Meet Our Pastor and Wife

Pastor Veley accepted his calling to preach the Gospel of Christ and was licensed in 1998 by Bishop Walter L. Humphrey at the Moriah Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in Oakland, CA. He was ordained in 2005 by the late Dr. Joe W. Tyler, Pastor of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Modesto, CA, where he served as Senior Associate Minister. 

In 2006, Pastor Veley received a Bachelor of Theology Degree from St. John Theological Seminary in Modesto, CA. In May 2008, he earned his Master’s Degree in Theology from St. John Theological Seminary and Bible College in Modesto, CA. The following year, in May 2009, he completed his Doctorate Degree in Theology from the same institution. In 2011, Pastor Veley received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from St. John Theological Seminary and Bible College. That year, the Lord sanctified and sent him on a new path as the Co-Pastor alongside the late Pastor Dr. Fletcher Reed of the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Turlock, CA. 

Pastor Veley has also served in various capacities, including Assistant Regional Dean of Campus Administration at the District Learning Center in California under the Parent Body of the Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College. Additionally, he held positions as Vice President, Chairman of Finance, and Board Member at St. John Theological Seminary and Bible College in Modesto, CA. He is an active member of the California Missionary Baptist State Convention. 

In his role as an officer of the St. John Missionary Baptist Association, Pastor Veley assists as a Bible Instructor for the St. John Christian Congress of Education and is part of the Saint John Baptist Brotherhood. He also supports the Sacramento Association of Ministers, Wives, and Widows, and serves on the Modesto Police Clergy Council in Stanislaus County. 

With Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of his vision (Matthew 6:33), Pastor Veley began as under-shepherd of a new church with just 13 members. Utilizing the gifts bestowed upon him as a preacher, teacher, singer, leader, and administrator, he reached out to the lost, and the church grew significantly to 67 members. Even during the pandemic, he remained focused on his mission, successfully transitioning the church from a storefront to a new facility spanning 3,300 sq. ft. with a 350-seat capacity, learning center, and fellowship hall. The membership kept increasing at this impressive new location. In addition, Pastor Veley implemented two Bible studies—one for seniors on Tuesday afternoons and another for adults on Wednesday evenings. He also established the church's constitution, a new members class, organized Vacation Bible School, and initiated several ministries, including the Baptist Training Union, Children’s Church, Youth Choir (Angelic Voices), Male Chorale, and a funeral policy. 

Pastor Veley’s vision for the church continues with impactful initiatives like “Operation Bag Lunch,” a Clothing Ministry, Community Outreach in the Park, and future vision is the Pastor’s Café, which offers free community meals every third Saturday for seniors, low-income families, and homeless individuals. He collaborates with the Merced City Council on various community projects, including subsidizing housing programs and providing back-to-school supplies for diverse children. Pastor Veley is also a member of the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church of Modesto, CA, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Peter J. Evins. 

In March 2017, Pastor Veley retired from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office after 29 years of service, where he excelled as a Deputy in Patrol, a Field Training Officer specializing in less lethal weapons, a corrections officer, and a member of the Emergency Response Team. He also served as a Chaplain, providing spiritual counseling to both staff and inmates, and was the Ethics Trainer for the Sheriff’s Office, renowned for the program "Honoring the Badge." 

Since 2013, Pastor Veley has been dedicated to pastoring the Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church in Merced, CA, for more than 13 years. He is a loving husband of 31 years to his wife, First Lady Debra Veley, and a devoted father to five children and eight grandchildren—a truly blessed preacher and teacher. Pastor Veley exemplifies humility and possesses a Pastor’s heart for God’s people.

Debra M. Veley is the First Lady of the Mt. Hermon Baptist Church in Merced, California. As the Pastor’s wife, she exemplifies true pastoral leadership, demonstrating her love for the Lord through a heart of compassion for everyone she encounters. Her personal mission is to empower the women of Mt. Hermon and the local community, reminding them that each person is beautifully and wonderfully made by the Lord, with a unique plan for their lives.

Lady Veley has dedicated her adult life to ministry, serving faithfully alongside her husband, Pastor Leonard F. Veley, who is the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church. As a proud mother of five wonderful children, she embraces the joy of sharing their active involvement in ministry.

An active servant of the Lord, Lady Veley plays a dynamic role in every aspect of ministry at THE MOUNT. She leads several initiatives, including her position as Ministry Leader for Women of Abuse (WOA), a program designed for women of all ages, and serves as a leader of the Mt. Hermon Praise Team. Additionally, she contributes as a choir member, Sunday School teacher, youth teacher, church greeter, and spiritual counselor to members and friends of the Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church.

Her favorite scripture is Philippians 4:19, which states, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." This verse beautifully encapsulates Lady Veley’s beliefs, and she encourages everyone she meets to aspire to do well and remain faithful, trusting that God will provide for their needs in His perfect timing.