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Pastor Henry O. Leftridge was born November 17, 1939 in Charleston, West Virginia, the fith child, second son of the
late Rev. George L. Leftridge, Sr., and Mrs. Helen Campbell Leftridge. He professed and accepted Jesus Christ and was
baptized at an early age at Liberty Baptist Church, and later joined the First Baptist Church, Charleston, West Viginia.
He attended public schools in Charleston, graduating from Charleston High in 1957. Upon graduation from high school
he entered West Virginia State College pursing a Liberal Arts education.
In 1959 Pastor Leftridge entered the U.S. Army, serving a three-year tour, part of which was served in the 101st Airborne
Division as a paratrooper. After discharge from the armed services with honors, he re-entered West Virginia State College.
In 1972 he united with the Mount Period Baptist Church where he served as chariman of the trustees and deacons ministries
and in numerous other capacities before publicly acknowledging and accepting God's call to preach the gospel in 1977.
Upon the delivery of his first public sermon, he was licensed, and in 1978, after careful public examination, was ordained,
and thereafter served as Assistant to Pastor Jerry M. Carter, Sr., until receiving and accepting the call to pastor the Mount
Vernon Avenue Baptist Church.
In February 1985 he was installed. Pastor Leftridge, has matriculated at Capital University, Eastern Union
Bible College, Trinity Lutheran Theological Seminary, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has successfully
attended and completed numerous pastoral lectures, classes, and seminars. Pastor Leftridge has taught homiletics at
the Eastern Union Bible College, Columbus, Ohio.
Pastor Leftridge serves as President of the Baptist Pastors' Conference of Columbus and Vicinity; Third Vice-President
of the Congress of Christian Education, Ohio Baptist General Convention; a board member and past secretary of the International
Christian Fellowship For Missions; an officer of the Eastern Union Missionary Baptist Association, and has served as a committee
member of the Columbus Board of Edcucation Neighborhood Schools Development Parternersahip (NSDP). Pastor Leftridge
is also active in the National Baptist Convention, USA ., Inc. Pastor Leftridge served as a member of an interview panel
for the hiring/selection of new teachers at Columbus' legendary East High School. Pastor Leftridge is profiled in the
2004 edition of Who's Who in Black Columbus.
Pastor Leftridge was married in July 1976 to the former Cheryll Lynn McArthur.
They have one daughter, Anika Dionne Leftridge. Pastor Leftridge and family were blessed to visit the Holy Lands in
1994 and plan to return. Pastor Leftridge was also blessed to preach in Jerusalem while in Israel. He and family
were privileged to be baptized in the Jordan River. Pastor Leftridge has demonstrated his love for the Lord, and His
people.
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