PASTOR LEROY THOMPSON III INSTALLED AS PASTOR OF MOUNT OLIVE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN CLAIRTON.
by Genea L. Webb
For New Pittsburgh Courier
It’s a new era for Clairton’s Mount Olive First Baptist Church and newly-installed pastor Reverend Leroy Thompson III is ready to usher is congregation into it.
“This is a new season where walls will be torn down, holes will be drilled. Pastors don’t change things, they reveal the newness of God and reveal it from God. The congregation’s job is to receive the word that God is sending,” explained Rev. Thompson III, who was installed as the new pastor over a weekend-long celebration, Oct. 10-12, 2025. He takes the reins of the church after its pastor of 58 years, the Reverend William C. Callaway, passed away in December 2020 at age 87. The church had 200-300 members while he served as its shepherd.
“I can say so much about the late Rev. Dr. William C. Callaway. He was truly an inspiration to so many of us. For me, one of my favorite quotes from him was, ‘It’s just nice to be nice.’ Rev. loved people and it showed everywhere he went. He had this way of making you feel like you were part of the family. Clairton loved him and we all still miss him. He cared for God’s people! This is one thing both pastor Callaway and I had in common; our love for people,” Rev. Thompson III said. “I watched Pastor Callaway care for the people of Clairton and the surrounding areas. That is the main thing I will carry on in my own personal way of leadership.”
“We are like the Steelers. We don’t change pastors often,” said longtime Mt. Olive First Baptist Church member Pam Kelley. “We are grateful God brought Pastor Leroy to Mt. Olive for such a time as this. We are turning a new leaf and we are going to walk things out with him.”
PASTOR LEROY THOMPSON III (PHOTOS BY GENEA L. WEBB)
Reverend Thompson, who is affectionately known as “Man” by family and friends, is a lifelong resident of Clairton. He grew up in Gethesemane Church of God in Christ and gave his life to Christ at age 12. He is the youngest and only male out of his five siblings.
“I noticed right away that there was something different about this young man,” explained Rev. Melvin Brown, Superintendent and Pastor of Gethesame Church of God in Christ. “He got his start with us in the choir singing Soprano next to his mom, Sheila. Mount Olive has gotten a jewel in this young man.”
Prior to accepting the call to Mount Olive, he served as senior pastor of two churches in the Steel City and as associate pastor in Killeen, Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Leadership and Ministry from Ohio Christian University. The devoted father of three has also written, produced and performed many plays.
The Clairton City School District substitute teacher holds his beloved hometown and its residents in high regard. He works tirelessly to meet the community’s needs. He has held countless outreach efforts like clothing drives and soup giveaways as a way to provide hope and resources to those in need.
“We need to truly unite as one. We cannot move forward with just talking about unity, we truly have to be a unified front,” he said. “When we truly understand this, then we will change our churches and our community as a whole,” he said.
He has a personal message to his flock.
“We have to constantly love on one another. We cannot allow one ounce of discord because God hates it. Love is what will make us successful and fulfill our purpose.”
Mount Olive began as a prayer band meeting from house to house. The group organized into a church in 1910. In 1921, the church’s current yellow brick building on Waddell Avenue was completed and dedicated. In 1986, an educational wing was added and the sanctuary and dining hall were remodeled. The sound system was purchased. Currently, Mount Olive First Baptist Church has two church vans, a soup kitchen and a youth ministry. Sunday services are streamed on social media.
But Rev. Thompson doesn’t want to stop there.
“Mount Olive has a bright future. We have been blessed to have young people of all ages and as I say to the church, ‘any time you hear a baby crying in the church, that is a sign of life. It shows that the church has a future because it has young people in it,’” he said. “I see us expanding and even adding to our building. In the upcoming year, new ministries will be introduced and both new and older members will start getting more involved. As we move forward as a church family, we will have all hands on deck! What God has for us is big and exciting! As the new pastor, I will make sure that we accomplish all that God has set before us to do.”
