our LEADER:

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Rev. Edward L. Durant Jr. is currently the Pastor of the Kashmere Gardens Missionary Baptist Church located in Houston, Texas. Pastor Durant is an Educator by profession and a visionary thinker who is recognized throughout the city of Houston and surrounding areas for his continued contributions to education and spiritual empowerment. 

Currently, Pastor Durant continues to share the Gospel message through his preaching, teaching, short talks, youth conferences, and ongoing dialogues within schools, churches and community associations. He has become a defining voice of alliance of people and organizations that are committed to the transformation of the family unit, Christian discipleship and community involvement.

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Rev. Edward L. Durant Jr. was baptized at the age of five by Rev. M. L. Bryant and began his spiritual training at Forest Lawn Missionary Baptist Church. It was there he developed the level of integrity, honesty, responsibility, cooperation and patience that he exemplifies today.

Pastor Durant began his formal education in the Houston Public School System. He attended Oak Forest Elementary, Lanier and Terrell Middle schools and is a proud graduate of Kashmere Senior High School. He then attended Sam Houston State University and Texas Southern University where he received his Bachelor and Master degrees. As a Teacher and Math Coach, Pastor Durant served in North Forest Independent School District for ten years.

Pastor Durant comes from a family of educators and leaders in their professions. Early influences of family bonds have served as the link to his ability to serve and in his pastoral success. Strong work and moral ethics, principles and values were instilled in him at an early age by the Matriarch of the Durant family, his Grandmother, Alene Bowie Durant, who was affectionately called “Mother”. The words of her favorite song, “Let The Works That I’ve Done, Speak For Me” still reside in the corridors of his mind.

As a church moving into the twenty first century, under Pastor Durant’s leadership, the first church logo was designed, a church app was created and implemented, and a digital marquee sign was acquired. Pastor Durant aspires to be a leader who encompasses the ability to serve, assist, educate, encourage and motivate those under his leadership to fulfill our mission: “Building a family devoted to God, through Christ, with love, prayer, praise, teaching, stewardship and evangelism; to save the lost, serve the unfortunate and strengthen the weak.”