Docs Our Pastor - True Vine Ministries

Pastor Zachary E. Carey

Pastor Zachary E. Carey is a man of vision and purpose. He is a courageous community leader, organizer and advocate. As a transformative leader, he energizes our city and encourages people to live their best life. Affectionately known as “Pastor Zack,” he is the current Pastor of a West Oakland icon, True Vine Ministries, where his father, Newton Carey, Jr. pastored for 26 years. Born and raised in Oakland, Pastor Zack is invested in Oakland and understands the impact the church can make in the world - his mantra is “the church mission cannot be confined to the four walls of a building.” For over three decades, Pastor Zack has fought, with unwavering passion and commitment, to eradicate violence, drug abuse, unemployment and under-education that plague the city of Oakland and its surrounding communities.

Pastor Zack began his ministry career walking and teaching in West Oakland neighborhoods, in particular, the Acorn housing project. As the former youth pastor, Pastor Zack conducted church service in Santa Rita prison for several years. It was during this time that he began to understand how the cycle of violence, under-education, and drug abuse destroys families and our community.

As a founding member of the non-profit organization, The D & N Institute, Pastor Zack and his parents, Newton and Sallie Carey, began a free food and clothing program that has clothed and fed thousands of people over the past twenty years. Pastor Zack, his wife, Dr. Donna Carey and The D & N Institute host an annual Block Party and Health Fair that provide free clothing, food, and health screenings to over 1000 Bay Area residents.

Under Pastor Zack’s leadership, True Vine Ministries was selected by former Senator Don Perata as one of two Oakland sites for the Senator’s gun buy-back program, aimed at reducing handgun violence in Oakland. Pastor Zack also founded True Vine’s S.A.V.E. (Stand Against Violence Everywhere) Ministry, which organizes weekly peace “stand ins” in locations of recent homicides throughout Oakland.

Pastor Zack is also a powerful voice for the global community. In 2005, he joined with the Bay Area chapter of Rainbow PUSH, Inc. to organize weekly community boycotts of British Petroleum (BP)-owned gas stations. As part of a special delegation with Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Pastor Zack participated in a peace and leadership summit in South Africa. He also was selected by Congresswoman Barbara Lee to attend the Congressional Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Pastor Zack also partnered with Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. on a media campaign to spread awareness of the Medi-Cal Part D program to low-income seniors.

Pastor Zack has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. He is married to Dr. Donna C. Carey and has a daughter, Trinity and Son Zachary Jr.

Dr. Donna C. Carey and daughter Trinity.

Dr. Donna C. Carey is a dynamic, energetic, and powerful woman of God! She is the First Lady of True Vine Ministries in Oakland, CA where she is affectionately known as "Dr. Donna." Dr. Donna is passionate about the spiritual, emotional, and physical health of her community. She is especially devoted to issues relating to children and women. Her goal is to empower everyone to live a life of purpose in Christ! Dr. Donna believes that women are the backbone of the community and have the power to change the world!

Dr. Donna is a native of Tulare, CA. She graduated, with honors, from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, and then remained at UCLA to receive her Medical Doctorate (M.D.) degree. She completed her residency training in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Oakland and went on to complete a one-year fellowship in adolescent medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Currently, Dr. Donna is the Medical Director of the Pediatric Hospitalist Program and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, CA.

Dr. Donna is also an active ministry leader and Bible study teacher. She co-teaches a women’s Bible study entitled “The Intentional Woman.” As director of True Vine’s health ministry, she coordinates an annual health fair that provides free health screenings to the Oakland community and she organizes and lectures during quarterly health forums for the True Vine congregation. Dr. Donna initiated an on-going 6-week healthy lifestyle program called “Fit 4 Life” and sponsors an annual cancer survivor tribute called “Survivor Weekend.” She also serves as director of True Vine's "Women of Praise” women's ministry and chairs the annual “Finding God’s Purpose” Women’s Conference.. Dr. Donna also facilitates a monthly women's empowerment forum entitled "SistaTalk." As a wife, a professional, a ministry leader and a mother, Dr. Donna understands the balancing act of today's women! She is married to Pastor Zachary E. Carey. They are the proud parents of a daughter, Trinity Alexis and are expecting a family addition in Fall 2011.

Pastor Emeritus Newton Carey Jr. and Mama Sallie T. Carey

The story of our pastoral stewardship is not complete without mention of the part his parents played.

In 1975, Reverend Newton Carey Jr., a member of Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, was called to pastor a small church in West Oakland whose membership had dwindled down to six members. With his wife Sallie T. by his side and their five children, Pastor Carey began his work to revitalize a dying church. An introduction to evangelism lit a deep fire inside of Pastor Carey and Mama Sallie, as members of the congregation that resulted in the implementation of many innovative evangelical programs at True Vine, most notably the Annual Block Party.

Evangelism soon became a required class at True Vine. Armed with a membership on fire for the Lord and ready to win souls, Pastor Carey and Mama Sallie created a curriculum for block parties, and the rebirth for True Vine was underway. They realized that sharing Jesus with a cold and hungry person was futile, so the block parties began with a free meal and free clothing. Then the attendees were ministered to through song and through the Word of God. The Southern Baptist Convention quickly noticed the tremendous pace in which True Vine was growing and invited Pastor Carey and Mama Sallie to train church leaders throughout the country on how to utilize this awesome tool in their own communities.

Pastor Carey and Mama Sallie have been widely recognized for their innovative style of sharing the Word of God and are highly requested speakers at conventions and churches all over the United States. Under the leadership of this dynamic team, the membership of True Vine has grown from six to over 1,600 souls. Although the past 25 years have not been void of adversity, Pastor Carey and Mama Sallie are victorious in Christ Jesus. They have endured the death of two sons and a church split, however they have come forth as pure gold.

The true spirit of God’s unconditional love is epitomized by the lives of Pastor Carey and Mama Sallie and in the lives of those who have been blessed by their selfless sacrifice, generosity and compassion. They took to heart God’s command to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and they taught us by word and by personal example how to love as Jesus loved. We thank God for all of the years of leadership, commitment and dedication of Pastor Newton Carey Jr. and Sallie T. Carey, for the legacy of love they brought to the City of Oakland and to the world.

Pastor Newton Carey Jr. and Mama Sallie T. Carey have now retired as Sr. Pastor and First Lady of True Vine and have passed the church on to their son Pastor Zachary E. Carey and his lovely wife Dr. Donna C. Carey. Although they have retired, they are both still very active today at True Vine where they are loved and adored by all.