Lumbee Legend - Reverend Mike & Quae Cummings
Reverend Mike Cummings, a member of the Lumbee Tribe, was born and raised in a farming community near Pembroke, North Carolina. During his college years, he felt a calling into the ministry – a calling that would shape the course of his life and impact countless others. Over time, he became the pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, where he began building a legacy of faithful service.
During this season, he met Quae Simmons, a member of the Coharie Tribe, and the two were married, beginning a partnership in life and ministry that has endured for more than 56 years.
Sister Quae Cummings was born in 1956 and raised in the Coharie Indian community of Clinton, North Carolina. She attended the East Carolina Indian School until its closure in 1964 and later graduated from Clinton High School in 1972. Demonstrating a lifelong commitment to education, she earned a degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2007.
Reverend Cummings continued his own educational journey, graduating from Campbell University in 1974 and later from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1977. Upon returning home, he served as pastor of Mt. Airy Baptist Church for ten years. In 1988, he accepted the role of Director of Missions for the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association, a position he would faithfully hold for more than three decades.
During his tenure, Reverend Cummings also made history within the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He was elected first as First Vice President and later as President, serving from 1999 to 2001—the first Native American to hold this distinguished position.
Sister Quae Cummings’ service to the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association began even earlier. In 1979, she became the office secretary, managing the administrative operations, coordinating schedules and activities, and leading communication efforts between the association and its member churches. Beyond her administrative leadership, she has also been a respected voice in women’s ministries, earning widespread admiration across the Baptist State Convention.
Throughout their decades of service, Sister Quae has been a steadfast partner in Reverend Cummings’ ministry. He has often credited her as a guiding force, once sharing that she “has kept me on track in the sense of putting my best foot forward… She’s been a major foundation for all my ministry.”
For nearly forty years, Reverend Mike and Sister Quae Cummings were synonymous with the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association. Their shared dedication to teaching, preaching, and living out the Gospel has left a lasting imprint on communities across the region and beyond. Their ministry has taken them throughout the nation, where they have touched countless lives with a message of faith, hope, and service.
Today, in retirement from the association, they continue their ministry at Deep Branch Missionary Baptist Church, where Reverend Cummings serves as Senior Pastor. The church embraces a welcoming philosophy: opening its doors and hearts to people from all backgrounds. With a focus on fellowship, gospel-centered teaching, joyful worship, and compassionate care, they continue to guide others in their spiritual journeys.
Together, Reverend Mike and Sister Quae Cummings represent a powerful example of faith, partnership, and lifelong dedication to ministry—demonstrating that their greatest impact has come not only from what they have accomplished individually, but from what they have built together.