Pastor's Bio

In 1981, Reverend Dean accepted the call to the ministry of preaching the gospel, licensed under the leadership and guidance of the late Pastor W.J. Moncrieff at the Coraopolis Church of God in Christ. In 1983, Minister Dean was ordained by the late Bishop G.E. Vaughn in the Church of God in Christ. Elder Dean continued his technical training in the Pittsburgh area to receive his first associate's degree in electronics. During this time, Reverend Dean worked in his home church focusing on the youth, becoming president of a community ministry called Youth for Christ and a member of the Crusade Outreach Ministry.

While working in the ministry, Reverend Verton L. Dean met and fell in love with Sister Catherine Marie West, a spirit-filled, drum-playing songbird. They were united in marriage by her late pastor, Bishop J.E. Bass Sr., and the late pastor, W.J. Moncrieff. God began to bless them as one, and God’s anointing continuously followed them.

Reverend Dean was then promoted to president of the Young People Willing Workers (YPWW) in his local church and within the Aliquippa District, gathering under the leadership of Pastor J. Watkins Sr. (District Superintendent). In 1990, during the illness of his pastor, Reverend Dean played a major role in holding the church together. He began Saturday morning prayers, started a new convert member class, held revivals, continued joy nights, and worked with the YPWW in the absence of their leader. When Pastor Moncrieff regained his health, he dubbed Revered Dean with the highest honor by appointing him as his first administrative assistant. Reverend Dean and his wife Catherine worked together with the young people at the church and within the community, reaching teenagers with the Word of the Lord. They taught them how special they are, not to settle for less, how much God loves them, and that the only way to make it into heaven is through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God blessed those young people, and the seeds that were planted led many of them to Christ. God then began to open doors evangelistically for Reverend Dean. At times, God took him and his family out to many churches to minister the Word of the Lord in song, teaching, and preaching. This would lead Reverend Dean to evangelize at the Union Baptist Church of Monessen, PA, while Pastor Spencer Harris Jr. was recuperating from a lengthy illness. On June 8, 2004, after serving at Union Baptist on scheduled Sundays for approximately one year, God’s decision was to place Reverend Dean at Union Baptist permanently. On November 27, 2005, one year into pastoring Union Baptist, Reverend Verton L. Dean Sr. was ordained and installed by the Ordination Council as a senior Baptist pastor. The church improved and grew under his leadership, as numerous souls came to Christ and over forty baptisms took place under Pastor Dean’s call to Union Baptist Church. Many came, and some moved on, but Pastor Dean continued to stand steadfast in the Lord, spreading the gospel and encouraging and inviting souls to find the Lord. The increase in ministry consisted of senior choir membership, Bible study attendance, and trustee and usher board membership. After ten years of a void, the missionary board was also reassembled. An establishment of several youth auxiliaries, including the junior choir, was formed. Union Baptist also experienced an increase in property ownership between 2007 and 2009. Several lots were anonymously purchased and donated to the church, and four of the dwellings purchased by the church were demolished. This was all in preparation for the vision—God’s plan that Union would soon be blessed with a new parish while the merger of Fellowship Baptist Church of Monessen and Union Baptist Church of Monessen became one. Before his departure in December 2012, Dean pastored Union Baptist Church of Monessen for nine and a half diligent, committed years.

After National Cash Register (NCR) and Shandon Lipshaw (his place of work as a technician for several years) changed state locations, Pastor Dean was employed by Westinghouse/Cutler Hammer, now Eaton Electrical Corporation. He has been employed there for 25 years. He currently holds two certificates of training in ministry from the Mount Hope Bible Center and the RHEMA Correspondence Bible School. Pastor Dean also holds two associate degrees in electronics technology.

Outside of the ministry and work, Pastor Dean is a fan of football, baseball, and basketball, which he played as a young man. He especially loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. It brings him much joy, and he loved to watch his own sons play ball on the field throughout high school and college. Pastor Dean enjoys spending time with his wife on their date nights, watching movies, taking their very own trips, and eating her homemade cooking. Pastor Dean loves and enjoys all six of his children. Stacia (Stephen Dorsey) of Pittsburgh, PA, multi-business owner; Ava (Rev. Julius Ralph II) of Atlanta, GA, multi-business owner; Verton Dean II (VJ), supervisor at Eaton Electrical Corporation; Thomas, Eaton electrical employee; Ramone and Jeremiah, college students. The talks with his two sons-in-law are priceless and can sometimes be full of humor. Pastor Dean has a lot of fun and plenty of memories to cherish with his two grandsons, Brandon Marshall-Lanford and Brody Marshall-Jordan Brock. The two of them, along with the family dogs, keep "Pap-Pap'' on his toes. Pastor Verton Dean’s goal is to always please God first and reach as many souls as he possibly can through teaching the unadulterated Word of God.

Pastor Dean is a loving, understanding, peaceful, God-fearing spouse and a true man of God, as he believes with all of his heart. "He and his entire household shall serve the Lord."