" If I help somebody along the way, then my living shall not be in vain."

Reverend Sam Henry Mickens has led the congregation of Lake Grove Missionary Baptist Church

for sixteen years. On May 6, 2001, he was elected by a majority vote to serve as Pastor of

Lake Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

Pastor Mickens is a native Memphian and is the ninth child of the late

Reverend Clemmie Mickens, Jr. and Ruthie Mae Swauncy Mickens.

He is a graduate of Hamilton High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Christian Brothers University, a Masters in Arts of Religion, a Masters of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Memphis Theological Seminary. To fulfill the requirements for the degree of Master in Arts of Religion his thesis was titled "This Ain't The Way It's Suppose to Be!" His dissertation title for his Doctorate in Ministry is "Educating, Empowering and Enhancing Spiritual Growth."

Under the leadership of Pastor Mickens Lake Grove Missionary Baptist Church has grown tremendously. With an emphasis upon changing lives by communicating God's truth and connecting people to God's work, the church has experienced spiritual, numerical, physical, and financial growth.

He is an accredited preacher who has ministered in several regions of the country including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and over 15 other states. Pastor Mickens has exemplified his spiritual leadership in both Tipton and Shelby Counties in Tennessee for 14 years and served as president of the Tipton County Baptist Ministerial Alliance, under the umbrella of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. He is past President of the Memphis Chapter of the Minister's Pentecostal Hour and presently is First Vice Moderator of the Memphis District Association. Since 2003, Pastor Mickens has served as Instructor/Lecturer of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education.

Pastor S. H. Mickens is the husband of Sister Patricia Griffin Mickens, and they are the proud parents of six daughters and three sons-in-law; Samantha (Devin) Westbrook, Crystal (James) Wells, Tricia (Germi) Weatherby, Courtney Mickens, Brittany Mickens, and Erika Shaw (niece). They are also the proud grandparents of Kayla J. Frazier, Christion Frazier, Miyah Westbrook, Devin Westbrook, Jr., David Christopher Westbrook, Camden Nicholas Hinds, and Noah Griffin Weatherby.