Pastor Winfred Obleton

“It began with a calling and a vision God placed on my heart long ago.”

Dr. Winfred Obleton is the founding and Lead Pastor of Waukegan Community Church (WCC) in Waukegan, Illinois, where he serves alongside his wife, Michelle. They are proud parents of two adult daughters, Shelby and Andrea, and grandparents 4 beautiful grandchildren.

WCC was born out of a deep desire to see lives transformed and families strengthened through God’s Word. A native of Detroit, Dr. Obleton’s vision for a Bible-centered, urban-conscious, and community-driven church was shaped by firsthand experiences of inner-city challenges. In partnership with the Baptist General Conference (now Converge Worldwide), WCC launched its first public worship service in June 1990 and has been faithfully serving the community ever since.

Beyond the local church, Dr. Obleton contributes to Converge Worldwide as the African American Coordinator for Converge MidAmerica, and Coordinator of Transform, a national training initiative for African American pastors. He also partners with Trinity International University, teaching in the Adult REACH Program and supporting The Mosaic Initiative, a strategic effort to engage the Millennial generation in Lake County.

Dr. Obleton holds a B.A. in Christian Education from William Tyndale College, and both a Th.M. and D.Min. from Dallas Theological Seminary.