Rev. Charles L. Hopkins, Pastor
Reverend Charles Lincoln Hopkins is the Pastor of the Grace Baptist Church of Oakland, California. He is a visionary leader and has a great love for God’s people especially the youth. His motto is “It is better to build than to repair” Psalms 127:1. His charismatic and dynamic style allows him to spread the gospel and bring souls to Jesus Christ.
Pastor Hopkins was born in Hinds County, Mississippi. After graduating from the Sumner Hill High School in Clinton, Mississippi, he served his country in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star for “going beyond the call of duty”. He later went on to attend the College of Alameda in Alameda, California where he majored in Liberal Arts. He acknowledged his calling to the ministry in 1979 and was licensed to preach the gospel at the Grace Baptist Church where he would one day return to Pastor. He then attended Golden Gate Bible Seminary where he continued his Christian education.
Pastor Hopkins has served as pastor and associate pastor at several churches in Northern California prior to serving in his current capacity. He served as Pastor of Second Bethel Baptist Church of Oakland, California; and he was an associate minister at Zion Hill Baptist Church of Richmond, California and Berkeley Mount Zion Baptist Church of Berkeley, California.
It has been 30 years since Pastor Charles Hopkins has been called into the ministry and he continues to preach God’s word, serve God’s people, and enhance the many ministries at Grace. Pastor Hopkins is also a leader in the East Oakland community where the Grace Baptist Church resides. He has served as Law Enforcement Chaplain for the Oakland California Police Department and is active in the local Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council. He is currently Chairman of the Board for the Bay Cities Baptist Minister’s Union. Pastor Hopkins has also been involved with the Institute of Contemporary Studies as a certified instructor in the Art & Science of Building Relationships.
Pastor Hopkins is married to the former Barbara McDaniel, and has reared eight children.
