Meet Our Pastor

Apostle Dr. Valerie Arthur 

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Dr. Valerie Smith-Arthur, a respected leader and philanthropist in Trenton, New Jersey, credits her parents' Biblical foundation, values of service and volunteerism for shaping her path. Her ministry includes Christ Centered in the City International Ministries, Christ Centered in the City South Africa, Christ Centered in the City International Fellowship of Churches, Christ Centered In the City Leadership Development Center, Contribution to ministries in Haiti and Pakistan. Truth Summit International and Capital City Apostolic Council.  

As the Board chairperson of the Smith Family Foundation of New Jersey, Dr. Arthur oversaw strategic grant-making and community engagement, leveraging her extensive experience in the non-profit sector. The Smith Family Foundation is an award-winning philanthropic organization that has had positive social change in the Trenton community. 

She along with the Smith Family Foundation of New Jersey, Calvary Pentecostal Church and her companies, Black Gold International Inc. and Christ Centered in the City International Ministries was able to extend her philanthropic Kingdom work to internationally to Haiti, Pakistan and South Africa respectively.  

The transformative impact in Pakistan includes helping the local pastor of Christ's Mandate Church Ministries-Pakistan purchase a 2 story building, to be used as an orphanage and place of worship. Approximately 30 children who were once homeless and lived on the streets of Rawalpindi, now have a safe and loving home. 

 

In Haiti, she identified the need for industry and employment, leading to establishing a school. To further her commitment to educate underserved communities, she partnered with the Katherine Nunnally S.T.E.A.M Academy. Together they built a 10-room school that, supports over 200 students from kindergarten to 7th grade. The school reflects her dedication to fostering educational opportunities and creating positive change in marginalized areas. In addition to the children, she purchased farmland through Black Gold International. This initiative will educate local farmers in modern techniques and empower adults through free educational programs and vocational certificates aimed at improving the region's farming industry. 

The initiative for South Africa is to continue in the evangelist work, continue to build relationship, and seek God’s divine guidance for solutions to South Africa’s food insecurities and education systems.

Furthermore, Dr. Arthur's background includes experience in criminal justice and community activism. She retired after 30 years of service  as the Administrator of the Edna Mahon Correctional Facility for Women, where she managed staff, ensured inmate welfare, and collaborated with contractors and vendors. She earned her doctorate degree in Prison Policy and Transformative Justice from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Overall, Dr. Valerie Arthur's tireless efforts and passion continue to positively impact individuals and communities, locally and internationally..

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Dr. Arthur is also the proud mother of three children and five grandchildren. 

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Truth Summit August 18-19, 2023 

 

The Truth Summit is an annual conference founded by Dr. Arthur under the non-profit, Christ Centered In the City. The aim is to make a positive impact on youth by equipping them with tools to prevent the alarming statistics and consequences associated with gang violence, negative peer pressure, misinformation about life, and the resulting issues of teen pregnancy, school dropouts, violence, murder, and incarceration.

The conference theme stems from three critical areas affecting urban youth: Sex. Money. Murder. The goal is to address these topics head-on with subject matter experts in each of these areas from various professionals starting within the local community: local law enforcement, community activists, social workers, educators, counselors, and particularly, those individuals with personal experiences and testimonials who understand the challenges of the inner city and the importance of providing potential solutions. It involves interactive workshops, panel discussions, keynote speeches, presentations, and experiential learning activities.

The intention is to create a safe and supportive environment where attendees can openly discuss their concerns, learn from the experiences of others, and gain practical tools and strategies to navigate through the complex issues they may face.
By bringing together community leaders, subject matter experts, law enforcement, and testimonials from individuals who have experienced firsthand the consequences of negative choices, The Truth Summit aims to create a holistic approach to address the multifaceted challenges faced by youth. Ultimately, the conference strives to empower and inspire the attendees to make positive choices, break free from negative cycles, and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities through a personal experience with Jesus Christ.