Pastor Garfield Burton is a native of Norfolk, VA. He received his elementary and secondary education in Norfolk’s public school system, and in 1982, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from the Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. He furthered his Christian education at the Washington Bible College and the Capital Bible Seminary, formerly located in Lanham, MD.

Pastor Burton is a very loving husband and devoted father. He is married to the former Marilyn A. King. Their union has been blessed with two wonderful children – Ashley M. Lockley (Franklin) and Brandon G. Burton (Natalie). They were also spiritual parents to the late Gregory F. Stanback, Jr. (Shauntia), and are proud grandparents to Arden Joy Burton, Harper Grace Burton, Quinn Moriah Burton, Ocean Levi Burton, Romael Javar Lockley, Judah Xane Lockley, and Gregory F. Stanback III.

At the tender age of nine, Pastor Burton accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. At the age of 18, he was ordained a deacon of the Second Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA, under the pastorate of the late Dr. H.W.B. Walker. He later relocated to Washington, DC, where, in 1983, he united with the Greater Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Dr. D. Lee Owens. Throughout his time there, Pastor Burton served in various capacities, including deacon, trustee, Minister of Education, Sunday School Superintendent, Spiritual Advisor, Evangelism Counselor, Aide to the Pastor, and teacher. While at Zion, Pastor Burton accepted his calling into the Gospel Ministry and preached his trial sermon in May of 1993. Thereafter, he became Assistant to the Pastor and continued to be active in the various ministries of the church while faithfully serving wherever he was needed.

In March of 1995, Pastor Burton was led by the Spirit of God to unite with the Glendale Baptist Church (now known as The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square) under the leadership of Pastor Anthony G. Maclin. He was later ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry in December of 1996. At that time, Pastor Burton had been employed as a school teacher in the Washington Metropolitan Area for a number of years, but in January of 1997, the Lord blessed him to begin full-time ministry at Glendale in the newly-created position of Pastoral Assistant. In addition to serving in that capacity, he was Minister of Christian Education, Dean of the Bible Institute, a counselor, and a teacher. Furthermore, he and his wife were Co-Coordinators of Stewardship Education for the Lifestyle Capital Stewardship Campaign.

On January 4, 2003, he became the Pastor-elect of the Macedonia Baptist Church, located on Stanton Road in southeast Washington, DC. Pastor Burton entered into his new assignment well-trained and well-equipped to lead God’s people, having served under three of God’s greatest leaders. Pastor Burton began his tenure at Macedonia on February 2, 2003, and was duly installed on May 4, 2003. In his new role, Pastor Burton immediately went about addressing areas of concern, as well as the needs of individual members and the church as a whole. Indeed, he is highly motivated and believes in getting things done!

Without a doubt, Pastor Burton is an anointed man of God. He is a man of strong character and conviction and has a sincere heart for the people. The love of God is apparent in his Christian walk, for his steps are truly ordered by the Lord.