Overseer Sterling M. Burton, III

Anointed, passionate, transparently relatable, and profoundly life-changing would adequately describe the ministry of Overseer Sterling Martinique Burton, III. He is a knowledgeable and relentless teacher of God’s word and a compassionate shepherd. Overseer Burton is a gifted visual artist and a former professional singer/songwriter and BMI publisher in the music business. Overseer’s adroitness in the field of art spans various source materials, mediums, and utilizations including, pen and ink, charcoal, pencil, and painting. Overseer Burton began using his voice early in the church, singing in the choir. He was discovered by a then member of the church and prolific director of the children’s choir, Ms. Anita Bynum, who at the age of 9 years old allowed him to sing a solo. By the time Overseer was in his teen’s he had begun writing for other Bands, singers, musicians, and groups alike. Overseer Burton went on to share the stage with many established artists, both Secular and Gospel. Overseer signed a developmental deal with Singer/Songwriter Lamont Fleming of LaMarRi through Disney Music Publishing in 1998. Later, Overseer was offered a recording contract through a rising Richmond, Virginia Gospel Recording Artist in 2003, but due to unfavorable terms, subsequently and legally rescinded the offer. Overseer continued travelling and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through music and song independently with his own group and band under the moniker “Sterling Burton and Company”. Overseer Burton shared the stage with many gospel artists, such as the Legendary John P. Key, Lowell Pye, and Tye Tribbett, to name a few. Overseer Burton was fortunate to have opened for and sang BGV’s for the late Great Gospel Recording Artist Darryl Coley, at the Richmond Christian Center. In 1997, Overseer Burton penned a beautiful song for his wife-to-be, titled “It Had to Be”, co-written by Grammy Award-Winning song writer, and friend Harold S. Lilly, Jr. The song later gained placement on the singer, Brandy Norwood’s 2003 Dark Moon Album titled “He Is” which was co-produced by now Pastor, Warryn “Baby-Dub” Campbell. Overseer Burton is also an inherent visionary and skillful entrepreneur, which has afforded Overseer Burton the acuity to serve in the private sector, public sector, various municipalities, NFL Athletes (The National Football League) and representatives, and business ownership. He serves on the board of directors of multiple non-profit and faith-based organizations throughout the state of Virginia. Overseer Burton has also served as an executive in the field of Human Services, Human Rights, and Mental Health for 20 years, providing care, advocacy, oversight, training, and leadership development in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Overseer Burton has served in government finance as a Virginia Compensation Board officer and a Clerk of Finance III for the Henrico County Sheriff’s Office. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Burton Ministries, LLC, and is the senior pastor, executive chairman, and founder of Founding City Church Incorporated.

The Lord spoke to Overseer Burton in the early 2000s declaring, “I gave you music to open their hearts, So that you may speak into their hearts what I tell you to say!” This utterance from the Lord settled Overseer’s internal struggle with industry success versus the call of ministry on his life. Looking back, it was in 1987 at the tender age of 12, at the formerly Redeemed Assembly of Jesus Christ Apostolic Church in Richmond, Virginia, Overseer Burton was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was at Redeemed Assembly Overseer Burton began to grow as a young man in the knowledge of Christ, and developed the usage and administration of the spiritual gifting and natural abilities God had entrusted him.

As a precocious adolescent, Overseer Burton always spoke beyond his years. He was nurtured under the pedagogical wisdom, leadership, and spiritual tutelage of Bishop James F. Harris, and demonstrated an adept and uncanny astuteness for teaching and encouraging God’s people even at a very young age. It was in the summer of 1995 that Overseer Burton heard the supernatural call of God to preach his word. Over several years Overseer Burton was given many leadership roles and ministerial opportunities which ranged from singer/psalmist, worship leader, choir director, men’s department director, Sunday School teacher, general bible study teacher, ministerial council, diaconate member, and youth leader. After exemplifying dedication, effectiveness, and selfless service to the body, Overseer Burton was licensed in 2006 as a minister in word and sacrament.

In 2015 after many years of teaching the word of God and instructing men and women, Overseer Burton was providentially led to Cornerstone Assembly of God in North Chesterfield, Virginia, a multiethnic and multicultural Pentecostal Church, where he served as the worship leader, Sunday School teacher, and men’s small-group facilitator, under the love, guidance, and direction of Senior Pastor Shawn Franco. Simultaneously, Overseer Burton had recently accepted a God-ordained and strategic role at Union Presbyterian Seminary, formerly Union Theological Seminary, as a member of the Financial Institutional Advancement Department and Advancement Committee for the Church in the World. It was in these sacred settings that God began to reveal himself anew to Overseer Burton, opening his heart and mind to a more culturally diverse and ecumenical approach to missiology, ministry, his Apostolic metron and servanthood.

