SAINT MARTIN’s CHAPEL
ABOUT US
We are an Evangelical church with Anglican history, Baptist heritage, and Charismatic heart. Located in Bakersfield, California, our multidenominational Baptist congregation is the cathedral church of the Full Gospel Baptist Alliance, in friendly cooperation with the California Southern Baptist Convention, and Mission Northwest (ABCUSA).
At Saint Martin’s Chapel, we value theological diversity and ecclesiastical unity while holding to the Trinitarian faith of the early church. As a confessional body of believers, we open out hearts to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Our clergy are expected to meet rigorous standards of pastoral ethics and are encouraged to become active members of the scholarly community.
our statement of faith*
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, only infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
* As adopted by the National Association of Evangelicals and in agreement with the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message
BISHOP A. DAVID PARKER, PhD
SENIOR PASTOR
With over 20 years of ordained ministry in various denominational and non-denominational churches across the United States and abroad, Dr. Abraham David Parker serves as founder and Senior Pastor for Saint Martin’s Chapel of Bakersfield. Having earned a second PhD in Theology Studies after a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from National University (formerly Northcentral University), Bishop Parker also received a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Grand Canyon University, and is author of My First Year in the Anglican Order of Preachers: A Postulant’s Tale. He is married to his beautiful wife First Lady Paula Parker.
“There’s always a Word at the Lord’s Table!” – Bishop Parker
ministry TEAM
The Associate Pastor will assist
the Senior Pastor in preaching, administration, and pastoral care
of our local church.
NOW SEEKING
Associate Pastor
The Director of Women’s Ministry will assist First Lady Parker in making, marking, and maturing disciples among the women of Saint Martin’s Chapel.
NOW SEEKING
Director of Women’s Ministry
NOW SEEKING
Worship Leader (e.g., Worship Pastor, Director of Music, etc.)
The Worship Leader will oversee and produce worship services and special programs, coordinating all service details based on the theme and overall direction established by the Senior Pastor.
DIOCONATE & LAY staff
co-laborers in christ
Gene Edwards, Deacon
Melissa Watson, Secretary
Pat Davis, Treasurer
WHAT TO EXPECT ON SUNDAYS AT SAINT MARTIN’S CHAPEL
What do I wear?
Clothes! While our Bishop will always “be in uniform” wearing a collared clergy shirt, members and guests should dress comfortably as appropriate for any other public gathering. Come as you are and leave everything else to Jesus!
What do I say?
Whether by large digital screen or by handheld Service Bulletin, everything in our service is spelled out clearly so that you won’t get lost or confused. That includes all the lyrics to our ancient, modern, and contemporary worship music, all the words to the corporate prayers, all references to the Reading, the Psalm, and the Gospel, and even a fill-in-the-blank Sermon Notes handout. As a Spirit-filled local church, we encourage you to fully participate throughout the praise and worship so sing, shout, dance, weep for comfort, and leap for joy!
What about the sacraments (i.e., Holy Baptism and Holy Communion)?
As a Baptist church seeking retrieval of the Great Tradition for the sake of renewal, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and offer Believer’s Baptism to those who have accepted Christ and desire to become members of our local church (Acts 2:42). Bishop Parker offers a brief teaching called “On the Lord’s Supper“ about our practice of Holy Communion which you can watch in the video above or by clicking here.
Who Is Saint Martin?
Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, on December 9, 1579, the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a Black former slave. Because Martin inherited the dark skin of his young mother, his father abandoned the family.
The Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans, is a distinguished religious order of the Roman Catholic Church founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic de Guzman on December 22, 1216. Unfortunately, as a product of its time, the Order of Preachers banned persons of African descent from its membership.
Martin apprenticed to a barber-surgeon and after learning the trade, he applied to the Dominicans to be a “lay helper.” Placed in charge of the infirmary, he was known for his tender care of the sick and for his spectacular cures. His faithfulness led the community to request his religious profession. The stipulation that “no black person may be received to the holy habit or profession of our Order,” was dropped, and Martin took vows as a Dominican brother in 1603.
In preparation for his ordination and consecration as a bishop in the Worldwide Anglican Church on Sunday, June 30, 2019, Bishop Parker was tasked with naming the cathedral church in honor of a saint, and without hesitation our church was named in honor of Saint Martin. Nearly 400 years after Saint Martin’s death, Bishop Parker continues to be inspired by, and seeks to imitate the example of a Black man equally committed to civil rights, social justice, and the service of Christ.
