Meet Our Pastor
Connect with us.
Learn the origins of the church and our faith.
a leader with faithful vision
Reverend Markus-Derek White
The Mission of the AME Church is to minister to the social, spiritual, and physical development of all people.
The Reverend Markus-Derek White I, was raised by the Late Roy and Betty White. He attended Hillsborough County Public Schools and Post-Secondary Schooling at Regent University. He holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. His Master’s thesis topic was “How the past of the Black Church will inform its future for survival.”
He is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Cappella University and will receive the Doctorate of Educational Leadership degree in the fall of 2025. Pastor White is also pursuing a second Master’s from United Theological Seminary.
faith and family
Markus-Derek is married to Dr. Yolanda N. White, who holds a Doctorate in School Psychology and serves as a School Psychologist. They are the proud parents of two sons Mikah-Derek (8) and Markus-Derek II (7).
A Life Of Service
Reverend White has served in many ministerial capacities. In addition to serving as the proud Pastor of Historic Bethel A.M.E. Church, he is also a former educator serving as a 7th grade History and Science teacher and currently serves as a Caseworker to young African American boys with Friends of the Children of Tampa Bay.
Additionally, he is the proud owner and CEO of Sankofa Educational Coaching and Consulting LLC.
“
Reverend Markus-Derek White
Historic Bethel’s Ministerial Leader
standing on the strong historical foundation of bethel, we aim to answer How the past of the Black Church will inform its future for survival.
Come to Historic Bethel AMEC where we meet you where you are. Learn our faith, meet our members, and worship with us.
Follow our updates