Dante Wright
Dr. Dante D. Wright I, serves as the Senior Pastor of Sweet Home Baptist Church of Round Rock, affectionately known as The Pinnacle of Praise in Round Rock, Texas. As an intellectual, he brings an energetic, innovative and creative approach to ministry. When he arrived at this century year-old church in March 2005, it had approximately 60 active members, but since that time has grown into a thriving congregation of over 1800 members. Dr. Wright leads the church with a passion, purpose, and a mission to Develop Christian Soldiers to Influence the World. His unwavering conviction has transformed The Pinnacle of Praise to be a place where, “Souls are attracted and Jesus is the main attraction.”
Since his arrival, The Pinnacle of Praise has moved multiple times because of its exponential growth. The church now has its home in the first of three construction phases built on 28.75 acres of land purchased under Dr. Wright’s leadership. The vision of the church is, “To see Sweet Home become a Christ-centered, Commission-committed, Community-connected body of believers.” In keeping with our vision and in addition to our worship center, the first construction phase offers the church and the community a wellness center, a beauty shop, barber shop, and a daycare center.
Prior to Dr. Wright surrendering to the call into fulltime pastoral ministry, he served as an assistant football coach at the following universities: Hofstra University (Hempstead, New York), the University of North Texas (Denton, Texas), Northwestern State University (Natchitoches, Louisiana), and Arkansas State University (Jonesboro, Arkansas).
As an assistant football coach, Dr. Wright used the playing field as his platform to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to make disciples to make a difference. He coached three former all-pro football players: Wayne Chrebet, wide receiver – New York Jets, Terrence McGee, Defensive Back – Buffalo Bills and Brian Waters, Offensive Lineman – Kansas City Chiefs. In 2009, Brian Waters was the recipient of the prestigious Walter Peyton NFL Man of the Year Award.
While serving as an assistant coach at Hofstra University, Dr. Wright mentored Raheem Morris, the former head football coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who is currently an assistant head coach and wide receivers coach for the Atlanta Falcons. He also coached and mentored Jerry Mack, who is currently the head football coach at North Carolina Central University.
Dr. Wright holds both a Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity degree from Liberty Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, VA, a Master of Arts Degree in Christian Leadership from Criswell College, Dallas, Texas, and a Bachelor of Science and Liberal Arts Degree from Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He is currently pursuing a Ph. D. in Biblical Studies with Emphasis in Homiletics at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri.
Dr. Wright studied abroad in Israel, Greece, and Oxford, England. He is a contributing author to the 2008 Oxford Sermons book that includes his sermon, The Temptation to Quit. In 2014, Dr. Wright was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr., Board of Preachers at Morehouse College.
Dr. Wright shares his time, talents and expertise in serving outside the organized church in various other capacities. He serves as a board member of the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Criswell College in Dallas, Texas. He also serves as chaplain for the local chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (ΩΨΦ).
Dr. Wright is married to Tracy Wright and together they have five children: Chare, Tiffany, Dante II, Kai, and Jay (Jeremiah).