Black History Month: Highlight of a Local Hero

Courtesy: Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church

AARP believes the efforts of one person can truly make an impact. But when our efforts drive change for the greater good, we thrive together.

That's why AARP Alaska is proud to sponsor Black History Month events in partnership with Alaska Black Caucus. For more on Black History Month events, click here.

In recognition of Black History Month, AARP Alaska and Alaska Black Caucus are highlighting local hero Reverend Dr. Alonzo B. Patterson, the Pastor Emeritus of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and an outstanding community and religious leader for Alaskans across the state.

The biography below was submitted by Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church to honor Reverend Patterson's many achievements and contributions.

The Reverend Dr. Alonzo B. Patterson

Pastor Emeritus, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church

Director of Alaska Ministries, American Baptist Churches, USA

Founder & Executive Director of A.B. Patterson Ministry Center

Reverend Alonzo B. Patterson was born in New Orleans, LA to Lonzo Patterson and Susie Milligan Patterson.  At the age of 12 he was called to the ministry, and devoted his life to sharing the Word of God with others.


Pastor Patterson and Mrs. Shirley M. Patterson celebrated 66 years of marriage in December 2021 —Pastor and Mrs. Patterson have five children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Reverend Patterson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Alaska, Anchorage and a Doctor of Divinity degree from the American Bible Institute. 

With over 72 years in ministry — 47years as pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend Patterson has touched many lives.  Under his pastorate, he has licensed and ordained more than 55 men and women into the Gospel ministry.  He has encouraged and supported many other men and women to answer God’s call on their lives.  He has trained and ordained hundreds of deacons and deaconesses, and other church leaders, many of whom are currently serving in churches all over the world.  

Pastor Patterson was instrumental in building the membership of Shiloh and expanding the church facility, beginning with designing and building the Worship Center in 1976.  In 1983 he completed the Education Wing.  In 1993, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Life Center, which houses classrooms, offices, conference rooms and a gymnasium was completed.  In 2000, the church purchased the building at 1677 Juneau as a Youth and Family Support Center.

Pastor Patterson’s strong concern for people has allowed him to devote himself to professional and community service, addressing religious, cultural and social needs not only for the African-American community, but for all people across cultural distinctions.  He has served as president of the NAACP, the North Pacific Baptist Convention, the Congress of Christian Education—National Baptist Convention, USA, INC., the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Greatland State Baptist Convention, Alaska Black Leadership Conference and as the Chairman of  the March of Dimes Foundation.  From 1984 until 1991 Pastor Patterson served on the State of Alaska Board of Parole—serving as Chairman of the Board for 14 years.  He is the Founder of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation of Alaska and served as Chairman of the Foundation for more than 25 years.  He is a founding member of Bridge Builders of Anchorage.  He is the Coordinator of Alaska Ministries for American Baptist Churches, USA and Executive Minister for Alaska Baptist Churches.

In 2002, Pastor Patterson organized the Shiloh Community Development, Inc., (SCDI) a community based non-profit organization created to consolidate and enhance Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church’s community outreach efforts.  SCDI purpose is to help alleviate the conditions of hunger, homelessness, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, aging, and youth and children-at-risk in the City of Anchorage.  SCDI does this by investing in and organizing residents to help our community build assets such as quality affordable housing, good jobs, strong businesses, youth and children programs, senior care initiatives and effective leaders by designing long-term approaches to achieving social and economic improvement at the grassroots level.  In 2004 Pastor Patterson organized Shiloh Community Housing, INC(SCHI) an effort that would focus on affordable housing.   The first affordable housing unit, a four-plex, was purchased in 2004.   A fourteen unit apartment was purchase to provide housing for youth aging out of the foster care system.  The LIFE Program was created to help these youth ages 18-24 learn “life skills” to help them in finding jobs, going to college or vocational schools and coping with the childhood trauma they experienced while navigating the foster care system.

In 2006 Shiloh began, in partnership with Brotherhood, Inc. and Kappa Alpha Phi, the Home Base After School Program and after school program for students grades 4-7 a program designed to help resources children have a safe place after school in which they could receive help in math, science, and technology and be exposed to cultural experiences not available to them.  In 2009 HBAS students raised the funds to travel to Ghana, Africa for 18 days to explore their African cultural heritage.

Pastor Patterson is an evangelist and church planter—planting churches in Eagle River, Palmer, Fairbanks, Juneau and Delta Junction, AK.  Out of this passion for reaching the world with the gospel, he began a television ministry in the seventies, “Shiloh’s Hour of Decision” which continued until his retirement. 

Pastor Patterson has kept Shiloh on the cutting edge of technology with internet access, Shiloh WEB site, Facebook, streaming worship, up-to-date worship and media systems, including Worship Planning, networked computers with server for Shiloh, telephone communication system with the capability of calling the entire membership within a couple of hours, and a nation-wide teleconferencing system and many other technological advantages.

In 2016 he completed an expansion and improvement project to the sanctuary—” The Joubert Family Atrium” . . . all to the Glory of God.

In 2015 Pastor Patterson announced his retirement from pastoral ministry. He developed a succession plan for a God-led transition for the pastorate of Shiloh, as he began planning for his retirement in 2017.   He led the church in calling Auxiliary Pastor, Pastor Undra Parker, MDiv, who had served alongside him for 10 years.   For two years Pastor Patterson led Shiloh in a transition that included the election of his successor. This was the pinnacle of Pastor Patterson’s pastoral ministry—a pastoral transition that was God-led, Spirit-filled and Christ centered—an unforgettable experience for the members of Shiloh.    Shiloh members celebrated their much-beloved Pastor’s retirement as Senior Pastor of Shiloh on November 5, 2017 with a grand celebration that included former members of Shiloh from across Alaska and the United States, the Anchorage community.

Pastor Patterson was honored with emeritus status by the members of Shiloh and is now The Reverend Dr. Alonzo B. Patterson, Pastor Emeritus, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.

In 2017 Pastor Patterson retired from the pastorate but not from ministry.  He is continuing his ministry as the Director of Alaska Ministries for The American Baptist Churches, USA, and as Executive Minister for The Alaska Baptist Churches.

His plan to live this season of his life in evangelical ministry has become a reality. He has founded and is director of a Center for Evangelism & Outreach—The A.B. Patterson Ministry Center, 1677 Juneau Street—a place for evangelistic training and outreach to those thought to be unreachable.

This is but a summary of the life of the man who has been faithful to his calling and to God!  This litany of accomplishments does not begin to tell the story of the life of Pastor Alonzo B. Patterson—a man whose whole life “worships God.”  He is a man of vision and mission—a man of passion, prayer and purpose!  A man whose life is totally “Centered in Jesus Christ!”  Pastor Patterson is a great preacher, teacher, leader and evangelist.  He often slowed his pace so that others can catch up or keep up with the work and mission that God has set for his life.  Pastor Patterson is steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord!  He is a steward who has been found faithful!