Pastor Willie D. Bacote

Pastor Willie D. Bacote is an ordained elder from the A.M.E. Zion Church and the founder and leader of The Missing Link Street Ministry. He is a great help to the Sanctuary with his goals of bringing good nutrition, health, and communication resources to neighborhood youth, many of whom are beneficiaries of his “Feed-A-Kid” program. Pastor Willie graduated from Payne Theological Seminary with a Bachelors degree in Christian Ministry and a Masters in Divinity from Christian Bible College and Seminary. He is the Commissioner of Deeds in the city of Troy and is the first African-American to sit on the Board of Directors of the Lansingburgh Boys and Girls Club. Pastor Willie was also a former commissioner for the Troy Housing Authority. He holds a big part in the Sanctuary’s Youth Media Sanctuary, and believes that “The youth media program represent hope for these kids.” 

According to Pastor Bacote, “The vision of this ministry mandates that we go into the entire world preaching and teaching the Word of God to those who are still lost and caught up in whatever addictions continue to shackle them down, to develop community awareness and support to ex-offenders to help them make a positive re-entry into their communities, create and implement projects for youth to prevent their involvement in the criminal justice system.”