MEET OUR PASTOR
Rev. Dr. J. Wendell Mapson, Jr. - Senior Pastor
Reverend Dr. Jesse Wendell Mapson Jr. is a globally respected preacher, pastor, author, musician, and influential voice in the Black church who has dedicated over six decades to faithful and transformative ministry. Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Dr. Mapson was nurtured by the faith of his parents—Rev. J. Wendell Mapson Sr. and Mrs. Georgia T. Mapson. He was baptized, licensed, and ordained at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, where his father pastored for over 50 years.
A committed scholar and pioneering voice, Dr. Mapson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College, where he served as president of the Ministers’ Union and ministered under civil rights icon Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary (now Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Palmer Theological Seminary, which also awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 2002 in recognition of his profound contributions to theology and ministry.
Dr. Mapson began his pastoral ministry at Union Baptist Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he served from 1969 to 1987. Guided by his leadership, the church entered a period of transformative growth, prompting the building of a new church to support its expanding ministry. In 1987, Dr. Mapson was called to lead the historic Monumental Baptist Church of Philadelphia, the second oldest Black Baptist church in Pennsylvania and one of the oldest in the nation, founded in 1826. Under his visionary and adaptive leadership, Monumental has experienced sustained growth and has become a thriving, multigenerational congregation. Dr. Mapson has skillfully bridged the gap between tradition and innovation, blending timeless preaching and worship with contemporary ministry approaches to meet the evolving needs of today’s church. Through his guidance, Monumental continues to honor its rich legacy while remaining a vibrant, relevant, and spiritually grounded presence in the community.
A prolific author, Dr. Mapson’s writings have shaped both church practice and academic study. His seminal work, The Ministry of Music in the Black Church (Judson Press), is a landmark text used in seminaries, Bible colleges, and church leadership training programs nationwide. The book critiques performance-driven worship and reclaims sacred music as a theologically rooted ministry essential to the African American worship experience. His other works include Strange Fire: A Study of Worship and Liturgy in the African American Church and God of My Father: Sermons of a Father and Son, a poignant collection of sermons co-authored with his father.
Dr. Mapson is a sought-after preacher and lecturer, having delivered sermons and lectures at numerous institutions of higher learning and from prominent pulpits across the United States and abroad. His impactful sermon, "An Uncertain Sound," delivered at the esteemed Hampton University Ministers’ Conference, was featured in The African American Pulpit’s Best of Hampton issue, underscoring his influence as a leading voice in Black homiletics—further affirming his influence as one of the foremost voices in Black preaching and theological reflection.
An accomplished musician, Dr. Mapson has dedicated much of his ministry to preserving sacred music as a spiritual, cultural, and theological cornerstone of the Black church. His unique blend of scholarship, pastoral care, and musical expertise has shaped generations of preachers, musicians, and church leaders.
Beyond the pulpit, Dr. Mapson continues to serve the broader church and community. He is Co-Founder and Executive Consultant of MinistryForward Media Group LLC, a consulting and media firm helping churches and small ministries grow through innovation, strategy, and leadership development. He also hosts The Ministry Exchange Podcast, where he facilitates honest conversations about ministry, leadership, and the challenges facing today’s church.
Dr. Mapson’s leadership extends into cultural and historical preservation. He is President of the Board of Directors of The Historic Eden Cemetery, the oldest Black-owned cemetery in the United States, and a Board Member of the Paul Robeson House & Museum.
He has held significant positions within national church organizations, including Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., and President of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (The Boulé).
Among his many honors, Dr. Mapson was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College (1994) and received the Benjamin E. Mays “Footprint” Award from the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Morehouse Alumni Association (1995). His scholarly and ministerial impact has also earned him numerous academic citations and a legacy of inclusion in ministerial training programs nationwide.
Dr. Mapson is married to Minister Shirley D. Mapson. Together, they are the proud parents of three sons—Keith, Brian, and Jesse III—and grandparents to twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. With humility, grace, and an unwavering commitment to his calling, Reverend Dr. Jesse Wendell Mapson Jr. continues to inspire generations of preachers, worshipers, and leaders across the globe.
Pastor Mapson
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