Pastor, Rev. Joann Pearson Collins, was reared in Emporia, Va. by her grandparents the late Mr. & Mrs. Joe Thomas Pearson. During early childhood she was nurtured with God’s word.  On June 7, 1975, she moved to Hackensack, New Jersey and one month later she joined the Mount Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Robert L. Curry.  Pastor Collins has been a visible member of her church.  She has served as Church Clerk, Chaplain of several ministries, Sunday School Teacher, Supt. of the Sunday School, Women Fellowship teacher, President of the Fellowship Ministry, and By-laws committee member.

 

On July 23, 2000, Sister Joann Pearson Collins was license to preach the Gospel Ministry. She is the first woman to be license by her church, Mount Zion Baptist. On November 21,2004, she was ordained by the permanent council of North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association. She holds the distinct honor of being Pastor Curry’s first daughter in the gospel ministry and his assistant for eighteen (18) years. 

 

At Pastor Curry’s recommendation and after a membership vote on January 23, 2018, Rev. Joann Pearson Collins became Pastor Elect, effective the 4th Sunday in September of 2019. On December 8, 2019, she was installed as Pastor and became the first woman to serve in this capacity. 

 

Over the years she has taken courses at Bergen Community College.  In May of 2006, she completed the Certificate of Ministry Program at New York Theological Seminary. She served as the first and second Vice President of the Congress of Christian Education for the North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association. In July of 1993, she was elected president of the Congress of Christian Education and became the youngest person to serve in this position to date.

 

While president of the Congress of Christian Education, the youth choir sung with vigor and she initiated a youth revival. She has worked with the Bible Bowl on the District and State level.  She has served as a teacher for the GBCNJ Workers Conference, taught classes for the Woman Auxiliary of North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association, and for the New Hope Association.  She has completed the six course requirement to receive her first Certificate of Progress from the National Baptist Convention, USA. Inc. Pastor Collins has taught single’s workshop for several churches. 

 

Pastor Collins gets great joy working with the youth of the community, teaching them that choices not chances determines their destiny.  She also serves as the President for the Women’s Auxiliary of the North Jersey District Missionary Baptist Association and serves with the Women’s Auxiliary of United Missionary Baptist Convention of NJ. Pastor Collins is the Director of Christian Education for United Missionary Baptist Convention of NJ.

 

On February 14, 2004, Pastor Collins married Rev. James H. Collins and together they are walking into the destiny that God has position before them. Pastor Collins’ heart’s desire is to be an inspiration to those she witness to and teach about God’s word.  Her prayer to God is Psalms 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.  This prayer will help her to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthian 15:58  

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