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Dr. Mark Andrew Croston, Sr. was born March 7, 1959 in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the eighth of nine children born to Mrs. Isabella Jones Croston and the late Reverend  Nathaniel Moses Croston, Sr. Dr. Croston came to know the Lord at an early age and was baptized at the Liberty
Baptist Church of Philadelphia in 1970. He earned a Bachelor of Science in
Engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. In May of 1987 he received a Master of Divinity Degree with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,
Kentucky. In May of 1994 Reverend Croston completed his studies and earned the
Doctor of Ministry degree at Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia.
On August 28, 1982 Dr. Croston married Karen Denise Johnson. They presently
have two children. A daughter, Candace Kamille and a son, Mark Andrew, Jr. God
called Dr. Croston to the preaching ministry in February of 1980. He was
licensed by the Christian Mission Fellowship Baptist Church Sunday, March 30,
1980 and ordained by that same body Sunday, June 3, 1984. Dr. Croston was
previously employed by the IBM Corporation as a systems engineer. Dr. Croston
has also served as Minister of Youth at the First Baptist Church of
Jeffersontown, Kentucky beginning in 1985. He continued in that position until
he responded to the call of God to the pastorate of the East End Baptist Church
in Suffolk, Virginia in October of 1987. Some of the highlights of his pastoral
senure are: a church and educational facility renovation, the acquisition of
adjoining properties, extended the church= s paved parking lots, increased Day
Care license by 50%, participation in self-help and benevolent food programs,
monthly senior adult luncheon, senior adult, young adult, prison and singles
ministries, computerization of church finances and membership, network church
computer systems, multi-media and Internet access for members in a new Media
Church Library, monthly newsletter, the completion of the church's strategic
plan, Vision 2005, participation in several overseas and domestic mission trips
and increased missions giving. He has been privileged to do quite a bit of
domestic and international travel. Internationally he has traveled in Antigua,
Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Egypt, England, Italy, Germany, Greece, Holland,
Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, St. Croix, St. John, St.
Maarten, St. Thomas and Switzerland. He is a contributing author for several
books including, The Chosen Path, Seed of Hope: Liberia and Virginia Baptist and
Worship: How to Say to God His current involvement in the denomination include
his work as President of the African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist
Convention; 2nd Vice President, Virginia Baptist State Convention; Moderator of
the Portsmouth Baptist Association, Trustee of the Baptist Theological Seminary
at Richmond; and Financial Secretary, Sharon Baptist Association. His
involvement in the community includes his work as President, Suffolk Civic
Forum; former Board Member, Paul D. Camp Community College; Board Member,
Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board Youth Council; former Chairman of the
Suffolk City School Board; Member of Civic Leadership of Hampton Roads;
immediate Past President, Suffolk Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance;
Subscribing Life Member NAACP; Member Suffolk Citywide MLK Day Celebration
Committee.
Dr. Croston believes as Henri J. M. Nouwen said, "Nobody can
minister to his fellow man when he is unwilling to deny himself in order to
create the space where God can do His work." Creative Ministry, p.50).
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