Samuel L. Feemster, M.Div., J.D., is a native of Gaston County, North Carolina. He is the seventh of nine children raised in a Christ-centered home by his parents, the late Rev. Lewis A. and Lois S. Feemster. From his parents, siblings, and church community Samuel learned the connection between following Jesus, education, work, and community. These lessons have been the bedrock of his spiritual and professional matriculation. After graduating from Wake Forest University (WFU) School of Law, Samuel began a circuitous journey that led to Northern Virginia and Mount Vernon Baptist Church.
Samuel is an experienced Pastor-Teacher with more than 25 years of wide-ranging service in suburban congregations affiliated with the Northern Virginia Baptist Association (NVBA). He is a Son of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Sterling, VA., where he served in a variety of church ministries and leadership positions including Sunday school superintendent, deacon, associate minister and “assistant to the pastor.” After an enjoyable affiliation with the youth ministry at Greater Little Zion Baptist Church, Fairfax, Va., Samuel was called to fulfill a mission as Pastor of First Baptist Church Chesterbrook. In March 2010, the Holy Spirit inspired the congregation of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Arlington, Va., to call him to serve God as their Pastor.
Samuel believes the Church is the mission of Christ established to serve the world as a new community, as children of the light. The purpose of the church is to model, for believers and non-believers, virtues and behaviors becoming of citizens of heaven. In addition to his love for Christ and His church, Samuel is a committed public servant. During the past 27 years he has proudly served our nation as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Samuel is currently assigned to the Behavioral Science Unit (BSU), FBI Academy, Quantico, Va. Throughout the last decade, Samuel’s research interests have focused on the underdevelopment of spirituality in law enforcement and the manifestation of this adversity as normalized maladaptive behaviors within the law enforcement culture. He has sponsored multiple activities, including three national symposiums to discuss issues related to the Spirit of the Law (SOL) and the practice of law enforcement.
In search of best methods for enhancing the role of the faith community in meeting the needs of the law enforcement community, Samuel subjected his experience based hypothesis regarding public service and the mission of the Christian church to the rigors of theological study:
I believe the mission of the church and the mission of law enforcement are inextricably intertwined. The congruence between these complementary missions created, for me, the synergy necessary to discover, develop and deliver a new body of knowledge regarding the nexus between law enforcement and spirituality. Moreover, the process of theological study informed my understanding of the task of theology thereby enabling me to introduce to the law enforcement community a new training paradigm that addresses the multi-dimensional nature of humans without encroaching upon constitutional entanglement issues.
Samuel’s visionary efforts have benefited law enforcement officers as well as the communities they serve. The most crucial findings from his research have been published in multiple articles in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (LEB). These empirical results are the impetus for a recently established, cutting edge project titled “Beyond Survival Toward Officer Wellness” (BeSTOW). Samuel’s innovative work has also become the nucleus of a new course titled Spirituality, Wellness and Vitality Issues In Law Enforcement Practices. It is his hope that seminary curricula will soon be expanded to expose faith leaders to the inherent nature of law enforcement, thereby informing and equipping them to advance the discipline of embracing law enforcement as a joint ministry.
Pastor Feemster resides in Ashburn, Va., with his wife Rosa and their two sons.
