Reverend Jeffrey Bryan is the Pastor of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church located in the Borough of Roselle and is serving his nineth year as Pastor. He is married to Leading Lady, Kia A. Bryan and their blended family is blessed with four children: Denajah, Jeffrey, Jaiden and Josiah.
Prior to becoming the pastor at Bethlehem, he pastored the Tabernacle Baptist Church located in the City of Newark, where he served as Pastor for 17 years. Rev. Bryan was licensed to preach the gospel in 1995; ordained to serve as Assistant Pastor of Tabernacle in 1997; and installed as Pastor in 1998.
Under his visionary leadership at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, several key ministries were reestablished, including the Mass Choir, Noon Day Prayer, and the Young Adults and Adults On A Mission Ministries. He also introduced the Ministries Fair and founded the Seasoned Saints Ministry.
Significant renovations have been completed under his guidance, including upgrades to the lower fellowship hall, men’s and women’s restrooms, new sanctuary doors, and enhanced lighting. A new pulpit was installed, and the church’s heating system was successfully converted from oil to gas for improved efficiency.
In addition to these accomplishments, he formalized the church’s “Vision and Mission” statement, rooted in the mandate of Romans 8:28. This vision is captured in the inspiring theme: “A Committed Church Serving the Lord.”
Rev. Bryan served as the former Treasurer of The General Baptist State Convention of New Jersey, Inc. and is a member of the Newark Branch NAACP. He was the past President of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Association’s A.I.M. (Adults In Missions) Department. He served as the Chairperson of the Home and Foreign Mission for the New Hope Missionary Baptist Association. Pastor Bryan served as the Second Vice-Moderator, First Vice-Moderator and on September 29, 2019, he was installed as the Moderator of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Association, Inc.
In April 2003, Rev Bryan was accepted to the Lott Carey Pastoral Excellence Program. As a result of being accepted into this program he traveled to Guyana on a 15-day mission in the Spring of 2003, Jamaica in 2004 and Zimbabwe in 2005.
In June 2003, Rev. Bryan was also certified as an instructor under the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., and the Department of Christian Education. Rev. Bryan is a graduate from the New York Theological Seminary Certificate Program. Rev. Bryan is a graduate of the Somerset Christian College where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership and on May 20, 2022, he graduated from Pillar Collage where he received his Master of Arts Degree in Ministry and Community Leadership. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Courageous Leadership in a Changing Culture at Drew University.
On November 6, 2018, Rev. Bryan was elected to the Roselle Board of Education, where he received the highest number of elected votes as a candidate. In his three-year tenure, he served as Vice President, Personnel Chairman, Chairman of the Building and Grounds and Strategic Planning Committee.
On April 27, 2019, Rev. Bryan was recognized and honored by the Union County Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. as Man of the Year.