DR. CURTIS CROCKER, SENIOR PASTOR

Dr. Curtis Crocker Jr., D. Min., is a devoted minister and community leader with over 30 years of service. A native of Columbus, Georgia and is a proud alumnus of Baker High School, graduating in 1979. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Morehouse College in 1984, followed by a Master of Arts in 2011, a Master of Divinity in 2016, and a Doctor of Ministry in 2016, all from Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, Georgia.  

Dr. Crocker serves as the Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia, and has held various roles throughout his career, including Inmate Services Chaplain for the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and Retired Lead Chaplain for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. He also contributes as an Adjunct Professor at the Beulah Heights University Columbus Extension and as the Director of Reentry for the River Valley Urban League. His civic involvement includes membership on the Mayor’s Commission on Homelessness and serving as a Faith-Based Leader for the 2020 Census.  

An active member of several organizations, Dr. Crocker is affiliated with the Georgia Association of Chaplains, Leadership DeKalb, the NAACP (as a Silver Life Member), and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is also licensed and ordained through New Mercies Christian Church in Lilburn, Georgia. Recognized for his dedication and impact, he has received numerous awards, including the Rev. Albert McCovey Religious Service Award from the NAACP, Muscogee County Citizen of the Year in 2020, Citizen of the Year from Omega Psi Phi in 2023, and the Legacy of the League Award from the Urban League in 2022.  

Dr. Crocker’s ministry is rooted in his deep faith, believing in the infallibility of the Bible, the Triune God, the Virgin Birth, the deity of Christ, and the sufficiency of Christ's atonement for sin. He emphasizes creating opportunities for spiritual, educational, and emotional growth, particularly for individuals in need of a second chance. Passionate about personal development, he focuses on building soft skills and emotional resilience in others. His favorite scripture, John 12:32, inspires his ministry: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”  

Dr. Crocker is a devoted family man, married to his wife Lesha. Together, they have two children, Curtis III and Joycelyn Nicole, and two grandsons, Curtis Jamal and Kaleb Jaxon.