East End Baptist ChurchDr. Mark Andrew Croston, Sr. was born 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. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He received a Master of Divinity Degree with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Reverend Croston completed his studies and earned the Doctor of Ministry degree at Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia. Formerly Dr. Croston was employed by the IBM Corporation as a systems engineer. Dr. Croston is a widow and has two children. A daughter, Candace Kamille Croston and a son, Mark Andrew Croston, Jr.He is a contributing author to several books including The Chosen Path, Seeds of Hope: Liberia and Virginia Baptists; From My Heart to Yours and Worship: How to Say to God I Love You. As a man on mission Dr Croston has been privileged to do quite a bit of domestic and international travel. Internationally he has traveled in Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Egypt, England, Italy, Germany, Greece, Holland, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. John, St. Maatren, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Switzerland and Trinidad. God called Dr. Croston to the preaching ministry. He was licensed by the Christian Mission Fellowship Baptist Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later ordained by that same body. Dr. Croston served as Minister of Youth at the First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown, Kentucky. 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 tenure are: a church, educational facility and Youth Center renovation, the acquisition of adjoining properties, expansion of the church’s paved parking lot, increased Day Care license by 50%, participation in a self-help and benevolence 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, website, monthly newsletter, the completion of the church's long-range strategic plan, Vision 2010, Jubal Arts Center, Hope Counseling Center, purchase of 17.5 acres for Eat End new ministry campus, leading international and domestic mission trips for the past 12 consecutive years and increased missions giving. His current involvement in the denomination include his work as Past-President of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention; Past-President of the African American Fellowship SBC of Virginia; former 2nd Vice President of the Baptist General Association of Virginia; 2nd Vice President of the Virginia Baptist State Convention; former Trustee of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond; Financial Secretary, Sharon Baptist Association; and Past-Moderator of the Portsmouth Baptist Association.His involvement in the community includes his work as a member of Civic Leadership of Hampton Roads; Suffolk City-wide MLK Day Celebration Committee; Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board Youth Council; President, Suffolk Civic Forum; former Chairman of the Suffolk City School Board; past Vice Chairman of the Board of the Nansemond Credit Union; former Board Member, Paul D. Camp Community College; and Past President, Suffolk Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.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)copyright (c) 2011 East End Baptist Church all rights reservedbcjb@aol.com
East End Baptist Church
Dr. Mark Andrew Croston, Sr. was born 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.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
He received a Master of Divinity Degree with a concentration in Pastoral Care and
Counseling from The
Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary
in Louisville, Kentucky.
Reverend Croston
completed his studies
and earned the Doctor
of Ministry degree at
Virginia Union
University, Richmond,
Virginia. Formerly Dr.
Croston was employed
by the IBM Corporation
as a systems engineer.
Dr. Croston is a widow
and has two children. A
daughter, Candace
Kamille Croston and a
son, Mark Andrew
Croston, Jr.
He is a contributing
author to several books
including The Chosen
Path, Seeds of Hope:
Liberia and Virginia
Baptists; From My
Heart to Yours and
Worship: How to Say to
God I Love You. As a
man on mission Dr
Croston has been
privileged to do quite a
bit of domestic and international travel. Internationally he has traveled in Antigua, Aruba,
Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Egypt, England, Italy, Germany, Greece, Holland, Jamaica,
Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. John, St. Maatren, St. Martin, St.
Thomas, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Switzerland and Trinidad.
God called Dr. Croston to the preaching ministry. He was licensed by the Christian Mission
Fellowship Baptist Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later ordained by that same
body.
Dr. Croston served as Minister of Youth at the First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown,
Kentucky. 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 tenure are: a church, educational facility and Youth Center
renovation, the acquisition of adjoining properties, expansion of the church’s paved parking
lot, increased Day Care license by 50%, participation in a self-help and benevolence 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,
website, monthly newsletter, the completion of the church's long-range strategic plan, Vision
2010, Jubal Arts Center, Hope Counseling Center, purchase of 17.5 acres for Eat End new
ministry campus, leading international and domestic mission trips for the past 12 consecutive
years and increased missions giving.
His current involvement in the denomination include his work as Past-President of the
National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention; Past-President of
the African American Fellowship SBC of Virginia; former 2nd Vice President of the Baptist
General Association of Virginia; 2nd Vice President of the Virginia Baptist State Convention;
former Trustee of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond; Financial Secretary,
Sharon Baptist Association; and Past-Moderator of the Portsmouth Baptist Association.
His involvement in the community includes his work as a member of Civic Leadership of
Hampton Roads; Suffolk City-wide MLK Day Celebration Committee; Hampton Roads
Workforce Development Board Youth Council; President, Suffolk Civic Forum; former
Chairman of the Suffolk City School Board; past Vice Chairman of the Board of the
Nansemond Credit Union; former Board Member, Paul D. Camp Community College; and
Past President, Suffolk Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.
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)
copyright (c) 2011 East End Baptist Church all rights reserved
bcjb@aol.com
