Rev. Janel T. York

Rev. Janel T. York is the Senior Pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church of Paterson, NJ. She is the third pastor and first female pastor in the history of this congregation.

A native Patersonian, Rev. York is a product of the Paterson Public Schools, including Paterson’s famed Eastside High School. She has also studied at the Christian Bible Institute, Liberty Baptist Seminary, and New York Theological Seminary. Rev. York was licensed to preach in 1998 at the Christ Temple Baptist Church in Paterson, NJ, and ordained in 2009 at the Roger Williams Baptist Church in Passaic, NJ by the North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association.

She has served in a variety of capacities in the congregations that she has served, providing leadership and service as Youth Director, Singles Ministry Leader, Christian Education Director, and Church Administrator. She has also been an instructor and Bible Study Leader for women, Young Adults, and Senior Adults.

In 2014, Rev. York served as Interim Pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church of Hackensack. In 2015, she was called to serve as Interim Pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church. Her dedication and commitment during this interim period compelled the Friendship Baptist Church to extend the call to her as Pastor in 2016. Under her leadership, the church is experiencing growth in every area.

Rev. York has served as Auditor of the North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association and is an Executive Board Member of the NAACP Paterson Branch. She is a member of the Hampton University Minister's Conference and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. She also serves as Assistant Director of Noah’s Ark Summer Development Program.

Along with these titles, Rev. York has added Author to the list as she recently released her first writing project, Stepping Into My Purpose. Beyond her service as a Pastor and community servant, Rev. York is most proud of her role as mother to her young adult children, Ashley and Rajon.