A Word from Our Pastor

Today we celebrate 120 years of service to God and community.  

Since 1997 our vision, “From the cradle beyond the grave, equipping the Saints to meet the spiritual, mental, physical and social needs of the community "  has helped remind us of who we are and our responsibility to the community we serve.

This vision, alongside our motto: “A Church That Is Bible Based, Christ Centered, And spirit Led…with A caring Touch” has been our guiding principle. 

 Whether it was opening a food and clothing pantry for Katrina victims or feeding the community through Operation Feed at our previous location on Old Montgomery, our focus has been “Strengthening the Community”. 

 Since 2005 we have given backpacks to help students get ready for school.

We have clothed the community through our annual Spring Fling.

We fed the community with December Delights, giving away 700 bags of groceries in two years. 

In 2017 we opened the Good Samaritan Food Pantry.

Since then we have fed over 500 individuals and families.

All of this made possible through the kindness and generosity of our members.

You have heard me often say that “neither love nor hunger knows no color”. 

We embraced the challenge when Jesus asks, “When I was hungry did you feed me?” with the opening on Saturday September 7, 2019 of the Kingdom Kitchen. 

The Kingdom Kitchen provides a good meal, to anybody who is hungry, free of charge in an atmosphere of love and grace.

You are and always have been a church with a giving, caring heart.

After 25 years of stewardship as your Pastor and Shepherd I could not be prouder of you as we celebrate 120 years of Edifying, Educating, Equipping and Empowering you, the Saints of God! 

Thank you Rising Star for going about the Father’s business with grace and class. Pastor Dexter Bernard Upshaw Sr.

About our Pastor

 A Brief Bio

Pastor Upshaw was born April 8, 1957 to Van B. and Margret Upshaw and is married to Joyce Upshaw who is a retired 4th Grade teacher from Sue Park Broadway Elementary School in the Conroe Independent School District. Pastor and First Lady Joyce have three children, Dexter Jr., DeAndre’ and Danielle. 

He graduated from Leesville High School, Leesville, Louisiana in 1975.  He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Wiley College, Marshall, Texas in 1979 and Master of Education from Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas in 1991 and has completed all course work for the Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership at Texas A & M University.   Pastor Upshaw has been an elementary school teacher, elementary school principal, assistant high school principal, junior high school principal and the Director of Human Resource for Secondary Education in the Conroe Independent School District.  After 30 years of dedicated service to education Pastor Upshaw retired in June of 2009 to work full time at Rising Star Baptist Church.

Pastor Upshaw was licensed in 1979 and ordained in 1981 by the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Leesville, Louisiana and has been preaching the gospel for  forty-two years.  His first pastoral assignment was in Marshall, Texas at the Greenhill #1 Baptist Church.   He has also been the Pastor of Willow Springs Baptist Church in Longview, Texas and Bethel Baptist Church of Longview, Texas.   He was installed as Pastor of the Rising Star Baptist Church on June 29, 1997.  Pastor Upshaw has nine sons in the ministry and they are:   Tommie Donahue of Shreveport, LA; Thomas Stauts of Longview, TX; Dexter B. Upshaw Jr. of Conroe, TX; Gregory Coleman of Spring, TX; Robert Garmon of McAllen, TX; Charles Henry Jr. of Houston, TX, and Gary Mustiful of The Woodlands, TX., Rev. William Henry of Cypress, TX and Rev. Byron Hughes Jr. of Goodrich, TX.

Pastor Upshaw is the Past President of the Longview Area Ministerial Alliance, a past board member of the South Montgomery County YMCA, Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County Trustee Board, South Montgomery United Way and Trustee on the Board of Conroe Regional Medical Center.