Profile of Our Pastor: The Rev. Edgar De Jesus

Pastor Edgar was born and raised in the heart of Manila, Philippines. He was baptized as a Catholic and grew up in a Methodist upbringing. Married to Judy Nayre Gaid, and are blessed with two children, Kristina Esther (7 years old) and Kairos Elaine (4 ½ years old).

Pastor Edgar earned his Bachelor of Social Sciences degree from the University of the Philippines and pursued graduate degree in Master of Business Administration from De La Salle University. He graduated Master of Divinity  from Duke Divinity School at Duke University, commissioned as Probationary Member in 2000 NC Conference and ordained Full Elder in 2003 NC Conference— the first and only Filipino-American clergy member of the NC Conference. Presently, Pastor Edgar is the Chairperson of the NC Conference Commission of Christian Unity & Interreligious Concerns, Member of the NC Conference Connectional Table, and Advisory Team of the Academy for Leadership Excellence.

Pastor Edgar served a variety of churches from rural setting (Saxapahaw UMC in Burlington District, 2000-2003), to a new church start in Morrisville while also serving a downtown large membership church (Edenton St. UMC in Raleigh District, 2003-2006). Prior coming to Cornerstone UMC, he served Mt. Zion UMC in Durham District from 2006-2010, leading the church in growth and expansion with its $1-M Building Campaign.

As an ecumenical and missionary leader, he represented the connectional church at the North Carolina Council of Churches, Jurisdictional and General Conferences of The United Methodist Church, World Methodist Council and World Council of Churches. He led mission team to Illinois, Wisconsin, Mississippi and the Philippines.

Pastor Edgar brings to Cornerstone UMC a Christ-centered and transformational leadership of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. He draws his Wesleyan theological grounding from the Scripture, informed by Christian tradition, enlivened in experience and tested by reason. As a visionary, prayerful and prophetic leader, Pastor Edgar always leads the church in claiming its vision, mission and purpose in today’s world. He is a pastor with a passion for mission and evangelism with a strong commitment for unity, inclusiveness and reconciliation for all God’s people.