1. Rev. Dr. Ishmael L. Shaw
Biography
Rev. Dr. Ishmael Livingston Shaw is a Cum Laude graduate of Bishop College, Dallas, Texas
and the Colgate Rochester Divinity School.
Rev. Shaw is the esteemed pastor of the Paramount Baptist Church for the past 33 years.
As the under shepherd of Paramount, the Lord has been using him in the growth of many
ministries and its membership. Since coming to Paramount, the Lord has allowed him to
renovate the church to its present structure and since then has burned the mortgage for
the renovation. Through the establishment of the Christian Education Ministry, there have
been many achievements through workshops for leaders, training of Sunday School
teachers, weekly teachers' meetings, a strong youth and young adult ministry, children's
church, children's ministry and a strong dynamic Sunday School ministry. Other
achievements include a large day care center, evangelism ministry, credit union, couples
ministry, prison ministry for ex-offenders, home-bound ministry, a strong community
ministry that includes food/clothing ministry to the needy and summer community Boot
Camp for ages 4-13. Since 2005, a computer training program for seniors and day care
children was implemented; and the sign language ministry, as well as classes in training.
Rev. Shaw has also launched a Life Style Capital Stewardship Campaign for a new facility
to be built to the glory of God.
Not only has Rev. Shaw established himself in academics and church ministries, but has
extended himself in other areas of God's service. He has served with distinction as
Associate General Secretary and Interim General Secretary of the Progressive National
Baptist Convention. He has also served as the President of the District of Columbia Baptist
Convention. He now serves on the Board of the American Baptist Convention Extension
Corporation and previously served six years on the General Board of the American Baptist
Convention. He has previously served as the chairperson for the Arrangement Committee
of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. In 1994, the St. Stephens College of Los
Angeles, California conferred an honorary doctorate degree for his denomination of and
strong ecumenical work to God and humanity.
In 1998, Paramount adopted a church in Jamaica and helped that congregation in building a
new church. That edifice was dedicated in 2004 and Paramount was blessed to send three
members along with Pastor and First Lady Shaw to the dedicatory service.
Rev. Shaw is married to the former Kathleen M. Elliston and they are the proud parents of
two sons, Michael and Kevin, daughter-in-laws, JoAnne and Karen, and two grandchildren,
Cameron Anthony and Caroline Laval.