Tyree

Pastor-Teacher

 

Background: The Rev. Dr. Esther L. Seales is a native of Warthen, Georgia. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior when she was fourteen years old. Immediately after college graduation she came to Philadelphia to work for the Department of Defense. She believes in the power of prayer and fasting and knows that the Spiritual Gifts are operating today.  She lives with a sense of urgency and expectation in getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ out to all of God’s people every day! 

 

Ministry:  Dr. Seales is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church Esther is currently serving as Pastor of Tyree African Methodist Episcopal Church in West Philadelphia.  Her main focus is soul winning, preaching and teaching the Gospel.  She is striving to meet the physical as well as the spiritual needs of the church and community by operating four different food programs.  Esther served as Pastor of Bethlehem A.M.E. Church in Langhorne, Pa., Assistant Pastor of Hickman Temple A.M.E. Church, and Associate Pastor of Jones Tabernacle A.M.E. Church, in Philadelphia.  She has taught over 50 Bible Classes at the various churches and many New Members Classes.  She organized Evangelistic Outreach and many souls come to Christ.  She has led each church into corporate fasting and prayer.

 

Dr. Seales served as Chaplain and Parliamentarian for the A.M.E. Church Ministerial Alliance. She is instructor for the A.M.E. Church Ministerial Institute, and member of the Board of Examiners and Conference Board of Trustees. She served as proctor for the Interdenominational Theological Center’s Distance Learning Masters of Divinity Program in Atlanta, Georgia, which was inclusive of students at Albany State University, Albany, Ga. and Savannah State University, Savannah, Ga. 

 

Education:  Esther enjoys academia and jokes about being a lifetime scholar. She earned her D.Min.,  STM, and M.Div. from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.  She holds a B.S. Degree in Bible from Cairn University in Langhorne, Pa., and  B.S. in Secondary Education with concentration in English from the Fort Valley State University, in Fort Valley, Georgia. 

 

Community involvement:  Member of the Sheriff’s Council of Faith-Based & Community Partnerships for the City of Philadelphia, Member of Town Watch Integrated Services 16th District West Division, a member of  Philadelphia’s 16th District Police Precinct Crime Coalition, and member of the Powelton Village Civic Association.

 

Honors: Esther received the Anointed Clergy Award from the National Congress of Black Women in 2016, received the Phenomenal Woman Award from Shorter A.M.E. Church in 2019,  honored by the City Wide Interdenominational Christian Training Institute. Her book entitled, Living Holy and Healthy, won first Place in the Christian Writers Contest from Xulon Press in 2013.   Esther holds membership in the following organizations: The National Association of Professional Women, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, The United States Achievement Academy, The Newspaper Institute of America, Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society, Alpha Mu Gamma Foreign Language Honor Society, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Rev. Dr. Seales received the Reverend Jarena Lee Leadership Award from The First Episcopal District Women in Ministry, 2023.

 

Esther is enjoying retirement from a very successful career with the Department of Defense. Her hobby is photography and writing. Her favorite song is, If I Can Help Somebody. Her favorite scripture is, Matthew 6:33, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteous, and all these things shall be added unto you. Her mission in life is to love and help God’s people.  Esther says, “The Lord spoke to me and said, “You take care of my people and I will take care of you.”