Women's Day Breakfast Speaker

Reverend Lillie A. Burgess, Ph.D. is an Associate Minister at the Ridgewood Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia, SC where she serves as a Sunday School Teacher, the President of the Senior Missionaries and as the advisor of the Young Women Auxiliary (YWA’s) Ministries. Additionally, she is the Foreign Mission Coordinator for the Gethsemane Woman’s and Young Woman Association of Columbia, SC and the Director of the Commission of Mission for the Gethsemane Baptist Association.

Rev. Dr. Burgess is a professor of Old and New Testament Survey, Afro-American Public Worship, Sophomore One and Two Seminars, Junior Seminar One, and World Religion courses. She is a member of the Religious Life Committee, Advisor of the National Council of Negro Women, Brothers and Sisters in Christ (BASIC), and Theta Alpha Kappa Honor Society at Benedict College. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) and National Notary Association.  Rev. Dr. Burgess has written two articles, “Living Above Circumstances” and “A Lady Called Mosette”. 

Since her early training in the undergraduate and graduate programs in Christian Education and Biblical Studies at Columbia International University and Union Institute and University she has learned to teach with simplicity and to make God’s Word “come alive.”  She earned her doctoral degree at Union Institute and University specializing in Comparative Religion with an emphasis in Islamic Studies. These programs prepared her academically as a professor and writer of religious studies. In addition, Christian Education programs provided enrichment for understanding biblical text, the characteristics of learning capabilities of adults, teens, and children, as well as development of administrative and leadership skills.  Through her academic achievement, religious studies, and cross-culture experience in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, East Africa, Santo Domingo and Haiti, she is able to teach with excitement biblical truths which impact change in the lives of her students.  Under her leadership, she has taught many workshops that enhance spiritual growth and equip effective ministries, both in the United States and Africa.  In addition, she has written two articles, “Living Above Circumstances” and “A lady Called Mosette”; has lead 19 volunteer teams to East Africa; and developed two curriculums: Foundations of Christian Education and Synoptic Gospels, which are presently being taught at churches, conventions, and Benedict College.

Rev. Dr. Burgess is the wife of Deacon McArthur Burgess and a mother of three children (Frederick, Quinn, and Joycelyn), and the proud grandmother of three (Kelly Shronda, Jeremy Quinn and Alissa Nakia). 

Rev. Dr. Burgess states, “I thank the Lord for the rich experiences He has given me throughout my lifetime, but most of all I praise Him for reaching down and rescuing this poor helpless sinner.  My mother played an important role in my Christian life, caring and giving of herself, training and teaching her how to be of service for Kingdom building.  I cannot thank God enough for the godly heritage that I have had.  I can fervently say with the Apostle Paul, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”