Introducing

Rev. Dr. Jeffery T. Garland, PHD

Rev. Dr. Jeffery T. Garland serves as Senior Pastor of Berean Baptist Church. Pastor Garland has a passion for spreading the Gospel and being a witness for Christ Jesus and Christian mission locally first. Providing pastoral and spiritual care to the wounded and sick is his major focus within and outside the church walls. He strives to cultivate healthy relationships and develop resources to help bring the Word of God to the world. Pastor Garland came to Berean Baptist Church in December of 1995, after serving as a youth Sunday school teacher at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York under Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, for five years. While still attending seminary at New York Theological Seminary in New York City, NY, he was the assistant to pastor Rev. Dr. Wilson H. Tolbert until his retirement in 2015. In 1997 Dr. Garland was endorsed and ordained as a minister by the American Baptist Churches, USA. In 1998, Pastor Garland was called as Interim Pastor at Ramapo Baptist Church in Ramapo, New Jersey. He served in this position until January of 2000 when he entered Drew University school of Theology in pursuit of his Doctor of Ministry degree. Upon his return to Berean Baptist Church, his passion for pastoral and spiritual care for End-of-Life patients and family members was and continues to be at the heart of his ministry. In conjunction with his doctoral studies, Dr. Garland provided hospice and palliative training at Berean Baptist Church, Bethany Baptist Church and New Hope Baptist Churches in Newark, and East Orange, and at Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Newark, NJ. In 2002, this program received national attention from the American Hospital Association and the Circle of Life award was received by Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center in San Diego, CA. Pastor Garland remains very active in his community and serves on the Essex Association of American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, United Clergy of the Oranges, Life Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Chi Sigma Chapter, a Mason 32 degree Samson Lodge #66, Prince Hall F&AM. He serves on the President of Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Chaplains (2021-2022) and is a member of the American Baptist Home Mission Society/ American Baptist Churches USA Ecclesiastical Endorsement Committee. Dr. Garland received a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from Nova Southeastern University, graduate of The Department of Justice – Quantico, VA, a Master of Divinity from New York Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry from Drew University School of Theology, Educational Specialist Degree / Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) Seton Hall University. Dr. Garland currently serves as a Board-Certified Chaplain with Robert Wood Johnson/ Barnabas /VNA Home Health Hospice and Palliative Care, as well as an administrator / Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall University. Pastor Garland has two daughters, Jazsmyne and Laila.

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