Meet Our Pastor
William D. Tyree, III began his first pastorate in July, 1996 when he was installed as the 13th pastor of First Baptist Church, Berkley in Norfolk, VA. He brings a visionary approach to ministry with an emphasis in “Reaching Lost Humanity and Equipping the Saved to Serve”. Because of this passion for ministry, his primary mission is to equip the people of God to embrace the vision to impact the world of Christ.
Pastor Tyree is an alum of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. There he received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1983 and subsequently served the United States Navy for thirteen years attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander upon separation.
He is also an alum of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, where he attained a Master of Divinity degree, Magna Cum Laude, in 1999. He is an alum of Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA where he attained a Master of Theology degree in 2001. In 2002, Eastern Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, VA conferred upon him the Doctorate of Divinity Degree for outstanding visionary leadership.
Pastor Tyree has a tremendous passion for youth and young adults. To that end, he has spent countless hours shaping the youth ministries of the church. It is his desire to see every young person proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ over every domain of their life, reach their full potential in life, and strive for success with passion, power and persistence.
Pastor Tyree has also instilled in First Baptist the need to be an outreach ministry. The church led in providing monetary assistance to victims of the following devastations: Hurricane Mitch in Central and South America; Hurricane Floyd in Princeville, North Carolina; the tsunami earthquake by way of World Vision in Asia and Africa; and Hurricane Katrina by way of World Vision. The church also established a Katrina Relief Task Force to assist victims relocating to the Hampton Roads area following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Pastor Tyree has led numerous mission teams to Jamaica, India, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania.
He is currently serving in the following capacities:
▪ President of W. D. Tyree Ministries, Inc.
▪ 3rd and 4th Grade Math tutor at St. Helena Elementary School
▪ Non-affiliated, non-scientific, voting member of the Animal Care and Use Committee at Eastern Virginia Medical School and
▪ Treasurer / Board member for HIS 1040, a missions ministry spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the uttermost parts of the world