As Pastor of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church located at 3978 Pine Hall Road in Walkertown NC, his belief is that everyone is welcome at the Oak Grove Church, and It doesn’t matter what you look like or what you wear, just come and be a part of an upward ministry. Pastor Carlton is passionate about taking ministry, “outside the walls of the church,” as well as, the opportunity to grow and build relationships with people in the community through outreach and faith activities. Pastor Carlton earned his Master of Christian Ministry Degree at Piedmont International University and Bachelor of Christian Ministry at Foothills Christian College. For eight years he pastored in the Yadkin Valley Association and served for two years as Missionary of 17 fellow churches.

Pastor Carlton completed the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program and a two-year residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC). At WFBMC, he earned 7 units of CPE’s and represented the Faith Health initiatives in Trauma, Neurology, and the Emergency Care department. In 2015, he was elected by his peers and awarded “The Sharon R. Engebretson Award of Excellence.” This award symbolizes the Competence and Creativity Leadership in Pastoral Care for Distinguished Development in the Skills and Art of Pastoral Care.

Pastor Carlton is employed at Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center as Chaplain Manager, supporting patients spiritually and offering ministries of growth, hope, and healing. Pastor Carlton also serves on the FaithHealthNC team and believes that ministry work is interconnected. The FaithHealthNC team serves as the catalyst to improve health between faith communities, and health care providers.

Additionally, Pastor Carlton has spent many years working on homelessness projects, and with those seeking services. Connecting individuals to much needed healthcare, food, housing, and other community resources. He also served as Evening Supervisor at the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission in Winston-Salem, and Director of Operations for Samaritan Christian Ministries Food Pantry. Pastor Carlton is married to Janet Bailey Carlton. They have been married for 30 years and have two children.

Pastor Carlton's Church Philosophy is...
 Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church is on a mandate to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our communities; reaching out in love and respect to people from every nation.  It is also the obligation of the Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ everywhere, connecting the unconnected, for true worship. To that end, we will provide: ·        
- Resources for the support of new members of the ministry that we may grow strong. ·        
- Opportunities for learning and continual growth through all the seasons of life that we may stay strong. ·        
- Motivation and resources for rendering service to each other and to the world that we may feel strong. ·        
- More inclusive Christian community respecting diversity, agreeing to differ, resolving to ever love and unite. 
- That we may be strong.