Meet our Pastor

Pastor Elton L. Young, a native of Chattanooga, is widely recognized as a devoted husband, loving father, respected pastor, counselor, visionary leader, and transformational servant whose life and ministry have been marked by unwavering faith, compassionate leadership, and an enduring commitment to empowering individuals, families, and communities. Grounded in strong family values and a heart for service, Pastor Young has dedicated his life to helping others discover healing, purpose, and spiritual growth.

A product of the Chattanooga public school system, Pastor Young graduated from Brainerd High School before answering a higher call to serve both God and country through enlistment in the United States Marine Corps. During his honorable military service, he distinguished himself as an Artillery Weapons Specialist, Administrative Assistant, and Assistant to the Office of Chaplaincy. The discipline, integrity, and servant leadership forged during his military career would later become hallmarks of his ministry and community leadership.

Following his discharge from active duty, Pastor Young returned home to fully embrace his divine calling to ministry under the mentorship and spiritual guidance of his father in ministry, the late and esteemed Dr. Virgil J. Caldwell. Driven by a passion for spiritual growth and academic excellence, he earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Counseling and Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Christian Counseling and Psychology from Christian Bible College and Seminary. His postgraduate studies further equipped him with licensure as a Family Mediator and certifications as a Christian Counseling Therapist, Alcohol and Drug Relapse Prevention Specialist, and Marriage Enrichment Facilitator. These accomplishments reflect his lifelong commitment to ministering not only to the spiritual needs of people, but also to their emotional, relational, and personal well-being.

Throughout his distinguished career, Pastor Young has seamlessly bridged the worlds of ministry and civic leadership. His dedication to community transformation led to eight years of service as President of the City Wide Evangelistic Task Force of Greater Chattanooga, four years as Chaplain of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, and a mayoral appointment as Commissioner with the Chattanooga Housing Authority. His influence and advocacy also extended through board service with the Domestic Violence Coalition of Greater Chattanooga and the Southeast Tennessee Association for Child Care, where he worked tirelessly to strengthen families and improve community life.

A gifted preacher, teacher, and communicator, Pastor Young served for thirteen years on the faculty of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education and for five years as a commentary writer for the Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention. Over the course of his pastoral ministry, he has faithfully shepherded four congregations: Shady Grove Baptist Church, Mount Paran Missionary Baptist Church, New Monumental Baptist Church, and presently LifePoint, A Transformational Church, where his visionary leadership continues to inspire lives and cultivate spiritual transformation.

Pastor Young’s exceptional leadership and administrative excellence led to his election in 2016 as Moderator of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County BME District Association, where he faithfully provided oversight and leadership to more than twenty-five Baptist churches for eight years. Under his leadership, the district successfully navigated the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic while simultaneously achieving financial stability, organizational growth, and increased church membership. In recognition of his distinguished service and impactful leadership, he was honored with a Distinguished Leadership Award upon completion of his tenure.

Pastor Young’s lifelong dedication to faith, ministry, and community service has earned him numerous honors and recognitions, including the Distinguished Military Service Award, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award, and several awards acknowledging his leadership in counseling, ministry, and community development. Yet despite these accomplishments, Pastor Young remains deeply humble, giving all glory and honor to God while expressing profound gratitude for the enduring influence of his mentors, the late and revered Dr. Virgil J. Caldwell and the late Dr. Cameron Madison Alexander, whose wisdom, faith, and leadership helped shape him into the servant leader he is today.