Reverend Angela Sagesse Senior Pastor Reverend Wilsage Sagesse
"I have been in the Church of God all of my life. My father was a Church of God pastor who instilled in us the message of God's love for all people. The Church of God has long been a proponent of unity among all believers. In a divided world, my heart has always been drawn to the peace and unity we can find in Christ.
Prior to ministry, I worked in the social service and criminal justice fields in inner city Chicago. It was there God called me to follow in the footsteps of my father and be a pastor. I began ministry in 1997 as a youth pastor at the Eaton First Church of God in Eaton, Ohio where I served for 5 years. I then attended seminary at the Anderson University School of Theology in Anderson, Indiana. There, I met my husband, Wil, who is originally from Haiti. While in seminary, I served as a youth pastor at the Avon Community Church of God in Indianapolis, IN and was there for 6 years.
My husband, Wil, and I longed to serve in a multicultural church where the unity of God could be seen and experienced across ethnic and racial lines. Having grown-up all my life in the Midwest, I never considered the East Coast as our next ministry position. However, God led us to Rhode Island to meet the congregation here and we fell in love with the spirit, the love and the unity. I have been the Senior Pastor since April 2010. Wil is also an ordained pastor in the Church of God and serves with me here as co-pastor through preaching and leading various men's ministries. We are excited to see what God is going to do here as this church is faithful to the call of God to serve Him, to serve our community and to serve each other by sharing the peace of Christ.
Wil and I have been married since August 2006. In October 2009, we were blessed with the birth of our son, Josiah, and blessed again in June 2012 with the birth of another son, Stephen."
Deacons
Holly Hazard Deacon of Proclaim
"As the Deacon of Proclaim, I am the leader over all ministries that bring God's people together in fellowship. The two primary areas of Accept are our LIFE Groups and Children's Ministry. I began serving in Children's Ministry 12 years ago. I can be found serving in the capacity of teaching, Family Night Coordinator and in the past, LIFE Group Coordinator. I have been serving on the Board of CE since 2004. In my role, I desire to help people understand their need for fellowship and to provide opportunities for really sharing with one another so we can be the Family of God."
Avis Hazard-Spears (Currently on a leave of absence. Pastor Angela Sagesse is filling in until Avis returns.) Deacon of Exalt
"I have been at Peace Dale for 53 Years. I have held positions for 30 years as a Choir Director, Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader, Worship Leader and a member of the Board of Christian Education and Pulpit Committee. Currently I am one of the Deacons. I have lead Prayer Services, spoken a few Sundays when needed and have filled in whenever and wherever I am needed in this congregation. I am committed to Christ and to exalting his name through worship. I am married to Craig B. Spears Sr. I have been a church daughter all my life, in the Peace Dale First Church of God congregation."
Elizabeth (Liz) Taylor Deacon of Accept
Pastor Wil Sagesse Deacon of Commit
Richard Hazard Deacon of Equip
"I have been a member since 1978 and Deacon for 8 years. In my role, I am the leader of our mentoring ministry as well as our Seniors in Christ (SINC) Ministry. As Deacon of Equip, I desire to see people learn about being a follower of Christ and growing in their faith so that they might better reflect Jesus and his ways."
Board of Trustees Board of Christian Education
Antoinette M. Ferrara, Chair Liz Taylor Joanne Silva-Njoku Pam Thibodeaux Anna Costa Danielle Hazard Susan Hazard Michael Comire Helen Taylor