PLEASANT GROVE CHURCH
Church Leaders
Pastor Dieuner Joseph is a Dynamic Leader, Disciple Maker, Church Planter, Published Author, and Spiritual Counselor. Pastor Joseph is the founder of Imani Temple Baptist Church and the Disciple Maker Ministry. He currently serves as the Associate Pastor of Pleasant Grove Church while pursuing his Doctorate of Ministry.
Pastor Joseph began his ministry career in 1993 while attending Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey. Since that time, he has served as an associate Pastor in four Churches and as a Senior Pastor in one church.
He is skilled at connecting with the millennial generation as he endeavors to make the Bible relevant to that generation’s context. He is an educator and gifted Bible commentator who carefully and responsibly exegetes the Scriptures to make them relevant to today’s readers. Through his Blog and weekly Christian magazine- The Wednesday Word- he seeks to provide Bible based instructions for dealing with the socio-political issues of today.
Pastor Joseph is a published author who endeavors to empower the Church with godly teaching. He published his first book in 2005 entitled: “Restoring Honor to an Honorable Vocation.” In 2013 he published his second book entitled: “Created To Live A Balanced Life: 8 Steps to Holistic Transformation.”
He’s an Evangelist who has traveled to Africa, Europe, South America and the Caribbean to train pastors and Church leaders to become more effective Church planters and disciple makers. He has ministered to individuals in prison, detention centers, and detox centers.
Pastor Joseph has committed his life to help transform believers into mature disciples of Jesus Christ. With over 22 years of preaching and teaching experience, he has inspired many to follow the path of Discipleship and to be fully engaged in the battle to win the lost for Christ. He is particularly committed to help men live up to their God-given responsibility as priest, provider and protector of their family and community.
After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from Manhattan College, he matriculated at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he also holds dual Master’s Degrees in Divinity and Theology. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Ministry degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Pastor Joseph has been married for 22 years to Colette Joseph. He is the proud father of Lysandra K Joseph and Uriah H Joseph. Pastor Joseph is currently writing a commentary on the book of Job. His favorite Scripture is Philippians 1:21; “For me to live is Christ and to die is but a gain.”
To contact Pastor Joseph, please email: Associate.Pastor@pgc-cary.org
Pastor of Pleasant Grove Church in Cary, North Carolina since May, 1998. Pastor Classy has led the church through a spiritual transformation resulting in tremendous church growth and relocation.
She answered her call to ministry in 1988 while a member of Third Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio. She was ordained in February 1992 by the American Baptist Churches, USA. In 1996, she had a sermon published in Volume three of "Those Preaching Women,” Reverend Dr. Ella Pearson Mitchell, editor. Pastor Classy has served as assistant to the pastor of Third Baptist church, Toledo, Ohio; Minister of Youth and Young Adults at the Calvary Baptist Church, Norwalk, Connecticut and Minister of Family Ministry at Christian Faith Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Preston has traveled to South Africa with Bishop Cynthia L. Hale to serve in two missionary endeavors.
Pastor Classy hails from Mobile, Alabama, was reared in a Christian home and is the oldest of eight children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kansas; a Master of Divinity degree from the New York Theological Seminary, New York, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling from the Graduate Theological Foundation, South Bend, Indiana. Pastor Classy’s corporate career includes eighteen years with Bristol Myers Squibb, New York City where she was awarded the top leadership award, The Lee H. Bristol Award, in 1987.
She spent six years with Progress Energy Company, Raleigh, North Carolina and made tremendous contributions in the corporate supplier diversity initiative. She also served as President/CEO of Communities in Schools of Wake County for four years where she expanded community based learning centers for children and families in public housing.
Pastor Classy has served on the Boards of: Triangle Family Services, North Carolina Business and Industry and Tourism Committee, the Raleigh Housing Authority Self Sufficiency Board, the Capital Area Soccer League, The InterFaith Food Shuttle, The Family Place; and as a Junior Achievement Consultant for inner city youth; an adjunct professor in the Philosophy Department of St. Augustine College, Raleigh; and a participant in the Urban League Black Executive Exchange Program for college students. She has also served on the faculty of Apex School of Theology. Currently, she serves on the Board of Triangle American Red Cross and a Champion for WakeMed Foundation. Pastor Classy is active with the NAACP, faith based initiatives, and other community projects that attempt to improve the quality of life for all citizens. Pastor Classy is an active member of the Minister’s Mentor group of Elah Pastoral Ministries, Incorporated convened by Bishop Cynthia L. Hale, Pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur, Georgia.
Pastor Classy has been honored as “Tarheel of the Week” by The News and Observer, Raleigh, North Carolina and was celebrated as a "Women of Note" by the African American Cultural Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina. She served on the panel for Women in Ministry at the 95th Annual Hampton University Minster's Conference. Pastor Classy was a presenter in 2009 for the Women in Ministry Conference in Atlanta, Georgia and she served as a Keynote Speaker for the 2010 National Executive Forum. In 2011, Pastor Classy was presented the Women of Vision Award of Excellence "Spiritual and Corporate Leadership Award" by the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Bennett College for Women. In 2012, she was selected to serve on the Western Regional Community Advisory Council in partnership with the community, to identify and develop collaborative solutions to address community needs. In 2013, she travelled to Niger, West Africa to provide leadership development to the pastors and evangelists of the Evangelical Reform Church. Serving on the mission field continues to be one of her passions. In 2014, Pastor Classy served as Ministerial Representative on the Board of Directors for Dorcas Ministries (Christian Community in Action), Cary, North Carolina. In 2015, she graduated from Leadership Cary, a Cary Chamber of Commerce Leadership Development program. As of 2016, she serves as a member of the Faith Advisory Committee for Smart Start of Wake County; and on the Cary Kildaire Rotary Club.
Dr. Preston has been married to Deacon Jay Preston for 39 years. They strive to build up the Body of Christ by modeling Christian character and showing genuine love for God’s people.
Minister Marlin D. Jones was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Lula and John Jones. After graduating from Tennessee State University in 1998, he moved to Raleigh, North Carolina to accept a job teaching Eighth Grade Social Studies at East Millbrook Magnet Middle School. While teaching at East Millbrook, he joined St. Matthew Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Ronald Avery where he briefly taught the Teen Bible Study Class on Wednesday nights. In 2001, Marlin transferred to Wakefield High School to teach high school social studies and was named Wakefield High School’s Teacher of the Year in 2004. In 2007, he was named Holly Springs High School Teacher of the Year. In 2009, he joined the faculty of Panther Creek High School.
In 2001, Marlin united with the Baptist Grove Church under the leadership of Pastor Paul L. Anderson. There, he became an Adult Sunday School Teacher. In 2006, he served as Superintendent of Baptist Grove Sunday School. He held this position from 2006 to 2008. In February 2010, he joined Pleasant Grove Church under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Classy Preston where he serves as a chair of Christian Education Ministry and Adult Sunday School Teacher.
On October 10, 2009, he married Linda Gaye Graham. He and his wife reside in Morrisville, North Carolina. Marlin’s passion is to teach the Word of God. He loves the Lord and strives to be more Christ-like each day.
To contact Minister Marlin, please email: YouthPastor@pgc-cary.org
Paula Smith Sawyer was born and raised in North Carolina. She is a graduate of North Carolina State University and UNC School of Medicine. She has over 30 years of experience in healthcare. In her role as Minister of Connections and former deacon, she is passionate about working with God’s people to educate them on health issues and also helping them use their gifts to His glory. She is passionate about church organizational structure to improve efficiency and ensure that God’s resources are used most appropriately. Paula and her husband, Raeford, have been disciples of Pleasant Grove since 2007.