About the Undershepard

Wendell W. Bonner, Ph. D

Dr. Wendell W. Bonner has served since 1994 as the Elder of the Ministry of Jesus Christ at First Baptist Church of Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. He received a Master's Degree in Education from Northeast Louisiana University, now named University of Louisiana at Monroe; and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Illinois-Champaign. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  Pastor Bonner is a counselor for Pastors, an educator of church staff, and program developer for leadership forums, continuing education programs and seminars.

This vessel, Dr. Bonner, has been chosen as a conduit of the Holy Spirit to write over 200 Christian manuals and booklets. These publications seek to provide spiritual enlightenment and encouragement to the saints of God.

Dr Bonner is a native of Monroe, Louisianna.  He is married to Dr Lizette Smith-Bonner, a licensed Clinical Psychologist. He has three children.

National and International Awards

• Named to the Covington's 2013 Edition of Who's Who of International Executives and Professionals.
• Initiated into Phi Delta Kappa November 1, 1989; a professional fraternity in education.
• Initiated as a member of the Society in Alpha Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi – An Honor Society in Education.
• Initiated into the Eta Chi chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

National Speaking Engagements

• Served as the keynote speaker for the National Association of Presbyterian Churches.
• Served as the break-out session presenter for national, state and regional conferences of the Churches of Christ.

Christian Education Training Supervision

• Served as Director of Ordination Education for ministers of First Baptist Church of Webster Groves, Missouri using the existing 3-year "School for the Prophets" Ordination Education Program of First Baptist Church of Webster Groves, Missouri.
• Served as Internship Supervisor for area Seminary and Bible Colleges.
• Provided educational training for area church diakonate systems.
• Provided educational training for church officers for area United Methodist churches.
• Internship Supervisor for area Seminary and Bible College students.
• Served as ordination Preparation Supervisor for ministers of area congregations at the request of the host church's pastor.
• Ordination Program Coordinator for ministers in training in area churches.

Academia

• Saint Louis University –  past Assistant Professor of Counselor Education.
• Authored a Multidisciplinary Grant involving 12 departments of the Schools of Law, Education and Social Work at St. Louis University.
• Conducted team building program for Langston Middle School Faculty and Staff in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Served as team member of University/Community Program of Cooperative Development for Saint Louis University involving members of St. Louis 
• University Education faculty and residents of the Blumeyer Housing Development.
• In 1998, commissioned by Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois to develop and write a "Rites of Passage Program" for African American young men entitled "African-American Male Reconnections and Transformations: An Exploratory Study on the Perceptions of African-American Males on Adult Development and Re-Education."
• Served as member and a Principal Interviewer on Saint Louis University NCAA Accreditation Committee.
• Published article in the Journal of Western Psychology – "African Americans and Intentions to Seek Counseling – A Test of Two Models."

Christian Curriculum Development

Dr. Bonner has

• Written and developed ten (11) sets of thematic Christian Education curricula with eight (8) of them specifically for youth grades 1 through 12 for Children's Church, Youth Church and Teen Church programs for First Baptist Church of Webster Groves, Missouri.
• Written and developed both a Youth Church (6th grade through 8th grade) and a Teen Church (9th grade through 12th grade) Worship and Educational program to address age-appropriate worship and Christian education experiences in sessions held simultaneously with the adult worship experience including both didactic and experiential elements to provide a holistic Christian and civic development environment.
• Written and developed Children's Church Summer Enrichment and Exposure Program which is designed to bring a holistic approach to the spiritual learning experience. It is designed to add to the didactic programming by enriching their experiences through experiential exercises and excursions that bring learning to the whole person visually, experientially and contextually.
• Written and developed the Miriam and Timothy Pre-Ordination Program – a 3-year Program for ministers preparing for ordination at the First Baptist Church of Webster Groves, Missouri.
• Written and developed Post-Ordination Ministerial Development Program for ministers of First Baptist Church of Webster Groves, Missouri:
  Module 2 – The Deborah and Elisha Post-Ordination Program
  Module 3 – The Samuel Program Of Homiletics, Biblical Revival, and Apologetics
  Module 4 – The Paul and Anna Post Ordination Program of Eternal Salvation
  Module 5 – Teaching Pastors the Role Of/And Ordaining Elders Of the Church
  Module 6 – The Mind of Christ: Reformation, Revolution & Renewing of the Mind
  Module 7 – The Paul and Peter Program of Advanced Supervision
• Written and developed a Diakonate Training Program known as "Taking the Point" for candidates of the Diakonate of the First Baptist Church of Webster Groves, Missouri which serves as the center of all of the Diakonate Training.
• Written and developed Diakonate Training programs and protocols for the Diakonate membership of over 60 members strategically divided into six (6) divisions to address specific demographic segments of the congregation's population. It is part of an ever-extending network of nurture and congregational care.
• Written and developed Adult Christian Education curriculum currently being used in Ghana, Africa.
• Written and developed over 200 publications, including several titles for Christian Living; including:
  
  • Don’t Straddle the Fence (Holiness)
  • Faith - The Force, The Fire, The Footsteps (Holiness)
  • All of Your Victories Have Been Won (Inspiration)
  • What Do You Do When the Bottom Falls Out? (Inspiration)
  • Faith - Who’s Actually Performing It? (Instruction)
  • Unmarried, Intimate and Living Together - Is That Okay in God's Eyes? (Instruction)
  • Repent and Relax — Volume I & II (Liberation)
  • Don't Give Up and Don't Shut Up (Perseverance)
  • Lord, How Do I Get Through This One? (Perseverance)
  • Lust and Temptation (Stewardship)
  • Singing The Lord's Song In a Strange Land (Stewardship)
  • In praise of the Almighty (Worship)
  • Yet Praise Him (Worship)

Christian Education Seminars and Workshops

Dr. Bonner has

• Invited workshop facilitator on Christian Stewardship (Los Angeles, California; Memphis, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri).
• Workshop and seminar training for officers of United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California.
• Invited workshop facilitator and planning committee member for Men's Emphasis month focusing on the role of Christian men in the Church of Jesus Christ (Memphis, Tennessee).
• Created and facilitated workshops and forums for Christian Leadership and Christian Education with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church [CME] (Scruggs Memorial CME Church) and the Disciples of Christ denominations (Mississippi Boulevard Disciples of Christ Church).

Church Stewardship

• Founder and Director of "Breeze Ministries Inc." of Monroe, LA., a choral ministry
• Written and performed music for events, such as, church concerts, individual concerts, and presidential rallies.
• Minister of Music for the Jericho Missionary Baptist Church Choir, Urbana, Illinois
• Served as songwriter (over 150 songs), pianist, choir director, choral instructor and music workshop presenter.