Healthy Living Ministries

Reverend Lawrence A. Sandidge, M.Div.

Reverend Lawrence A. Sandidge, a native of Accokeek, Maryland, has been an active member of Covenant Baptist Church in Washington, DC since February 1989.  He served on the Diaconate Board from November 1993 until licensed to practice ministry at Covenant Baptist Church in July 2005.

Reverend Sandidge was appointed by Pastor Dennis Wiley to lead the Brotherhood Ministry, the male missionary arm of the church, and served as President from 1994 until licensed to practice ministry in 2005.  Although working with the Men’s Ministry, Prison Ministry, and Visitation Ministry is his passion, he has served as an usher, a Trustee, a Sunday School teacher, a youth advisor, and additionally served with the Children’s Ministry, the Covenant Artistic Spiritual Theater (CAST), the Mass and Men’s Choir, and the Men’s Ensemble.

Reverend Sandidge received the Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Management from the University of Maryland University College in May 2001.  He received the Master of Science degree in Information Technology from Johns Hopkins University in May 2005.  He received a Master of Divinity degree in Theology from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia in May 2007.  In addition to his academic accomplishments, he has completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the Washington Hospital Center, has been awarded the title of Certified Anger Resolution Therapist by The Anger Management Training Institute, and has been accepted as a Pastoral Care Specialist by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

Reverend Sandidge is a retired Technical Manager from Verizon Communications, Inc. where he was employed for thirty-five years.  He is a devoted husband, father, and community leader.  He is married to Charlean Brown Sandidge since July 16, 1983.  Together, they have three lovely children: Nnamdi, Olisa, and Aisha.  He has served as a Junior Achievement Advisor, a PTA member, a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader, a Boy Scout Leader Trainer, and a Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor.  He served two years as a mentor at the Southeast White House in Washington, DC working with youth-at-risk.

Reverend Sandidge acknowledged his call to the gospel ministry in June 2003.  He is encouraged by these words:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)

After two years of receiving pastoral mentoring and a year of preparation in theological education, he preached his initial sermon on June 5, 2005.  Covenant Baptist Church membership voted to approve his license to practice ministry there in July 2005. He received a recommendation for ordination from the DC Baptist Ordination Committee on February 21, 2008 and was ordained on April 20, 2008.