Our Pastor

Dr. Elva Wyatt Ward, Pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Brodnax Virginia, is a native of Petersburg and a 1982 graduate of Petersburg High School. Her additional education includes a 1990 Graduate of Longwood University with a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Science. She has earned two Masters of Education Degrees. First, she received a Masters of Education in Counseling from Virginia State University in 2004. Second, she received a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Averett University in 2014. In addition she received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg in 2010

She was licensed to preach the gospel on July 19, 1997 and July 20^th of 2000, she was ordained by the Mt. Level Baptist Church of Dinwiddie with Rev. Leroy Rhone officiating over the ceremony.

She has experienced the privilege of both Presiding as Pastor for Chosen Children of God Ministries and group facilitator for Friends Against Crack, Inc. support group meeting. She is the co-host of the television broadcast “We Do Recover” sponsored by Friends Against Crack, Inc.

Dr. Ward is the author of the newly published book, Can We Stop Our Daughters from Becoming Addicts?, published by American Star Books June 2014.

She serves as a Research Methodology Consultant with Virginia University of Lynchburg where she has both taught Womanist Theology and served as Core Faculty Advisor with the Doctoral Program.

Currently she is a science teacher with the Chesterfield County Public school. Not only is she a certified School Counselor, she is certified to teach both Earth Science and Elementary Education K-6. She is also employed as an Quality Assurance Specialist and Intensive In-Home Counselor and Qualified Mental Health Care Professional with Aim Higher Supportive Services, Petersburg, Va.