SENIOR MINISTER & VISIONARY LEADER

Dr. Ervin D. Seamster, Jr. is a minister, philanthropist, academician and entrepreneur. As a visionary, he has been instrumental in developing numerous educational, social, and spiritual organizations.

From 1999-2002, Dr. Seamster served in key roles at Abilene Christian University. His past endeavors have impacted every facet of the school’s current success—whether fundraising, academic, or the focus on diversity. Dr. Seamster was the first African American invited to be a special assistant to the president of ACU, Dr. Royce Money. In this unique challenge, created especially for him, Dr. Seamster played a pivotal role in recruiting talented men and women of color to apply to the doctoral fellows program for minority faculty members. Dr. Seamster also taught courses dedicated to Old Testament theology and Urban Ministry in the 21st Century.

He recruited students from across the state of all ethnicities and backgrounds while urging donors to pledge several million dollars in scholarships. It has been an honor and his great joy to raise money for Christian education, especially for his alma mater, Southwestern Christian College. For nearly two decades, Dr. Seamster has used his brainchild-event, The Fab Five Revival, to raise funds for deserving students. The revivals, and other initiatives, have generated substantial amounts for Southwestern Christian College. Dr. Seamster was chief architect of the One in Christ Conference, sharing leadership duties with his mentor, J. McDonald Williams, Dr. Jack Reese and Don Crisp. The conference mission was to break down barriers by bringing together ministers from across America to address the socio-economic and cultural issues that separated black, white and brown churches within their fellowship.

One of the highlights of Dr. Seamster’s career was co-founding Northwest Preparatory Academy in Houston, Texas, along with school superintendent, Dr. Steve Roberts and Mr. Erik Singleton. Nurturing the lives of countless young people, whose needs were not being met in their previous school environments, Dr. Seamster served as the academy’s first board president and has since been named president-emeritus. Over the years, growth at Northwest Prep has consistently flourished as young people graduate with a more committed purpose and career path.

When Dr. Seamster began his career as a theologian and strategic church planter, he worked in several positions including as an Associate Minister and, ultimately, Senior Minister at the Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas. For nine years, Dr. Seamster was being groomed for greater things. The call—a vision in his heart—was a challenge to leave historic Oak Cliff and begin an urban ministry devoted to saving the lost, strengthening believers and reaching the un-churched, wherever they were located.

With the blessings of his mentors, friends, family, and leaders at Marsalis Avenue, in 1999, Dr. Seamster founded Light of the World Church of Christ, where he currently serves as the senior minister. Light of the World, located in Southern Dallas County, has grown from four to 450 members. LWCC began with a handful of ministries. Today, the church has something for everyone with almost 25 fully-functional ministries. Light of the World is committed to bridging Christ and community, as it helps members empower one another and reach out to people in search of God’s truth.

As an entrepreneur, Dr. Seamster brings a wealth of integrity and people skills to his business ventures and corporate goals. For the past three years, Dr. Seamster has worked on the board of the Dallas County Appraisal District. He is also the president of EDS & Associates, specializing in real estate consulting and renovating. The many hats worn by Dr. Seamster provide overwhelming proof that this academician, philanthropist, businessman, and minister is forever committed to using his life to make a difference in the lives of others.

Dr. Ervin D. Seamster, Jr. holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern Christian College, a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and a Doctorate of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Seamster has traveled the world, taking his New Testament message about Christ to citizens of every race, creed, color, and socioeconomic background. He is the proud son of the late Iona Calloway-Seamster and Ervin D. Seamster, Sr. of Shreveport, LA.