About Our Leaders
Pastor Theresa Williams Wearring
Pastor Theresa Williams Wearring is a native of Atlanta, Georgia where she was educated in public and private schools. She is a graduate of West Fulton High School where she was actively involved.
In 1974, Pastor Wearring received a Master Cosmetology License from the Apex Beauty College where she assisted in the family’s business. She began studies in 1975 at Georgia State University majoring in Business Administration, but interrupted her studies to marry and care for her family. She continued her formal education after relocating to Chicago, Illinois.
She continued to stay active in youth, women’s and music ministries at their former church. She also served as a CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) phone counselor. On May 16, 1993, she received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from the Vandercook School of Music, where she majored in voice. In 1998, she graduated with a Masters of Education from Loyola University. As God directed, in 2005 she interrupted a doctoral program and entered and graduated from the school of Ministry, Living Word Christian Center (Bill Winston Ministries). In 2017 she completed, Andrew Wommack School of Ministries.
Pastor Wearring has taught in the Chicago Public School System classroom third/fourth gifted, fifth/sixth gifted classroom and curriculum, head of the gifted program of the school and after school music programs. She has served as teacher representative for the LSC (Local School Council). She has served on various boards, committees and outreach ministries. She held the first position held by the first black-woman for the BGC (Baptist General Conference) as moderator. She has participated in mission trips to Honduras Central America with and other mission trips that include the island of Jamaica, painting makeshift buildings and educating the children on that region.
In 2011, when her husband went home to be with the Lord after thirty-six years of marriage, she resumed the senior pastor position of Riverdale Baptist Church. She is the mother of four children and six grandchildren.
She is committed to teaching and motivating God’s people to walk in victory through Jeus Christ. Her dedication as a mother, grandmother and pastor can be seen through constantly striving to maintain Christian principles and standards in her everyday life and home. She generates an unselfish spirit in sharing her gifts with all whom she meets.
Pastor Kirk B. Wearring
Pastor Kirk B. Wearring was born September 12, 1951 in Durham, North Carolina to Dr. Daniel and Virginia (deceased) Wearring. At an early age the family moved to Chicago, IL. He was educated in the Chicago Public School System and graduated from Central Y High School at the age of 16.
Pastor Wearring accepted Christ and was baptized at Lilydale First Baptist Church in 1963. He was active with the Sunshine Band and Youth Choir, serving as pianist. Pastor Wearring’s musical background included studies at the Chicago Conservatory of Music while also serving as organist for several church choirs in Tennessee, Georgia and Illinois. He was a premier musician participating in the Progressive Baptist Convention of America, Gospel Music Workshop of America, and at First Dixie Hills Baptist Church. He also accompanied many renowned singers and preachers such as the late Bishop WA Patterson of Memphis, TN and the Barrett Sisters of Chicago, IL and Pastor Daryl Coley.
In 1972, at the age of 20, Pastor Wearring earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Music from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. During his matriculation at Lane, he organized the school’s first gospel choir. His graduating class voted him most talented. While living in Atlanta, GA, he was a faithful and committed musician for the Thomas Dorsey Workshop of Atlanta Georgia and founded the “Kirk Wearring Doves of Christ”. In 1980, Pastor Wearring copyrighted “A New Beginning-Collective Work” with all music and lyrics written solely by him. Song titles like “I Love Thy Name” were even recorded by Gospel Artists.
With a passion to continue his education, at the age of 23, Pastor Wearring received a Master of Social Work degree in 1974 from the Atlanta University School of Social Work with an area of concentration in Policy and Planning. During his studies at Atlanta University, he completed internships with the Georgia Black Legislative Caucus and the Bay Area Urban League of San Francisco, CA. Also while in Atlanta, he met Theresa Williams who he affectionately referred to as his “Georgia Peach” and they married in 1975. During this union, they raised four beautiful children with the fear and admonition of God.
During his career, he was employed by WSKC Dialysis Center and Gary Methodist Hospital. He was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive clinical service in counseling and psychiatry. Before leaving his career to Pastor, he was employed at Fresenius Medical Care as a Nephrology Social Worker.
Pastor Wearring acknowledged his call to preach in November 1979 and preached his first sermon in February 1980, at which time he was licensed by Lilydale First Baptist Church. The late Rev. Wendell L. Johnson Sr. ordained him on September 25, 1980. He preached his first revival at Israel Methodist Church under the late Pastor Hiram Crawford, Sr.
He served at Lilydale in many capacities, which included: Associate Minister, Director of the Baptist Youth Fellowship, Minister of Music, Sunday School Teacher (intermediate boys class) and an instructor in the Edward Eason Leadership School. Pastor Wearring’s ministerial training included studies at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and Moody Bible Institute.
On July 24, 1994, he was installed as pastor of Riverdale Baptist Church where he served until his transition. After settling in as the new pastor at Riverdale, he completed a Masters in Divinity at Trinity International University. And in 2005, Pastor Wearring and his wife, always wanting to learn and grow together, attended the Living Word Bible Training Center in Forest Park, Illinois. With many ice cream trips after class and completing homework assignments, they earned a diploma in Ministerial Training. Their training ended with a mission trip to Honduras.
Pastor Wearring had a deep love for God and it extended in his love toward his family, his ministry and other people’s lives he touched. His personal relationship with God made him an honorable, well-respected husband, father and pastor.
He leaves to cherish his memory, loving and devoted wife, Theresa; two sons, Eddie and Daniel (Terakesha); two daughters, Dana (Tim Henderson) and Sheena (Ulysses Ward); father, Daniel Wearring; one brother, Michael (Mary); uncle, Robert Wearring (Hilda); aunt, Dorothy Wearring; cousin, Arlene; one niece and nephew, members of Riverdale Baptist Church; his personal caretakers, Juanita Moore and Mary Noble and a host of other relatives and friends.