the rev. jack w. pettis Background The Rev. Jack W. Pettis, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, 827 Wilson Ave., Youngstown, will mark his 25th pastoral anniversary. A musical celebration is planned

Ministry: Called to the ministry in 1978 while a member of Valley Baptist Church in Niles. He preached his first sermon Sept. 17, 1978, and was licensed by the church under the Rev. Booker T. Brown. He was ordained July 5, 1981.

Education: Graduate of Niles McKinley High School, theological training at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and seminary training at WHW Expository Preaching and Teaching Conference (Faith Evangelical Seminary, Tacoma, Wash.)

Current memberships: President of Ambassadors of Christ, an ecumenical ministry of churches on the East Side; and National Baptist Convention, Ohio Baptist State Convention, Eastern Ohio Baptist District Association, Baptist Pastors’ Council of Youngstown and Vicinity, ACTION (Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods), John 17 Pastors’ Fellowship and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Past affiliations: Served as vice president of Eastern Ohio Baptist District, an organizer of Crime and Violence Task Force in Youngstown, steering committee of Youngstown Early College Program, board member of One Church, One Child Adoption/Foster Proram of Children’s Services Board of Mahoning County, chaplain at Northeast Ohio Corrections Facility and president of Baptist Pastors’ when the 2001 Hope Crusade was at Stambaugh Auditorium to help people heal after 2001 terror attacks.

Personal: He and his wife, the former Frances Terry, have been married 30 years. They are parents of Angela Pettis of Warren; Christopher Pettis of Denver, Col.; Jourdan Pettis, senior finance major at Youngstown State University; and Jairus, sophomore engineering major at YSU.