On April 2, 1997, Pastor Sanders was elected to serve as the eighth pastor of The Sixth Baptist Church, organized in 1858. For over 28 years, he has led the Sixth Baptist Church through vast community changes such as the demolition of the St. Thomas housing development, gentrification, and through major challenges such as Hurricane Katrina and Covid-19. Today, Sixth Baptist remains a thriving congregation where we are still “reaching the lost and teaching the saved to serve.”

A native of New York City, Dr. Sanders attended Howard University on a full, four-year academic scholarship. While at Howard, he was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society, and graduated magna cum laude. He earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in social work from Tulane University. He also currently serves as Professor of Social Work at Southern University at New Orleans. His writings are included in several publications.

Dr. Sanders is the recipient of numerous awards from organizations including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Victims & Citizens against Crime, the National Association of Black Social Workers, Gambit 40 under 40, the Samuel Dewitt Proctor award from Rainbow/PUSH, the Gumbo Coalition, QUEENS, Inc. and from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, of which he is a proud member. Dr. Sanders is blessed to be married to the former Dana Williams and to have two adult sons, Malik and Myles. He is thankful to God knowing that He is “the giver of every good and perfect gift.”