ABOUT US
Pastor Alfred E. Blount
Elder Blount was born in Pageland, SC, the third of eight children. He attended Antioch Baptist Church in Monroe, NC, and was a very active member. He was educated in the public schools of Union County and graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1984. He graduated from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. At Western Carolina University, he was a member of the WCU Inspirational Choir, the Baptist Student Union, and the Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity. He was Head Resident of his residence hall and worked each summer as a conference assistant with WCU Housing Office.
After graduating, he accepted a position with J.C. Penney Company in Asheville, NC, as a Merchandise Manager. Alfred joined Tried Stone Missionary Baptist church in 1988. He was a member of the Tried Stone Young Adult Choir and later ordained as a deacon in 1989. He preached his initial sermon and was licensed in 1990 under the pastorate of Rev. Benjamin F. Brewer. Alfred was also instrumental in establishing the youth department. He worked in Asheville until being transferred to Knoxville, TN in 1992 to work as the company’s Children’s Merchandise Manager. He was later transferred to the Oak Ridge, TN store, where he served as Senior Merchandise Manager.
After much prayer, to devote more time to the ministry, Alfred left the J.C. Penney Company and went to work with the YMCA and later with United Parcel Service as an Office Manager Specialist. In 1997 he was ordained to preach the Gospel by Elder Joe B. Maddox and the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN and served as an Associate Minister. On March 14, 1999, Elder Alfred E. Blount was installed as the eighth Pastor of Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church. Under the leadership of Elder Blount, the church has experienced growth in many areas. There has been an increase in participation in the Youth Department, Bible Study, Sunday School and other ministries in the church. In 2020, Elder Blount successfully lead the church through the COVID-19 pandemic and with the Hand of God, maintained the membership and ministries of the church post-pandemic. After a three-year effort that began in 2019, under Elder Blount’s leadership, Tried Stone was blessed to retire their mortgage early, coupled with Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church celebrating it’s 95th Anniversary.
Elder Blount has been involved in many community activities and has served on several boards and committees throughout the city. He has served as the treasurer of Mud Creed Missionary Baptist Association, Each One Reach One Youth Coalition and Mud Creek Retreat Center. He is currently serving as President of the Board of Directors of Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM).
Elder Blount has been married to his college sweetheart Regina McDaniel Blount and celebrated their 35th anniversary on October 8, 2023. They have three children: Victoria, a graduate of Western Carolina University and Duke University, Stephen, a two-time graduate of Mars Hill University and DeOnna, a graduate of North Carolina Central University and Gardner-Webb University. In December 2014, Elder Blount graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University. Elder Blount is working on his Doctor of Ministry at Gardner-Webb University. He continues to prepare himself so that he may lead as God directs.
