Pastor Upshaw was appointed to serve as RISING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH's Senior Pastor June 1997.Prior to that, he served as Pastor of  Bethel Baptist Church in Longview, Tx.

The attributes that best describe Pastor Upshaw as a pastor are strong preaching, leadership development and counseling. He has expressed a burning desire to lead a church like RISING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH where biblical views are embraced and encouraged, with members who care about the needs of those around them and who want to connect others to the body of Christ. Pastor Upshaw takes worship and preaching very seriously, spending the first hours of his day focused on Bible study.

He graduated from Wiley College 1979 with a degree in Elementary Education.

He graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a Master's degree in Educational Leadership

Pastor Upshaw has been happily married for 40yearst o his wife, Joyce . They have three children, Dexter Jr., DeAndre and Dainelle.