Pastor

Bio
Pastor Jamaal Edwards is a Cleveland County native and the youngest of two children born to Howard and Elizabeth Edwards. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies with Highest Honors in 2004. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree in 2007 from Wake Forest University.

Rather than pursuing a legal career immediately, Pastor Edwards instead answered the call to Ministry. In 2006, while still in law school in Winston-Salem, he was called as Pastor of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Forest City, NC, a position he held until late 2017. In addition to his work as an ordained minister, Pastor Edwards has taught classes in both religion and law at Gardner-Webb University, Limestone University, Cleveland Community College, and Isothermal Community College. In 2014, Pastor Jamaal was awarded a Masters in Divinity Degree from Gardner-Webb’s School of Divinity.

Also in 2014, Jamaal studied for the Bar Examination and was admitted to the North Carolina State Bar.  Moreover, he is the owner and founder of Imperial Comics & Games, LLC,  Shelby’s local comic and gaming store.  Pastor Edwards is a firm believer in the power of God and the joy that only Jesus brings; a sentiment he reminds us of frequently with his familiar phrase: “Smile, God loves you!”