Rev. Deborah Lewis-Virges

About our Pastor

Rev. Deborah Lewis-Virges is a native of Detroit, Michigan where she attended Michigan State University and completed her undergraduate studies at Wayne State University. After college she relocated to Southern California where she landed a career as a High-Tech Executive.

Deborah re-dedicated her life to Christ when she was 28 years of age and accepted her call as a Minister of the Gospel in 2012. On January 15, 2012 She delivered her Trial Sermon at St. Mark AME Zion Church in East Palo Alto, CA. She served as a lay chaplain at Stanford Hospitals and Clinics and in September of 2014 began her studies in pursuit of a Masters of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary.

In June of 2015, Bishop W. Darin Moore appointed her to her first pastoral assignment at Victory Center AME Zion Church in Union City where she faithfully served for two years. She received her first ordination as a Deacon in the AME Zion Church in October of 2015. In July of 2017, Bishop Staccato Powell appointed her pastor of Saint Mark AME Zion Church in East Palo Alto. Under her pastorate, the church has witnessed unprecedented growth and she has become affectionately known as the “community pastor.”

She received her Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in June 2018 and received her ordination as an Elder in October 2018.

Rev. Virges has earned a reputation as an anointed and powerful preacher and a devoted pastor filled with compassion for God’s people. She is faithful to her calling and serves diligently in her church community.  

She is a core member of the Fellowship of Faith, Women In Ministry and a member of Pastors Network 101. She is a voice for the voiceless, the marginalized, the disenfranchised, prison reform, homelessness, racial reconciliation, social advocacy and for those seeking deliverance and liberation.

She is married to Clyde E. Virges, her partner in life and in ministry, and together they have three adult sons, Tyree, Jacob and Christopher, two daughters, Lina and Jazzy and four precious grandchildren. She and husband Clyde live in East Palo Alto where they plan to continue to seek and fulfill God’s plan of Kingdom Building in their lives and throughout their community.