Therefore, subsequently, on February 7, 2019, God spoke to Overseer Burton in an indubitable way commissioning the planting of the former “Mountain of Holiness Fellowship Church”; now renamed “Founding City Church” eponymously taken from the scripture God spoke to him in response to his inquisition of the mandate. Overseer Burton cried aloud, “Lord I don’t know how to Found a church!” The Lord answered him saying, “Psalm 87”. Overseer Burton opened his bible to the book and chapter, and the very first sentence of the first verse read, “He has Founded his city on the Holy Mountain”…and just like that—the word of the Lord to Overseer Burton was being expressly spoken to him affirming that God has already founded his church, and all Overseer Burton needed to do was trust in him and just begin to work! Then providentially, as a heavenly approval, the Lord sanctioned the planting of his church by calling Overseer Burton up higher to ordination, to consecrate the work of the ministry, and to spiritually undertake the leadership of planting the church. It was then with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the consent to elevation and appointment, on October 3, 2019, that Overseer Burton was ordained an Elder in the Lord’s Church in the 25th Annual Holy Convocation of the Fountain of Life Fellowship of Churches in Richmond, Virginia by Bishop Yohance Eric Lee, Sr., presiding prelate and 2nd in succession to the late Bishop Lawrence Levi Taylor along with the board of presbyters. Overseer Burton was formally installed as senior pastor of Founding City Church on November 9, 2019, in the historic “Watts Chapel” at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia where Bishop Yohance Eric Lee, Sr. also served as the Chief Celebrant of the sacred service. It is most notable to mention that Overseer Burton made history, and local news being the first and only African American Minister to plant a church, host services and also become installed as senior pastor in the “Historic Watts Chapel-Watts Hall”, a treasured edifice that was built for the non-segregated collegiality in the Presbyterian Church by slaves in 1896. Overseer Burton’s spiritual covering and Godfather Bishop Allen Marvin Bryant, Jr., Senior Pastor of New Destiny Evangelistic Ministries in Edgewood, Maryland served as the Homilist on this fateful day, and in the power of the Holy Ghost, Bishop Bryant anointed Overseer Burton’s head with oil laying hands upon him in apostolic succession. Apostle Andrew L. Cambell presiding prelate of Universal Cathedral Ministries served as the Ceremonialist, and Bishop Bernard C. Lambert, Jr. presiding prelate of Next Generation Fellowship Ministries gave the invocation and investiture during the sacred ceremony. On October 9, 2021, in the 27th Annual Holy Convocation of the Fountain of Life Fellowship of Churches, Overseer Burton was given the official Bull and elevated to the sacred office of Overseer, being appointed at that time to chairman of the board of Overseers. In 2022 he was appointed Regional Overseer over the Tri-Cities Region of Virginia within the same fellowship, and with humble appreciation to serve that portion of the body of Christ; however, being led by the spirit of God Overseer Burton amicably resigned that post and affiliation on July 13, 2024. Overseer Burton sincerely understands the proverbial phrase “every pastor needs a pastor” and therefore is humbly submitted to the spiritual guidance of his Godfather and Godmother Drs. Allen and Sylvia Bryant, Jr., and his spiritual father Archbishop Ralph Lee Dennis, who is the Presiding Bishop and Metropolitan of Kingdom Fellowship Covenant Ministries Inc. It is in this precious assembly of believers that Overseer Burton and Founding City Church relish a God-ordained covenant relationship. Therefore, it was by divine appointment on July 11, 2024, in the 31st annual Holy Convocation and Solemn Assembly of Kingdom Fellowship Covenant Ministries Inc., in Baltimore, Maryland that Overseer Burton was affirmed and elevated to the office of Regional Overseer by His Grace, the Most Reverend Archbishop Ralph L. Dennis II, Chief Consecrator, who laid hands upon him anointing his head with oil in apostolic authority. Overseer Burton also serves his spiritual father in the Ralph L. Dennis Ministries, Inc.

Overseer Burton attended Richmond Public Schools and later graduated from John Marshall High School with The Governor’s Seal Advanced Studies diploma. Overseer Burton was always gifted in drawing, painting and the Arts and so studied Art Foundation at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts and later studied Human Behavior and Psychology at the University of Phoenix at Axia. Overseer Burton studied Systematic Theology at Union Presbyterian Seminary (Course Auditing). Overseer Burton holds a Bachelor of Religious Arts degree in Theology (B.Th.) and a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) magnum cum laude with a discipline in Church Leadership and Administration from Regency Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida.

This Man of God teaches and preaches the ministry of hope and reconciliation through the grace of God to all who will receive it, to the brokenhearted, the spiritually blind, and the “un-churched”. His powerful testimony of God’s divine healing of Kidney Failure, Liver Disease, and recently being brought back to life after suffering a Cardiac Arrest while driving is a testament to the healing virtue of Jesus Christ that is at work still, today! It is through these life-altering trials and triumphs that the Lord has chosen to bestow upon this beloved Man-of-God the “Gift of Healing”, in which Overseer Burton is compelled by compassion to administer this anointed gift to heal the broken and infirmed every chance he gets! Overseer Burton believes that in this hour the “Church” must have hands, feet, and hearts outside of the walls, serving while it is day!

Overseer Burton is married to the lovely Erica C. Burton (Lady ‘E) and they share 2 beautiful daughters, Maya Jonée and Milan Martinique, and a host of spiritual sons and daughters.