Senior Pastor 

Kenneth E. Fairley 

Senior Pastor Kenneth E. Fairley – Born in Forrest County in 1953, Pastor Fairley is married to Sandra Fowler-Fairley.  He has two children:  Kenneth II and Vaston Fairley. 

Pastor Fairley graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in History, Counseling, Psychology and Biblical Studies.  He has been in the Ministry for 34 years.  He has been Senior Pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church since 1993. 

As a result of his leadership, Mount Carmel has experienced tremendous growth in every area of ministry, economic and community development.  His pastoral leadership has imparted vision and concepts of self-empowerment, self-reliance and self-responsibility.  As a result, the Church has expanded its resources through its own efforts and community support.  Understanding that without a vision the people perish, Pastor Fairley has established and laid down an apostolic foundation in the community that has led Mt. Carmel to be one of the most thriving and pace setting Churches in the state of Mississippi. 

He was instrumental in the process of moving the Church from its original location at Mobile and Seventh streets to 1101 North Main Street, a multi-million dollar facility.  His vision to reach the world in the spirit of excellence has led the church to increase to forty-four ministries with eight departments and the birth of two other churches in Vicksburg, Mississippi and Brandon, Mississippi. 

 Under Pastor Fairley’s administration several ministries have grown and prospered.  These include Eagle Wing Estates, a housing facility for the elderly and handicapped.  Alpha I and II Christian School, a State accredited private school with grades K-12 and full time day care center.    The Leadership Institute for Empowerment trains upcoming leaders in leadership skills and empowers them spiritually, educationally, economically and developmentally.  Mt. Carmel also has a housing ministry that provides homes and housing education for the community.  The Bread of Life Center renders physical and spiritual healing for people and families who are plagued by chemical dependency.  The Abundant Life Institute is a Theology Bible School that provides accredited courses to the church body and community.    There is also a Feeding Ministry that provides both spiritual and physical food to the destitute, homeless and less fortunate. 

Aside from his duties as the leader of Mt. Carmel Ministries, Pastor Fairley has been active in Civil Rights issues and community empowerment.   For most of his adult life, he has been involved in issues of fairness and justice for all individuals.  He has served as President of the Forrest County N.A.A.C.P., a board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and State Coordinator for the Rainbow Push Coalition.  Pastor Fairley has served as Chairman for the Area Political Action Coalition, which organized voter registration efforts in the Southern Region.  He also served as President for the Community Improvement Association, a group that has organized and implemented boycotts to facilitate equality and fairness for African Americans.  He is a member of the Citizens for Justice, a group of committed individuals, who have worked to have hate crime cases of the 1960’s reopened.