EBENEZER
BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR JERRY L. PARKER, PASTOR EMERITUS
"...be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life!" Revelation 2:10
Pastor Jerry L. Parker was born and raised in Windsor, North Carolina to the late Deacon Walter Parker, Jr. and the late Cora Parker. The eldest of 10 children, he attended school in Bertie County, North Carolina. Upon his graduation in 1971, he moved to Baltimore, Maryland. Staying true to the Word of God that his parents instilled in him as a child, he joined the First Baptist Church of Cherry Hill in Baltimore, Maryland.
On May 24, 1985, Jerry L. Parker was joined in marriage to the former Mary A. Whittenburg. Together, they share 10 children and presently reside in Joppa, Maryland. In 1989, Jerry and his lovely wife joined Ebenezer Baptist Church in Joppa, Maryland, under the leadership of the late Pastor Fred Hall. Under his leadership, Pastor Parker served as an usher, sang on the choir and served as a Trustee. Pastor Parker was ordained as a Deacon in 1993, under the leadership of the late Pastor Emeritus Edward White, Sr.
He remained faithful, taught Bible Study, and served as the Chairman of the Deacon Board for 6½ years. On August 11, 1999, Pastor Parker received his license to preach after his initial sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Fall 2001, Pastor Parker attended the Baltimore School of the Bible. He was ordained through the Pastors & Ministers Conference of Baltimore, Maryland, where he served on several committees. In Spring 2008, he attended the Maryland Bible College and Seminary. December 2008, God exalted Pastor Parker to the position of Assistant Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church where he served faithfully for 6 years. Often referred to as a “powerhouse”, Pastor Parker has been known to shake churches, transform lives, and “break pulpits” due to his powerful and inspiring preaching and teaching of the Word of God. October 31, 2014, Pastor Parker was installed as Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church as the result of the greater anointing over his life. Since his installation, he has had an integral impact on Ebenezer Baptist Church ministering both within the walls of the church and through outreach in the community. Under his leadership, the congregation has tripled, one minister was ordained (Pastor Kirk L. Knockett), five were called to the Ministry, four Deacons ordained, new construction and dedication of the Pastor’s Study and Trustee/Administration Office, completion of the Media Ministry upgrade, weekly prayer via teleconference, and the establishment of 15 additional ministries.
​For their 10th year as Pastor & First Lady, the EBC family commemorated their milestone by hosting a banquet at the Maryland Golf & Country Club in Bel Air, MD on Friday, October 25, 2024 with a host of family and friends. Ater spending time in prayer and hearing from God, Pastor Parker heeded the voice of the Lord and prepared for another transition. On Sunday, June 1, 2025, Pastor Parker announced that would be retiring from the role of Senior Pastor, giving way for Assistant Pastor Kirk L. Knockett to become the next Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. A retirement celebration was held on Saturday, July 19, 2025 in which he and First Lady Mary Parker were honored for their impact, labor, and love. On Sunday, July 20, 2025, Pastor Parker installed Pastor Knockett as the new Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church and assumed the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus.
Pastor Parker is a man who truly walks by faith and not by sight, not allowing what he sees to hinder what he believes; knowing and understanding that it is God who makes the leader, not man. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Parker continues to seek and hear from God. He patterns his life by the scripture found in Revelation 2:10, “be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life.”