On May 9, 1964, a man was born who has become a significant voice in the Body of Christ in the 21st century. John E. Guns, born to Dr. Frank and Reverend Quincey, is a native of Chesapeake, Virginia where he attended and graduated from Frederick Military Academy in 1982 and Norfolk State University in 1988 with honors. With a desire to effectively minister to his generation, he followed family footsteps and attended the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. In 1991 he completed the Masters of Divinity program and now he continues his pursuit of knowledge as a Doctoral of Ministry candidate at Virginia Union University.
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Dr. Guns in understanding the importance of relationships and partnership met in 1984 and eventually married in 1986, the former Melissa Ann Spellman. Throughout the course of their marriage together they experience ministry at the Union Bethel Baptist church, Chesapeake, Virginia and now the Saint Paul Church of Jacksonville, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida. At each stage of their journey they have grown together as God has honored them to touch lives young and old. As a Senior Pastor, Dr. Guns has at each assignment envisioned ministry at next levels and has successfully galvanize God’s people to accomplish extraordinary vision. His insatiable commitment to discipleship has positively impacted thousands. This vision, which includes community programming as well as innovative ministry events and programs, has brought many to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As his partner, First Lady Melissa Guns has worked diligently with children, which is her personal passion. Each week she has and continues to serve the Body of Christ by touching the future through loving and caring ministry. At the present she leads the Ministers’ Wives of Saint Paul, nurturing and guiding them in becoming helpful to their spouses. Coupled with this, she leads her own business as a Sales Director in Mary Kay and she provides loving support to her husband and motherly nurture to their daughter, Alexis Michelle.
Dr. Guns has been privileged to preach not only in some of the leading churches in America but as well to stand and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to thousands in some of the more significant Christian gatherings. He has served as the morning preacher, Hampton Ministers’ Conference in 2000, the C.A.W. Clark Preaching Hour for the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., and the National Winter Meeting for the AME Zion Church. A long with such preaching honors he has received several local, state and national awards. Despite all of his ministry success, he continues to preach as a man possessed with the spirit of humility, always remembering his humble beginnings as an assistant to his father at the Abyssinia Baptist Church, Norfolk, Virginia, as the young, energetic pastor of a small rural church in Chesapeake, and as the Director of Youth and Evangelism Ministry, Baptist General Convention of Virginia.
And though he now leads a thriving congregation in the urban core of Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Guns continues to seek God personally as well as professionally. He passionately seeks to grow through reading and reflection. His commitment to reading has in turn provided him with motivation to become himself an author, annually developing a devotional journal and penning 3 others books that are still in demand.
Dr. Guns is a strong confident leader who courageously lives out vision. Through his affiliation with such organizations as Kappa Alpha Psi and the Johnson YMCA, he works in community for the good of community. We are grateful for the leadership of our Pastor and deeply value him for the Man of God that he is! |
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