The Rev. Michael Bailey, a pastor at Faith United Church in Middletown, is relying on his past to celebrate a milestone anniversary.

Bailey, who was ordained 15 years ago, will celebrate the milestone with the Rev. Gregory Ballard of Houston, Texas. Ballard, formerly the minister at New Era Baptist Church in Middletown, was Bailey’s “faith father.” The Rev. Damon Lynch III, who was a member of Bailey’s ordination council, also will participate in today’s anniversary at Faith United Church on Baltimore Street.

Bailey, 59, served a New Miami church for eight years before being called “back home” to Middletown after attending a prayer vigil following a shooting at 16th Avenue and Minnesota Street.

Bailey called today’s anniversary a “celebration” that he’s hoping to commemorate with his faith family. Besides pastoring at Faith United Church, Bailey serves as the linkage coordinator at Middletown High School, where he counsels what he called “at-risk” students.

He said the social ills that have impacted the city can also be seen in the hallways of its high school. He said there are students who are homeless, abandoned and abused. He said it’s his job to “give the students hope for their dreams.”

Bailey said a pastor’s role is to “lead his congregation.” With the social issues facing them, he described that task as “very challenging.”

When asked what it’s like to lead a downtown Middletown church, Bailey, who has been at Faith United Church for seven years said, “I’m at the right place at the right time.”