Dr. Ronnie O. Blake was elected the ninth pastor of the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church on March 19, 2019. Born the second of seven children to the union of Mr. Nathaniel Blake Mrs. Johnnie Blake, Pastor Blake is a native of Grambling, LA where he received his primary and secondary education. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology at Grambling State University.
Pastor Blake was baptized at an early age at Oakland Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana under the leadership of the late Reverend B. M. White. He was called to preach the gospel in 1988 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Houston, Texas under the leadership of the late Reverend Charles L. Jackson. On May 24, 1992 he became a licensed minister, and on February 4, 1994, under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Jesse B. Bilberry, Jr., he was ordained a minister of the gospel by the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association.
Pastor Blake obtained his religious training at several institutions. He received his degree in Christian Education in 1994 at Capital City Religious Institute in Baton Rouge, La. He later obtained his Bachelor of Theology degree at Christian Bible College on June 14, 2004, and he became a Certified Christian Counselor on June 1, 2007, having been certified by the American Association of Christian Counselors. Pastor Blake received his Doctor of Divinity degree from Christian Bible College on June 6, 2008.
During Dr. Blake’s thirty year tenure at Mt. Pilgrim he became a humble force in the Mt. Pilgrim Street Ministry, which he led for twenty years. In addition, he has taught in the Adult Division of the Higher Ground Fellowship Hour (Sunday School) and leads the weekly Bible Study. He has also taught Christian Education courses at various Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association and Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention events. From June 1997- June 1998 Pastor Blake served as the interim pastor at Glen Oaks Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.
Pastor Blake is a member of the National Baptist Convention, the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Ministers Conference. He is married to Izetta VanBuren Blake. They are the proud parents of Ramon Blake (married to Beulah Bowman Blake), Rolanda Blake Drake (married to Noah Drake), and twins Isaiah and Imani Blake and the doting grandparents of Blayden Blake and Omari Drake.
Rev. Blake's tenure as Pastor ended on June 29, 2024.
