About Our Pastor
Rev. Dr. Christopher L. Zacharias
Christopher Lee Zacharias is a native of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Fred and Helene Zacharias. Rev. Zacharias accepted his call as a Minister of the Gospel in 1998, and was ordained in the A.M.E. Zion Church. After giving his initial sermon, he served as an Exhorter for his home church, St. Matthews A.M.E. Zion Church. Six months later, his bishop sent him on his first pastoral assignment in Bedford, Pennsylvania. From there, he was sent to serve as Pastor of the A.M.E. Zion churches, St. Paul, St. Mark, Metropolitan, Rock Hill, Mount Pisgah and First A.M.E. Zion Church in San Francisco, California In 2016, Rev. Zacharias was appointed by Bishop W. Darin Moore as the Presiding Elder of the Bay Cities District of the California Conference supporting and overseeing nine churches. Currently, Rev. Zacharias is the proud pastor of John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, Washington D.C.
Dr. Zacharias serves diligently in his community. He served as the Third Vice President of the NAACP - San Francisco. He served as a member of the board of directors for the Tabernacle Community Development Corporation building affordable housing in the San Francisco and Bay area. He served on the Board of Directors for the Buchanan YMCA of San Francisco. He also served on the executive boards for Unity – Bridging the Gap between African Americans and Jews, Faith in Action and the Interfaith Council of San Francisco. Dr. Zacharias has received numerous awards and recognition for his outstanding community work, including Certificate of Honor from Board of Supervisors, City and County of San Francisco for his spiritual leadership in the community.
Dr. Zacharias is known for his dynamic teaching of God’s word and received his Bachelors of Liberal Arts in Communications from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry degree at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio in December 2006. Additionally, Dr. Zacharias continued his education at Pneuma Theological Seminary receiving a Doctor of Theology. He also holds certification in Pastoral Care Specialist.
Dr. Zacharias has earned a reputation as a powerful preacher and a devoted pastor filled with compassion for God’s people. He has a true passion for being a shepherd to God’s people. His nurturing and giving spirit continues to touch the lives of those who sit under his leadership as he boldly seeks to fulfill the plan and purpose of Almighty God. Dr. Zacharias is the father to two sons Marcus and Elijah, He is blessed to be married to his lovely wife and soul-mate, Kim