“I want to continue to grow the church, and not just grow in numbers, but grow in love and in spiritual wisdom,” said the Rev. Trevon Fergerson, the newest addition to the Calvary Baptist Church family and, at 25, its youngest-ever pastor.
Mr. Fergerson, who started at the church on July 19, succeeds the Rev. Walter Silva Thompson as Calvary Baptist’s spiritual leader. Before his appointment in East Hampton, Mr. Fergerson served at the Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church of Long Beach, where he remains an associate minister and was a member of its board and its board of trustees. He now splits his time between Copiague and East Hampton, and between pastoring, building a family, and pursuing a master’s in higher education at Stony Brook University.
He grew up in the Christ Temple Church of God in Christ, where his grandfather was the leader. His other grandfather was also a pastor. “So pastoring was in my family, leadership was in my family,” he said. “I had great examples of leadership in the home and in the church” but seeing how emotionally, mentally, and spiritually draining the job of pastor could be, “I wanted no part of it,” he said.
“It was not by my own accord, but it was strictly the divine calling of God,” that changed his path. “God had called me twice, once when I was 5 and once again when I was 9. . . . I felt the Lord tugging on my heart and leading my spirit to preach the gospel and here I am now 17 years later.”
He said he hopes to grow with the church and to help it become a beacon of hope and light for the community. He speaks very highly of East Hampton as a place that “promotes peace and prosperity.”
“Whether you are young, middle-aged, or mature, East Hampton is the place to be,” he said.
As a young pastor, he said he is happy to have the Rev. Jon Rodriguez of the East Hampton Presbyterian Church as one of his peers. Like him, Mr. Rodriguez is a new father and relatively new to East Hampton, having arrived in 2024. Mr. Fergerson and his wife, Deaconess Brittany J. Fergerson, have a 10-month-old daughter, Christine-Marie.
Although he is just starting his tenure at the church, he is already taking action to achieve the goals he’s set. Along with spreading the gospel, the pastor spearheads community-building initiatives such as running a food pantry and supporting more affordable housing.
Mr. Fergerson is looking to create partnerships to help those who are struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism, and much more. “We are able to make a difference in every person’s life,” he said.
Going into this experience, Mr. Fergerson was aware of difficulties he may face. “I think a challenge we may run into is the lack of support from the community.” He added: “With the lack of support comes a lack of resources.”
He enjoys connecting with others and creating myriad new relationships, and described his preaching style as “relatable, effective, and transparent,” and said he intends to be accessible and supportive to all, whether they are members of Calvary Baptist Church or not. “I love to read and study God’s word in order to make sure that as I preach I am remaining relevant.” He wants the church to be a place where individuals, whether they are members or not, feel welcome to worship God freely and openly and can “see the love of Christ.”
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Tatiana Basch was a participant in The East Hampton Star Summer Academy this year.
