and retired in 2007 after 30 years as an educator.
Following her retirement Reverend Thomas dedicated herself to full-time ministry. Baptized at the age of 12 at Flagg Chapel Baptist Church, she was then baptized in the Holy Spirit at the age of 23 in Bright Holiness Church. She became a member of the Medford AME Zion Church in 2000 and later was appointed Pastor. She has experienced that God can use you wherever you are as long as His presence is there.
Throughout her life she has served in many capacities. An usher, deaconess, class leader of leaders, Sunday School Superintendent, as well as various missionary positions. In 2006, after attending an AMEZ Leadership Conference and a General Conference in Rochester New York the Lord led her to become an Exalter. She did her trial sermon that November, and the following April was ordained in 2007 and appointed Pastor of the Medford AMEZ Church under Missionary Rule (God’s favor).
Rev. Thomas has always loved the Lord and serving in church. She is a dedicated prayer warrior and a fervent intercessor for over 30 years. God has seen her through many trials and provides many opportunities for her to share her testimonies. The foundation of her faith is “through Christ all things are possible”, this motivates her with a zest for life and the desire to stay on the battle field for her Lord.
Richard Austin is a retired attorney and retired Executive Director/CEO of Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Inc., (LSVI), where he was employed in various management positions for 33 years (1985-2018, retiring on March 15, 2018.
Austin was born in Middletown, Ohio. He grew up in Dayton, Ohio, where he received his early education in the Dayton Public School System. He received his higher education at Central State University (CSU), Wilberforce, Ohio (B.S. in Education, 1965), Howard University, School of Law (J.D., 1968), Southwestern New Hampshire University (formerly New Hampshire College), Graduate School of Business (M.S. in Community Economic Development, 1991). He also attended The Ohio State University, School of Law and the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
Prior to moving to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands in 1985, Austin was in private law practice in Dayton, Ohio for 16 years. He was one of the founders of the law firm, Austin, Jones, Littlejohn & Owens, LLP, which was one of the premier law firms in the state of Ohio in the early nineteen eighties. Attorney Austin was Special Counsel to the Ohio Attorney General (1973-1985); General Counsel to his alma mater, Central State University (1974-1985). He was the first Black attorney to serve as general counsel of a state university in the state of Ohio. He also served as Hearing Officer and Advisor to the City of Dayton, Ohio, Civil Service Board (1975-1985) and as an Acting Dayton Municipal Court Judge for many years. And he served as local legal counsel for the Dayton Branch, NAACP (1971-1985), which included the Dayton School Desegregation Case, Gilligan v. Brinkman.
In addition to his positions at Legal Services, he has taught at the University of the Virgin Islands and served on the panel of Arbitrators of the Virgin Islands Public Employee’s Board. He is admitted to practice law in Ohio, the U.S. Virgin Islands (Special Admission) and before the U.S. Third and Sixth Circuit Courts of Appeal, U.S. Tax Court and the United States Supreme Court.
Reverend-Attorney Austin has always been active in civic, religious and community activities. He served as President of the Dayton Branch, NAACP, and was the youngest person elected to that position at the time and was the first President to serve more than two terms (1976-1985). He was a founder and officer of the Citizens Cable Corporation, one of the first minority groups to get a cable TV franchise in the country. He is a member of the Prince Hall Masonic Order, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; and Life Member of the NAACP, Central State University General Alumni Association and National Bar Association.
He was one of the founders of the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development and the Men’s Coalition of the Virgin Islands. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital Foundation; Virgin Islands Legal Assistance Foundation (IOLTA); Camp Arawak and the Virgin Islands Judicial Council.
Austin received many honors and awards, including being selected the Dayton Junior Chamber of Commerce “Man of the Year” in 1973; a citation from President Bill Clinton for Outstanding Community Service; the Distinguished Leadership Award from the African American Project Directors and a Forty Years of Legal Services Award from the Legal Service Corporation. He was a track and cross-country standout at Dayton Dunbar High School; and received an athletic scholarship to CSU, where he was a member of the 1963 NCAA cross country championship team.
Reverend-Attorney Austin is well traveled, having traveled to Western and South Africa, Egypt, Asia, South and Central America, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, many islands in the Caribbean and throughout the United States. He has contributed too many articles and publications and made presentations and lectures before national and local organizations on the following topics: cable television development; school desegregation; low income and affordable housing development; community economic development, civil rights and human liberties issues; domestic violence intervention; restorative justice and he has preached the gospel of Jesus the Christ in many churches and venues throughout the world.
An ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church he served as pastor of the Beulah AME Zion Church, in Estate Bethlehem, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, for 18 years (2000-2018). He has served as an elected lay and/or ministerial delegate at five (5) Sessions of the General Conference of the AME Zion Church. He served as Treasurer and Trustee of the Virgin Islands Annual Conference AME Zion Church. Rev. Austin has served the church as a legal counsel in the development and adoption of the Policies and Procedures Concerning Sexual Misconduct.
Reverend-Attorney Austin is married to his wife of 26 years, Noelia B. Austin (Nolly), and has two adult daughters, Stephanie Kate and Alison Estelle, by his college sweetheart and first wife, Maxine A. Williams Austin, now deceased; and one granddaughter, Sydney Maxine. He considers his legal advocacy to the poor and other disadvantaged people and his pastoral ministries to be his life long calling and ministry. Nolly and Richard are dividing their time between Dayton, Ohio and St. Croix, USVI and living out their “bucket list” traveling, visiting friends and family; and trying to stay healthy. All to the glory of God.
Beulah A.M.E. Zion
Kingshill, Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands
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