Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church
Keith B Williams, Pastor
Born in Los Angeles, California to Harry and Mae Nell Williams of Hartselle, Alabama. He has been married to Sandra L. Williams for thirty years. They have four grown children and three grandchildren. He is a graduate of Biola University with a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and Biblical Studies. He also holds a Masters Degree in Divinity from Golden Gate Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Keith is commissioned as a Home Missionary by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. He served as a Church Planter Strategist for the Northern California area for over five years. He delighted in helping new churches and pastors receive necessary resources to be vital, active, and healthy churches. He is known in this area as the “Pastor’s Pastor”, because he has a compassionate heart for equipping, supporting, and praying for ministry leadership.
Under the direction of Dr. William Brent, Sr., Keith was trained and mentored in developing ministry leadership. Pastor Brent modeled what he taught, and believed that education with wisdom was the key to develop ministries that positively impact the community. After attending the Joint Baptist Theological Center at Evening Star MBC, Keith was advised by Dr. Brent to pursue his education at Biola University, and then at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley. While in seminary, Keith was called to pastor his first church, Second Baptist Church of Martinez. He ministered there for twenty years. Pastor Brent always introduced Keith with these words, “I baptized him, I licensed him, I ordained him, I married him…” He also educated him, mentored him, installed him in his first church, supported him in good and evil times, and most of all, loved him as his son.
Along with his wife Sandra, he is passionate about ministering in the community by offering workshops and seminars in anger management, stress management, parenting, conflict resolution, marriage counseling, and other resources to those in need. Keith Williams is known for his work and influence throughout California, and is honored to be identified as a “Son of Evening Star” and a servant of the Lord.
Sandra Williams, First Lady
Born in Bakersfield, CA to Berry and Rillie Smith of Marlin Texas. She has been married to Keith B. Williams for the past thirty years. They have four grown children and three grandchildren. Sandra attended Diablo Valley College, where she received two certifications in the areas of Women’s Programs and Services and Conflict Resolution. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with emphasis in Sociology from Excelsior College, Albany, New York. She attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, CA, where she completed classes in Educational Leadership. She also attended John F. Kennedy University and completed classes in Counseling Psychology. She is currently pursuing a Designated Teacher’s Credential, and the Master’s of Education with an emphasis in Counseling.
As a former Probation Counselor for Contra Costa County, it has always been her desire to help individuals and families to learn how to recover from crisis by being empowered. Also, as a commissioned Home Missionary for Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, she specializes in Family and Church Support Ministries.
Sandra is known for working with churches to help Train, Equip, Affirm, Motivate and Mentor (T.E.A.M.M.) women for positions of leadership. As a member of the CSBC WMU/Women’s Ministry FasTrak team, she has served in various positions for over fifteen years. For thirty years, Sandra has been lovingly nurtured by strong women of faith at Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church. First Lady Mary Brent became her mentor, her model and life-long friend. She taught her to believe that there is nothing more “fierce” than an educated woman with passion, knowledge, and the gifts to influence others “for such a time as this”.
Our Story
Evening Star was founded in 1932 by the late Rev. L. B. Brooks. Since the church was founded, there have only been 3 Pastors. L. B. Brooks remained pastor until 1965, when the late Dr. W. M. Brent, Sr. succeeded him and was made pastor. “Doc.” served as our pastor until he retired in 2006. The late Rev. William "Bill" Brent, Jr. served as pastor until April 2010. In May 2011, Pastor Keith B. Williams was called as our Senior Pastor. The services we currently offer are drug and alcohol counseling, transportation assistance, parenting classes, family enrichment & life coaching, emergency food assistance, single and married couples ministries, clothing and toy give-aways. We also have a variety of active ministries ranging from music to mission. Our mission is simple, we strive to bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and into Membership in His family, helping them to reach spiritual Maturity, equipping them for Ministry and the sharing of the Gospel, that the Kingdom may be Multiplied and the King may be Magnified. We believe that Evening Star is: A place where people worship and praise God for who He is, what He has done what He is doing, and what He will do. A place where the lost bring their hurts, heartaches, and habits to find help, hope and hear about the Good News of Jesus Christ; A place where people are welcomed into the fellowship of our church family through loving, learning, and living the abundant life; A place where people develop spiritual maturity through Sunday School, Bible studies, seminars and workshops; A place where every believer is equipped for a significant ministry by helping them to discover their God-given gifts and talents; The core value of our church is: “We believe a great commitment to THE GREAT COMMANDMENT and THE GREAT COMMISSION will grow a great church!”
