Rev. Dr. Craig Scott Brown, Sr.

Life’s Reflection

Rev. Dr. Craig Scott Brown Sr.

The Angel of mercy and grace came to restore Rev. Dr. Craig Scott Brown Sr to wholeness and health on May 4, 2024, at the St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn, New York. Rev. Brown was born on May 1, 1963, to the late Walter and Sylvia Arlene Jackson Brown.  He was the last of five children and his mother’s pride and joy.  Craig was educated in the Tinton Falls school system.

Craig was always ambitious and zealous ineverything that he did, trying to keep up with his older sibling. His zealousness caused him to excel in many different areas. His jovial, (sometimes crazy) and outgoing personality allowed him to make many acquaintances and close friends and he was known to most of them as “Eggie” (the same nickname as his Dad). He was voted “Most Popular” of his high schoolsenior class. He was a sharp dresser, intelligentand outspoken and you always knew when he was in the room.

He excelled in sports and received varsity letters in football and track and received “Allstate” honors in football. In addition, he has left an indelible mark at Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls, NJ, as he has beenplaced in the Hall of Fame.

Along with his siblings he was raised at the St. Paul Baptist Church in Atlantic Highlands,NJ under the pastorates of Reverend Peak and Reverend Davis. He was baptized at an early age by Reverend Peak. While in high school, he won the Seacoast Association’s Bible Bowl, the General Baptist State Convention of New Jersey’s Bible Bowl and then went on to become the first National Baptist Convention USA, Incorporated, Congress of Christian Education Bible Bowl winner.

Dr. Brown acknowledged his calling to the Gospel Ministry in 1981 and received his license to preach at the St. Paul Baptist Church, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey under the pastorate of the late Reverend Dr. Henry P. Davis, Jr.

 ​Dr. Brown was ordained at New Zion Baptist Church, Elizabeth, New Jersey under Dr. Elliott Cuff.  He served as Interim and then Pastor of the Greater Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church of Stamford, Connecticut from 1985-1994. As pastor/teacher over the eight years, his experiences included preaching and teaching various classes; providing mentoring and coaching to ministers, leaders and laypersons. He also established “Welfare Busters” a non-profit organization that provided training and employment to those deemed “Unemployable”.  At the time of his departure from Connecticut, “Welfare Busters” had over 70 people in its program.  Welfare Busters was featured on channel 7 Eyewitness News and was being sought after by several different States, for implementation; including New York.  

Dr. Brown was called to Pastor the historic Mount Calvary Baptist Church of Chicago, Illinois on April 23, 1994.   Under the Pastoral leadership of Dr. Brown, the Church, which had been destroyed by fire several years prior to his arrival was reconstructed from the ground up.  While there, Pastor Brown implemented all aspects of Ministry; providing vision and direction to leaders and developed special conferences and retreats to focus on the needs of the congregation throughout the year. The new edifice was rededicated on the 1st Sunday of July 2000. 

 Dr. Brown’s last call was to pastor the Bethany Baptist Church of Jamaica on February 12, 2001. Dr. Brown’s vision was to bring Bethany together in unity through the Word of God.  Pastor Brown led the congregation of Bethany Baptist Church to come together as one body in Christ in a great “Challenge” to embrace and engage in the word of God, Shifting from Religion to Relationship and from Membership to Discipleship.  His vision for the church is that “none will be lost”.  He established Bible Study Classes for every age group “From the cradle to Glory.” Learning and prayer opportunities via conference calls and fellowship are available weekly and/or monthly. His focus and desire was for every soul to understand their purpose and operate in the authority of their assignment. Among these educational opportunities was the School of Stephen, where Bethany experienced tremendous growth under the leadership of Pastor Brown.  

Dr. Brown attended Montclair State University, Upper Montclair New Jersey, earning a degree in Philosophy and Religion in 1985.  He is also a graduate of Yale University Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut earning a Master of Divinity degree in 1991.  He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, May 14, 2011. Dr. Brown’s dissertation reflects his passion for teaching church leaders to interact and engage congregations and communities in useful conversation to provide enhanced involvement in intentional growth and spiritual maturity.

Dr. Brown traveled and preached extensively in the United States and 7 countries in Africa. He lectured and preached at the South African Convention in Cape Town, South Africa and The African United National Baptist Convention in Durban, South Africa in July 2006 and again in June 2014.  He served as Area# 6 Vice President of The Empire Missionary Baptist State Convention and Home Missions Board and was also a member of Eastern Baptist Association, Vice Chairman of the Trustee Board and a member of its Board of Managers. He served as the coordinator and instructor for Eastern Baptist Association’s LED (Leadership, Evangelism & Discipleship) Conference.  Dr. Brown was a Founding member of EQUAL (Empowered Queens United in Action and Leadership). This group is dedicated to building citizen power for working families, enabling them to shape public policies that impact low-to-middle-income neighborhoods in Queens. It is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) through which it receives professional leadership and organizational skills and development.  Dr. Brown has written for the So Send I You, Lenten Devotional in 2014 and 2015. 

Beginning in 2021 Pastor Brown joined with JFKIAT 4Good Initiative Grant Funding Partners which supports community Food Banks and Soup Kitchens and have received $35K for renovation of the Youth Church along with donations of turkeys for thanksgiving each year for the community.

​Because he was a gifted and anointed preacher, he has preached across these United States and is received and respected by clergy because of how he handled the Word of God. 

On November 1, 2020, Dr. Brown became a Board-Certified Chaplain.  He served as a Full-time Palliative Care Chaplain at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Far Rockaway, New Yorkuntil June 2023.

Preceded him to glory was his oldest brother, Walter (Butch) Brown III, his son Wendell S. Brown and dad Deacon Walter Brown Jr.

Dr. Brown is survived by his son Craig“Scott” (Amanda) Brown Jr. and his mother, Deaconess Sylvia Brown, his brother DavidBrown, sisters Arlene (Paul) Brown and AnitaSandusky; his precious granddaughters Zoey Noelle and McKenzie Brown, two aunts, Robin (Sheilds) Wilkerson and Carol Mancle, 11 nieces and nephews and a host of spiritual daughters and sons, his life long friend the Reverend Dr. Keith W. Roberson, and hisadministrative assistant for 20 years Nancy Scott.   

His Life Scripture comes from KJV Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Pastor Brown had a love for preaching, teaching, and pastoring.  He loved people, especially his seniors and his children.  You could always find him talking to either the children or one of the seniors. He put his congregation above everything else.  He listened, he cared for and he prayed for his congregation. He kept them in his heart as he did his parents and his children and grandchildren.  They loved him and he loved them.

Assignment Completed. Rest Easy

His Ministry Scripture comes from KJV Philippians 3:14

“I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

His favorite Hymn is “I Surrender All”