Our Pastor
Rev. Dr. William E. Flippin, Sr. is a distinguished leader with unwavering devotion to God and a profound commitment to serving His people. As the visionary pastor of The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, he has guided the congregation through remarkable growth and transformation since 1990.
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Rev. Dr. Flippin, Sr. holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Business Administration from Fisk University. He graduated cum laude from Candler School of Theology at Emory University with a Master of Divinity degree, honored as a Benjamin E. Mays Fellow and recipient of the Fund for Theological Education scholarship. He furthered his education with a Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, and is certified as a Life Transformational Coach and Leadership Coach Trainer.
30
YEARS AS PASTOR
Dr. Flippin has led the church to ordain over 100 new ministers
and deacons, build and pay off a Family Life Center & more.
Rev. Dr. Flippin, Sr.’s career includes serving as Assistant Director of Black Church Relations for the Georgia Baptist Convention for thirteen years, where he organized Baptist Student Unions at numerous colleges and universities in Georgia and managed The Cason Fund for ministerial scholarships, valued at over $200,000.
He has pastored two historically significant black churches founded by slaves and former freed Christians: Springfield Baptist Church in Greensboro, Georgia, and Shoal Creek Baptist Church in Locust Grove, Georgia.
Under his leadership, The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church has undergone extensive renovations and expansions, including the construction of a Family Life Center and a state-of-the-art Worship Center with a seating capacity of over 1,000. These projects were completed and fully liquidated in record time. In 2014, The Grove Gardens for seniors was constructed and fully occupied within a week. In 2024, the State of Georgia honored him by naming the bridge on Glenwood Avenue crossing Interstate 20 in Atlanta as The Reverend Dr. William E. Flippin, Sr. Bridge.
Throughout his nearly three decades as pastor, Dr. Flippin, Sr. has overseen the ordination of over 100 new ministers and deacons, established scholarship funds, and created Christian education and resource centers for both the congregation and the wider community.
Dr. Flippin, Sr. has positioned The Grove as a prominent stakeholder in Atlanta and DeKalb County, engaging with the community through partnerships with the NAACP, operating a full-time Outreach Center, Counseling Center, and Community Development Corporation (501c3), and organizing annual holiday giving and self-help programs. He served as President of the DeKalb Juvenile Justice Commission, raising over $300,000 in three years to assist at-risk children and youth. The church also anticipates the completion of The Grove Gardens to provide healthy food options at East Lake Senior Living Community.
As Founder and CEO of The Flippin Legacy Ministries, the Pearl Initiative, Inc., and Pearls of Great Price Ministries, Inc., Dr. Flippin, Sr. is also a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he previously served as National Chaplain. He is the author of six books: “In My Father’s House,” “God’s Order: Order in the Church,” “God’s Order: Order in the Pulpit,” “God’s Order,” “Vision 20/20,” and “Church Administration.”
Dr. Flippin, Sr. is dedicated to nurturing and developing leaders, serving as a mentor to pastors, ministers, community, and business leaders. Leveraging his expertise as a certified coach, he guides individuals to unlock their potential in leadership. His ministry has taken him to various countries, including Africa, Ethiopia, South Africa, Greece, Turkey, the Bahamas, and Israel.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Dr. Flippin, Sr. is happily married to Sylvia Taylor Flippin, a graduate of Vanderbilt University and holder of a Master’s degree in Education from Georgia State University. She retired as a Mathematics Instructional Coach for the DeKalb County Board of Education. They are proud parents of four children: Rev. Dr. William Edward Flippin, Jr. and his wife Kedra Flippin, Rev. Dr. Richard Curtis Flippin, Rev. Joseph Charles Taylor Flippin, and Miss Sylvia Joi Flippin. Dr. and Mrs. Flippin, Sr. are also joyful grandparents to Shamel Emani and Khloe Kristina Taylor.
Book Rev. Flippin
Rev. Flippin is available to speak at conferences, revivals, media opportunities, and more.
The Reverend Doctor William E. Flippin, Sr.
An effective leader, with a heart for God and God’s people, Rev. Dr. William E. Flippin, Sr., is the visionary pastor of The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The Nashville, Tennessee native received the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Mathematics and Business Administration from Fisk University, the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, cum laude, from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he was a Benjamin E. Mays Fellow and a scholar for the Fund for Theological Education. He also earned the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Understanding that ministry is holistic in nature, Dr. Flippin received certification as a Life Transformational Coach and a Leadership Coach Trainer.
Since 1990, Dr. Flippin has led the congregation of The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church. Since that time the church has witnessed significant growth, beginning in the first two years of Pastor Flippin’s tenure with the remodel and construction of many existing areas of the church including restrooms, sanctuary, and office space, and institution of approximately 14 new ministries to meet the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of the church. To meet the needs of the growing congregation, Dr. Flippin oversaw the church’s construction of the new state-of-the-art 1500 seat Worship Center in 2014. In almost 30 years as pastor, Dr. Flippin has led the church to ordain over 100 new ministers and deacons, build and pay off a Family Life Center, establish scholarship funds and awards, and establish numerous Christian education and resource centers for the congregation and community.
Understanding that the church cannot live apart form the community, Dr. Flippin has established The Grove as a key stakeholder for the people of Atlanta and DeKalb County. The church is actively engaged with the community through many initiatives including the NAACP, its Outreach Center, annual holiday giving, self-help programs, and Pastor Flippin is President of the DeKalb Juvenille Justice Commission. Finally, the church is looking forward to seeing the completion of of the Grove Gardens at East Lake Senior Living Community in 2020.
Flippin also serves as Founder and CEO of The Flippin Legacy Ministries, the Pearl Initiative, Inc., and Pears of Great Price Ministries, Inc. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and formerly served as the National Chaplain. Dr. Flippin is also an accomplished author of six books: In My Father’s House, God’s Order: Order in the Church, God’s Order: Order in the Pulpit, God’s Order, Vision 20/20, and Church Administration: Building Success Through Collective Organization. Dr. Flippin firmly believes that God has commissioned him for the purpose of Raising Leaders, and to that end, he has dedicated his life. He is a mentor to pastors, ministers, and community and business leaders. Using his skills as a certified coach, Dr. Flippin is often the spiritual conduit to connect individuals to their optimal leadership capacity. His ministry has allowed him to preach and teach internationally in many countries such as Africa, the Bahamas, and Israel, to name a few.
He is married to Sylvia Taylor Flippin. Mrs. Flippin is a graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and holds a Masters degree in Education from Georgia State University. She is a retired instructional coach for the DeKalb County Board of Education. Together, they are the proud parents of four children: three sons who continue the family preaching legacy, Rev. Dr. William Edward Flippin, Jr., and his wife Kedra Flippin, Rev. Dr. Richard Curtis Flippin, and Rev. Joseph Charles Taylor Flippin, and one daughter Miss Sylvia Joi Flippin. Dr. and Mrs. Flippin are also the beaming grandparents of Shamel Emani and Khloe Kristina Taylor.
Book Rev. Flippin
Rev. Flippin is available to speak at conferences, revivals, media opportunities, and more.
