Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby E. Stapleton, Jr..
Hi Bobby E. , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Many are called, but few are chosen.”
It is a great honor to stand in the presence of greatness, class, and divine purpose. This is exactly who God created Apostle Bobby E. Stapleton, Jr. to be—a man of vision, character, and compassion. He was chosen to lead a flock of outcasts, the downtrodden, and those other churches left behind. Just as Jesus did not go to the synagogues to save the lost, but to the broken, the thieves, and the forgotten, Apostle Stapleton follows that same calling. This alone makes him one of the most anointed and humble shepherds on this side of heaven.
At the young age of 24, Apostle Stapleton founded Rehoboth International Ministries, located in Pearl, MS. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Wesley College in Florence, Mississippi, and went on to receive a master’s degree in business. His thirst for spiritual growth led him to pursue a master’s in theology, and he is currently working toward his Doctorate in Theology.
He delivered his first message on September 28, 2004, at just 19 years old, and he has been faithfully preaching the Gospel ever since. For over eleven years, he served faithfully as a member, minister, and Director of Music at True Vine Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Charles Randall. After more than a decade of dedicated service, God instructed him to step out on faith and establish his own ministry.
What began with only ten members has grown tremendously over the years. Rehoboth has outgrown two buildings and is now seeking a new sanctuary to meet the expanding needs of its congregation. Apostle Stapleton has preached across the state of Mississippi and throughout surrounding areas, always carrying the same unwavering message: Jesus saves, heals, and delivers.
At the vibrant age of 41, Apostle Stapleton is now the Senior Pastor and Founder of Safe Place Ministries; a ministry rooted in restoration and renewal. His divine assignment is to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and obey every command God gives him.
In May 2025, God placed a new vision in Apostle Stapleton’s spirit—one that would expand beyond the walls of Rehoboth. God commanded him to create a sacred space where people could worship in spirit and in truth, while embracing their authentic selves without fear or judgment. In August 2025, that vision came to life with the birth of Safe Place Ministries, located in the heart of Jonesboro, Georgia.
Safe Place is exactly what its name declares—a sanctuary of freedom, serenity, peace, and refuge. Apostle Stapleton’s passion is to build a ministry where everyone can come as they are and encounter the living God without condemnation. Having personally experienced life’s struggles and judgments, he understands what it means to be broken—and he now uses that understanding to help others find healing. Safe Place Ministries stands as a “No Judgment Zone,” a place where the lost, the weary, and the misunderstood can experience unconditional love and transformation.
Apostle Bobby E. Stapleton, Jr. is not your ordinary pastor. He is known for his transparency and his ability to connect deeply with those he ministers to. He shares openly about his personal journey—his deliverance, his mistakes, and his imperfections—because he knows that his testimony brings freedom to others. He often reminds his congregation, “I’m not perfect, but I strive to be faithful.” One of his favorite scriptures, which anchors his life and ministry, is:
“No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”
Apostle Stapleton’s journey is one of obedience, perseverance, and divine favor. His life reminds us that being chosen isn’t about perfection—it’s about faithfulness.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No… not by a long shot. And honestly, I wouldn’t call it smooth even on the best days. Answering the call of God has required me to walk through seasons most people never see. It’s easy for others to admire the anointing, but they don’t always recognize the cost attached to it. I’ve had to lead when I was hurting, encourage others while my own heart was breaking, and stand strong when the weight of life was pressing hard against me.
There were times I had to preach with tears still fresh from battles I fought in private. Times when I had to pour into people while feeling empty myself. Seasons when God said, “Keep going,” even when my spirit was tired and my body was weary. I know what it feels like to carry vision with no visible support, to walk in obedience without a blueprint, to smile publicly while bleeding spiritually.
I’ve endured betrayal from those I trusted, silence from people I invested in, and hurt from places I never expected it to come from. I’ve navigated storms that made me question not my calling, but my strength to continue in it. There were days I cried before stepping into the pulpit, and nights when only God knew the depth of my pain.
And yet, through all of it—every wound, every disappointment, every lonely moment—I learned that God doesn’t call the perfect; He calls the willing. He doesn’t ask us to lead from a place of having it all together; He teaches us how to lead from a place of dependence on Him.
So no, this journey hasn’t been smooth. It’s been stretching, crushing, humbling, and at times heartbreaking. But it’s also been holy. Because leading while bleeding taught me something I could have never learned otherwise:
that God’s strength is revealed most powerfully through the places where I was broken.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I serve as a pastor, minister, and spiritual guide, but at the heart of what I do is helping people find restoration, healing, and freedom in Christ. My work is rooted in walking alongside those who feel lost, overlooked, or broken—those who have been left behind or marginalized by society and even by traditional church systems.
I specialize in ministering to the wounded, leading people from brokenness into purpose, and creating spaces where people can encounter God authentically, without fear or judgment. That’s why I founded Safe Place Ministries—a sanctuary where the lost, the weary, and the misunderstood can experience unconditional love, spiritual growth, and transformation.
I am known for my transparency, authenticity, and unwavering faithfulness. I don’t hide my journey—I share it openly, including the struggles, the mistakes, and the lessons learned along the way because I believe testimony brings freedom. People know they can relate to me, and more importantly, they know that God can use anyone, no matter their past, to walk in divine purpose.
What I am most proud of is the lives God has entrusted me to touch. Seeing someone walk out of brokenness, reclaim their identity in Christ, and embrace their calling is the greatest reward. I’m also proud of the growth of the ministries I’ve founded, starting with ten people in Rehoboth International Ministries and seeing it grow beyond its walls, and now establishing Safe Place Ministries as a sanctuary for spiritual and emotional healing.
What sets me apart is my commitment to lead while bleeding—to guide others even while carrying my own burdens and my focus on creating environments where people feel safe to be themselves and encounter God in a real way. Many preach from a platform; I walk among the people. I lead with empathy, compassion, and humility, because I understand what it means to be broken, and I know that God’s power is most evident in our weaknesses.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor and building a network starts with clarity about your purpose and what you want to learn. You have to know where you’re going before you can identify who can guide you. A mentor isn’t just someone with a title or a position; a mentor is someone who has walked the path you want to walk, who demonstrates integrity, faithfulness, and success in both life and leadership.
For me, what has worked well is being intentional in my relationships. I sought out leaders whose lives I respected, who were doing what I aspired to do, and I asked for guidance humbly and consistently. I also made myself teachable—I listened more than I spoke, accepted correction, and applied what I learned immediately.
Networking, in general, is about service, authenticity, and consistency. Don’t approach it just to get something; approach it to add value, learn, and build genuine connections. Attend conferences, join groups, engage in conversations, and follow up. Let people see your character, your work ethic, and your faithfulness, because those who are genuine attract others who are genuine.
One of the most powerful pieces of advice I can give is: position yourself where opportunities can find you, not just where you’re looking for them. God often uses the people around us to open doors we couldn’t even see. And when those doors appear, walk through them faithfully, ready to give and ready to learn.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.safeplaceatl.com
- Facebook: Bobby E Stapleton, Jr
