Pastor Engel D. Burns

Pastor Engel Dawson Burns was born October 31, 1969, the second son of the Reverend Dr. Emmett C. Burns, Jr. and Earlean Poe Burns. He accepted the call to the Gospel ministry January 11, 1998, under the leadership of his father and support of his Rising Sun First Baptist Church family.

Pastor Burns is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), an Honors and Research University, with a major in Biological Science and minor in Ancient History. He also holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University and attended St. Mary’s Ecumenical Seminary.

A longtime advocate for Baltimoreans, Pastor Burns has led health education and Medicare enrollment programs for seniors and families; advocated for neighborhood safe passage and roadway safety; mentored UMBC students; and led numerous outreach activities expanding citizens’ access to vital resources. In 1994, Pastor Burns was the campaign manager for the historic election in which his father, Reverend Dr. Emmett C. Burns, Jr., gained a seat in the Maryland General Assembly, the first African-American elected to statewide office representing Baltimore County.

Pastor Engel D. Burns

Pastor Engel Dawson Burns was born October 31, 1969, the second son of the Reverend Dr. Emmett C. Burns, Jr. and Earlean Poe Burns. He accepted the call to the Gospel ministry January 11, 1998, under the leadership of his father and support of his Rising Sun First Baptist Church family.

Pastor Burns is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), an Honors and Research University, with a major in Biological Science and minor in Ancient History. He also holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University and attended St. Mary’s Ecumenical Seminary.

A longtime advocate for Baltimoreans, Pastor Burns has led health education and Medicare enrollment programs for seniors and families; advocated for neighborhood safe passage and roadway safety; mentored UMBC students; and led numerous outreach activities expanding citizens’ access to vital resources. In 1994, Pastor Burns was the campaign manager for the historic election in which his father, Reverend Dr. Emmett C. Burns, Jr., gained a seat in the Maryland General Assembly, the first African-American elected to statewide office representing Baltimore County.

Pastor Burns has built a successful 30-year career in the private sector. He is a senior executive in the healthcare industry, where he leads domestic and international strategic engagement with the White House and both houses of the United States Congress.

An inspirational leader and captivating preacher and speaker, Pastor Burns loves nothing more than to share God’s promise for our lives. Together with his wife and ministry partner, Lady Candice Burns, Pastor Burns launched Rising Sun’s growing virtual ministry and the church’s first building renovations in more than three decades.

Pastor and Lady Burns are the proud parents of two sons, Easton Emmett and Ellison Carlos.