Reverend Dr. David Jefferson, Sr., Esq.

Pastor, Teacher, Visionary, Community Servant, Attorney, Husband, Father and Grandfather are among the many ministerial roles of Reverend Dr. David Jefferson, Sr., Pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church, Newark, NJ.

Rev. Dr. David Jefferson was born in Doyline, Louisiana to Mrs. Wrender and the late Rev. Ernest Jefferson, Sr.  The tenth in a family of fifteen, Rev. Dr. Jefferson grew up with a love of family that is present in his current ministerial vision.

A graduate of Grambling State University, Rev. Dr. Jefferson earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing and Finance from the University of Dayton, Ohio. He has also received a Jurist Doctorate of Law from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and a Master of Divinity from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.  Awarded a Fellowship in the prestigious Sloan Fellows Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rev. Jefferson completed the Master of Science in Management degree program in 1989.

Leadership and Growth

Dr. Jefferson answered the call to become the third Pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey in February of 1995. Under his leadership, the church has grown to a 7000+ member congregation.  He continues to serve today under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, preaching and teaching the WORD of God, with a vision for the church of family ministry and community outreach. Having a heart for young people, Pastor Jefferson established a “Young People’s focused” service which specifically ministers to young people and their families.  Focused on three “E’s”; Evangelism, Education and Employment, Pastor Jefferson continually guides and shapes the church’s mission to Lead Families out of Crisis to Christ, Bring Them Together Around the Word of God and Equip them with spiritual morals and values.  

Community and Outreach

Responding to the work of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Jefferson is leading his flock to greater dimensions in the area of community outreach and evangelism. Like Nehemiah, Pastor Jefferson has been convicted to rebuild the walls of the city of Newark; to uplift families and restore the community. To that end, Pastor Jefferson expanded Metropolitan’s physical campus to include what has become known as; The Willing Heart Community Care Center, a non profit center supported by the Heart to Heart Partners Covenant and special donations.  It is out of that center that Pastor Jefferson has initiated programs to meet the needs of families: food, clothing, educational supplies and assistance, financial programs, Christian counseling and other services as well as providing affordable Christian entertainment for the community. It is a mighty task; however, “…The God of heaven will give us success.” Nehemiah 2:20