Dr. Ankoma Anderson
Senior Pastor
Ankoma D. Anderson, Sr, a native of Greenwood, South Carolina, is the son of Gregory and Cynthia Anderson. He attended the public schools of Greenwood County School District 50 and is a 2005 graduate of Emerald High School, where he graduated with honors. He continued his education at Lander University and became the first student to receive funding from NASA to conduct laboratory research.
Upon graduating from Lander in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, he continued his academic career by pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Clemson University. He conducted extensive scientific research throughout his doctoral studies, which has been featured in several peer-reviewed journals. He has also served as a lecturer at Clemson University, a faculty member at the University of South Carolina Upstate, Lander University, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Anderson University's College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Anderson also earned a Master's of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University and is currently pursuing a second PhD in Ethical leadership from the Christian Studies Department at Anderson University. Since early childhood, Ankoma has felt the call to ministry. He was licensed to preach at age 21, and at age 25 was ordained and shortly thereafter installed as Pastor of his home church, Macedonia Baptist Church of Greenwood, South Carolina. In 2016, he accepted the call to The Welfare Baptist Church in Belton, South Carolina, where he continues to serve as the Senior Pastor.
As an extension of his ministry, Ankoma has conducted theological study tours throughout Israel and North Africa. Additionally, he continues to serve his community through various non-profit and community organizations. He is the past chair of the annual MLK Day UNCF Fundraiser for Anderson County. He founded a STEM summer camp, CREST (Children Reaching Excellence through Science & Technology), which has been held at Welfare Baptist Church the past two years.
Ankoma is married to his beautiful wife, Jeannie, and is the proud father of two exceptional children Ankoma, Jr. (KJ) and Kirsten. They have a toy poodle named Leo. Ankoma enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.
Upon graduating from Lander in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, he continued his academic career by pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Clemson University. He conducted extensive scientific research throughout his doctoral studies, which has been featured in several peer-reviewed journals. He has also served as a lecturer at Clemson University, a faculty member at the University of South Carolina Upstate, Lander University, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Anderson University's College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Anderson also earned a Master's of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University and is currently pursuing a second PhD in Ethical leadership from the Christian Studies Department at Anderson University. Since early childhood, Ankoma has felt the call to ministry. He was licensed to preach at age 21, and at age 25 was ordained and shortly thereafter installed as Pastor of his home church, Macedonia Baptist Church of Greenwood, South Carolina. In 2016, he accepted the call to The Welfare Baptist Church in Belton, South Carolina, where he continues to serve as the Senior Pastor.
As an extension of his ministry, Ankoma has conducted theological study tours throughout Israel and North Africa. Additionally, he continues to serve his community through various non-profit and community organizations. He is the past chair of the annual MLK Day UNCF Fundraiser for Anderson County. He founded a STEM summer camp, CREST (Children Reaching Excellence through Science & Technology), which has been held at Welfare Baptist Church the past two years.
Ankoma is married to his beautiful wife, Jeannie, and is the proud father of two exceptional children Ankoma, Jr. (KJ) and Kirsten. They have a toy poodle named Leo. Ankoma enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.