Meet the Pastor

Pastor Graham's Favorite Scripture:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2

     Reverend Dr. William H. Graham is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and is the pastor of The First Missionary Baptist Church in Frederick, Maryland. He graduated from Morgan State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and from Howard University School of Divinity with a Masters Degree in Theology. In October 2003, Rev. Graham received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Eastern Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia. Reverend Graham is married to Deaconess Doris Lewis Graham and they have four daughters and four grandchildren.

     Reverend Graham is a devoted community activist and has developed strong community relationships throughout the community. His work and contributions are well known within the Frederick community and surrounding areas. Some of Rev. Graham’s accomplished community services, past and present, include: volunteer chaplain of Frederick Memorial Hospital; Coordinating Chaplain for the Frederick City Police Department’s Volunteer Chaplains; Board member of the Frederick Goodwill Industries; member of the Frederick Area Ministerial Association; Board Chairman of the Religious Coalition and member of the Evangelical Ministerial Fellowship. Periodically, he is called upon to provide the opening prayer at meetings held by Frederick’s Mayor and the Board of Aldermen. Reverend Graham is also a committed and active member of the American Baptist Churches of the South and the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity.

     Reverend Graham is a dedicated servant to the First Missionary Baptist Church and its membership and he thoroughly enjoys his labor of love for the Lord.. He is very passionate about reaching out to the youth and commits himself to helping them succeed. He demonstrates this passion by participating in youth mentoring program throughout the city of Frederick. This includes visiting the Frederick County Public Schools where members of his church are students. Additionally, he dedicates a special time called “Moments With My Children” to talk with the children of the church during each Sunday morning service. This passion that Reverend Graham has for children and youth is equally as strong for seniors. He seizes every available opportunity to recognize and involve the senior members of the church. Much of his time is spent chauffeuring them to various outings and activities, to include transporting them to the polls to vote.

Reverend Graham has served as pastor of the First Missionary Baptist in Frederick, Maryland since April 7, 1987. Under his leadership, God has blessed this church to grow its membership from fewer that 100 to its current body of over 600 members. The growth was so constant, that we were outgrowing our current building. Reverend Graham, being led by the Holy Spirit, had a vision for a larger edifice and fulfilled this vision by leading the First Missionary Baptist Church into a multi-million dollar building project in 1996. In 1999 Reverend Graham and the First Missionary Baptist Church, through his faith, tenacity, and leadership, embarked upon the largest building project of its kind in the African American community in Frederick City. The fulfillment of his vision and the fruits of his labor were realized when the doors of this new edifice opened in October 2001. Reverend Graham continually gives God the praise for all of the accomplishments he and this church have realized. He continually reaches out to lost souls to help them realize that their salvation is the focus of all that we do. He would have the whole world to know that he is a laborer of love for the Lord and that his favorite scripture is I John 3:2.