Our Founder, Dr. C. Dexter Wise III

Dr. C. Dexter Wise III

What do you get when you mix a bundle of bubbling, rare and enviable gifts of communication with a burning zeal to reach the world for Christ? You get the soulful, insightful and powerful pastor of Columbus, Ohio's Faith Ministries Interdenominational Church - Dr. C. Dexter Wise III.

As a communicator, who has gone from the “hood” of Baltimore, Md. to the top of his class at Harvard in Cambridge, Ma., Dr. Wise is prepared to speak effectively and authentically to virtually any occasion. For more forty years, Dr. Wise has stirred audience both large and small, young and old, black and white, rich and poor, at home and abroad.

As a preacher and pastor, Dr. Wise was called to preach at 12; licensed to preach at 16; ordained to the gospel ministry at 19; served as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Providence, RI 1977-1982; served as pastor of Columbus, Ohio's historic Shiloh Baptist Church, 1982-1991; In November of 1991, Dr. Wise was led to organize Faith Ministries Interdenominational Church in Columbus, Ohio. This church grew from six members to more than 500 members in less than one month! Faith Ministries now has a weekly cable television ministry, a host of outreach ministries and has built a brand new multimillion dollar church on a 29 acre plot of land in Columbus, Ohio.

As a scholar, Dr. Wise received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, Cum Laude in 1975 after having skipped a year; received a M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, Magna Cum Laude, 1978; received a MA from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 1980; received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Virginia College and Seminary, in Lynchburg, VA 1980; and earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, May 1997.

As a performer, Dr. Wise is quite comfortable in front of people in that he began singing gospel songs with his family in his hometown of Baltimore, MD at the age of five; was a championship gymnast and diver while in high school; a leading cast member of University of Pennsylvania’s famous Mask and Wig Club; and is a member of BMI.

As the " Rappin' Reverend " , Dr. Wise recorded his first rap album "I Ain't Into That! " which was the number one song on the number one rhythm and blues station in Detroit, Michigan. The song soared to number fourteen on the dance charts in London, England in the summer of 1987. Other Rappin' Reverend publications are his book " I Ain't Into That! " (The Book) and his rap album, "Crack Attack". There is also a book called Be A Man which compliments his rap song on male responsibility. Also in connection with this, The Rappin’ Reverend went on a fifty school tour and in ninety days got more than 18,000 Columbus Ohio school children to make public commitments to live drug free, crime free and alcohol free lives.

As an author and publisher , Dr. Wise has written several books which include: The ABC’s of Effective Parenting; Stand: Seven Sermons for Saints in a Red Sea Situation; and No Place for A Prophet: An Unconventional Preacher Trapped in A Traditional Church.

As a community builder and social activist , Dr. Wise is the co-founder of Columbus Ohio’s Martin Luther King Breakfast where the more than 6000 people who annually attend make it the nation’s largest. Dr. Wise also heads the local chapter of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s PUSH. Furthermore, Dr. Wise is the founder and President of a community development corporation called Faith In Action, Inc. In this capacity, he is responsible for an additional 45 acres of land on which sit town homes, senior housing and commercial strips with a replacement value in excess of $20 million.

As a husband and father , Dr. Wise and his wife Shirley (since 1973), their three daughters, Sybil, Sheri (James), and Shonna, one son Ceylon (Ashley) and four grand-daughters: Angela, Anye’, Maya, Mariah; and grandson, Ceylon Dexter Wise V all make their home in the greater Columbus area.

Wise Works, Inc.
PO Box 0771
Westerville, Ohio 43086
614-898-1997