Our Leadership

Meet the Pastor

Pastor Charles Newton was born and raised in Georgia in a nonbelieving home. His journey of faith began at the age of 14 when he first heard the gospel in a small Baptist church. After trusting Christ as his Savior, he soon sensed a clear call to ministry and quickly became involved in various church ministries.

Charles pursued biblical training at a Bible college in the Chicagoland area, where he met his wife, Melissa. It was during this time that he developed a deep burden for missions and began preparing for overseas ministry. Upon completing his bachelor’s degree, Charles and Melissa returned to his hometown to assist in the revitalization of his home church.

While continuing to serve in ministry, Charles earned both a master’s and a doctoral degree in Christian counseling. He and Melissa went on to found their own missions organization, Run International. They then moved to Africa, where they planted a thriving church whose ministry undertook bold outreach efforts in Muslim countries. Within this ministry, they faced physical harm, death threats, and even the martyrdom of some of their own converts.

After returning to the U.S., Charles and Melissa felt called to serve in California, and later, he took on the role of pastor at Carpinteria Baptist Church. Together, they serve the people of Carpinteria. Their goal is to share the love of Christ with those who are lost, help those in need, and be a blessing to all who cross their path.