Born in 1947 and raised in Dallas, Texas, Pastor Donald R. Parish Sr. has been a member of True Lee Missionary Baptist Church all of his life. He was raised as the seventh out of eight children from the blessed union of Pastor Robert Lawrence Parish Sr. and Louis Marie Wagner-Parish. He was drafted into the United States Army on April 4, 1964, and served in the Vietnam War for two years at the rank of Sergeant. After Vietnam, he continued his membership at True Lee Missionary Baptist Church and accepted his calling into the ministry in 1979 under the leadership of his father, Pastor R. L. Parish Sr. He eventually became and worked as a special assistant to his Father for 10 years.
In October 1992, Reverend Donald R. Parish Sr. accepted the call to become the Pastor of True Lee Missionary Baptist Church, which he currently serves. Under his leadership, he has ordained over seven ministers, including his son, Rev. Donald R. Parish Jr., who has served as the Youth Pastor for P.O.W.E.R. Ministry and currently serves as Pastor of True Lee. Pastor Parish founded the H.O.P.E. Restoration Non-Profit organization in 1996, and it has successfully sponsored The Summer of Hope program, a no-cost camp, for nearly 25 years. The Summer of Hope program promotes educational enhancements, career development, self-improvement, and fun. Pastor Parish has also established an Outreach Prison Ministry for the incarcerated that visits the men's maximum security George Beto Unit (Beto One Prison) located in Tennessee Colony (Anderson County), Texas.
On a personal note, our Pastor displays the fruit of the spirit; He is so Loving, full of Joy, and Peaceful, and God really knows he is Longsuffering. He is as Gentle as a Giant, and he displays Goodness all the time. He is a man of true faith, and he is surely not weak, but he prides himself on being a Meek. Lastly, he practices Temperance, which is Self-Control. Pastor Parish is a certified counselor as he counsels not only his members, premarital and otherwise but also anyone who needs his assistance. He is a great leader and mentor.
Our Pastor believes in Home Mission as evidence of his commitment to working in the community. Four churches come together annually for Thanksgiving and Christmas services. Our Pastor recommended that we give back to the community with an annual clothing and school supply giveaway and, of course, the gospel message. Additionally, he leads by example as he encourages his congregation and others to volunteer in the local schools, nursing homes, or wherever needed.
Our Pastor believes in foreign Missions. He has made sacrificial missionary trips to Haiti, Africa, and India and has received requests from a ministry in Jamaica. He also represented the National Baptist USA, which is incorporated in foreign Missions. He has encouraged his congregation and others to contribute in any way that they can to foreign missions.
Pastor Parish is an excellent, devoted, and loving husband to his wife, Deborah Parish, of over 50 years and an exemplary father to his children, Kimberly D. Parish-Wilson and Donald R. Parish Jr. He is also a loving grandfather of 6 grandchildren.
Pastor Parish also serves in or has served in the following positions:
- Moderator of the Galilee Griggs Memorial District Association of Baptist Church
- President of the Texas State Missionary Baptist Convention (currently serving)
- 1st Vice President of the Texas Missionary State Baptist Convention
- Field Supervisor for the Foreign Mission Board, National Baptist Convention, USA Inc.
- Member of the South Dallas Ministers Association
- Co-Founding member of the Bertrand Neighborhood Association
- Advisor to the Good News Health Program
- Regional Red Cross Coordinator for the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc.
- Advisory Member of Baylor’s Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute
- Board Member of Fair Park First Committee
Pastor Parish's Community Service Organizations:
- Redistricting Commissioner for the City of Dallas District 7
- Special Appointee and Adviser to Councilman Leo Chaney
- Nations Bank Community Advisory Board
- Member of the Telephone Pioneers of America
- Dallas Chamber of Commerce
- Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce
- Progressive Voters League
- March of Dimes and Jr. Achievement Coordinator
- President Glen Oaks Homeowners Association
- PTA Boards
- Assistant Scoutmaster Boys Scouts of America
- Adviser to the HOPE VI Frazier Redevelopment
- Volunteers with the American Cancer Society
- Several Leadership Offices in the church, prior to becoming Pastor
- Member of the Mayor’s Faith-Based Coalition
- Member of the South Dallas Faith Coalition
- President of the Board of the South Fair Development Corporation
- President of the Board of the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Life Clinic
- Member of the Park South YMCA
- Area 10 Committee Co-Chair ESGR
- Founding member of the Glen Oaks Homeowners Association
- Ran for Dallas City Council in 2007 and 2009
Pastor Parish's Education Includes:
- Graduate of Roosevelt High School-High School Diploma
- Graduate of Southern Methodist University (SMU)-Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
- Graduate of Dallas Theological University-Masters of Theology
He has received numerous awards and recognitions, the most notable of which are Humanitarian, Minister of the Year, Pastor of the Year, and Father of the Year. In 2019, the Dallas Episcopal Church made him a Cannon.
Above all his accolades and accomplishments, Pastor Parish is a Master Teacher and has a passion for teaching God's word. He has the spiritual gift of taking the word of God and preaching it in the simplest manner so that one can understand it. His ultimate goal is to present God's word, which will cause one to apply it to their daily life.