REV. DR. CLEVELAND TAFT ANDRE MASON, 2nd

Overseer and Senior Pastor of the historic Perkins Square Baptist Church & Ministries in Baltimore, MD. He was born to the marital union of Cleveland and Dorothy (Briscoe) Mason in Baltimore, MD on October 4, 1955. He was reared in a Christian home under the guidance of his grandmother, Julia Ruffin Holmes and his father, both are now deceased.

He was educated in Baltimore City Public Schools, graduating from the Walbrook Senior High School in June 1974. Dr. Mason continued his education at Towson State University, where he earned degrees in Mass Communications and Media. October 12th of 2000. He received the Doctorate of Divinity degree from Eastern Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, VA. In December 2006, Dr. Mason was honored with a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Determined Biblical Theological Institute of Baltimore, MD.

Dr. Mason was employed until December 31, 1991, by the federal government and was assigned to the Department of Health and Human Services and later, the Department of the Treasury. While serving as a federal employee, he received numerous awards for outstanding service to the United States Government and other professional achievement awards.

He has served the religious community as a lay-speaker since the age of eight and was licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ at age seventeen. Under the mentoring of Dr. Harold A. Carter, Sr. he was always in great demand and preached and taught widely throughout the United States. So great was the demand for this gifted communicator that he had to train others to assume his work as chief technical engineer for the media ministry of New Shiloh Baptist Church. Dr. Mason was licensed on Sunday, February 25, 1973 and ordained on February 28, 1986; under the determined and challenging ministry of Dr. Harold A. Carter, Sr. and the New Shiloh Baptist Church of Baltimore.

December 17, 1985, Dr. Mason was elected to serve as the second pastor of the Mount Enon Missionary Baptist Church in Southeast Washington, DC. This young energetic church, under his leadership, became a triumphant pioneer in evangelism. Developing outdoor witnessing campaigns and airing, “Word of Life,” a weekly telecast serving the Washington community; which placed this church on the cutting edge of ministry. He served Mount Enon Missionary Baptist Church until December 31, 1991

On September 11, 1991, Perkins Square Baptist Church of Baltimore, MD elected and extended the “call” to its pastorate to Dr. Mason. This maverick minister, with his dynamic and provocative style of teach-preaching, has brought a refreshing sense of revival to the church’s worship, work and witness.

Dr. Mason tries to make a difference in the community. The church is in partnership with the James Mosher Elementary School, Lafayette Elementary School, Morgan State University and Coppin State University. He volunteers as a male mentor and counselor. The church provides funding and other resources for some of the unmet needs of the schools. A certified counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors with Dr. Gary Collins and the American Academy of Bereavement Facilitators, Pastor Mason seeks to provide his congregation and community with counseling support services.

Since his arrival at Perkins Square, many new ministries have been birthed. Among them are: the Ministry of Christian Education & Programs; Power for Living Bible Classes and Thursday Noonday Bible Class; The Lord’s Kitchen (a weekly ministry of sermon and soul food served to the hungry in the community); the Tribe of Judah Dance Ministry; Healing and Deliverance Services (special services where the congregation gathers in an atmosphere of praise and worship to lay hands on and pray for the sick and oppressed); Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Community Prayer Walks; Security Ministry; Manpower Ministry; Sisterhood Ministry; Unity Day; Pastors On Patrol (ministry leaders are given responsibility to pastor residents in the community); The Voices of Perkins Square (a reorganization of the church music ministry) and community outreach providing emergency assistance with food, medical, substance abuse and other socio-economic needs.

Dr. Mason is a much sort after preacher and teacher. Dr. Mason’s preaching ministry is based on Acts 1:8. However, as Senior Pastor and Teacher of Perkins Square, God has given him a vision based on Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:17-18 and Isaiah 58. He has shared his preaching ministry in Kenya, East Africa: in the cities of Mombasa, Nairobi, Nyeri; Port Antonio and Kingston, Jamaica; Cairo, Egypt; Jerusalem, Israel and in Rome, Italy at Vatican Square. The Lord has used the life of this preacher internationally to demonstrate the saving and healing power of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Mason is CEO of New Life Media Ministries, through which he promotes the expansion of the Gospel using electronic and print mediums; sharing his gifts in ministry, preaching crusades, revivals; teaching workshops and seminars on corporate and personal Witnessing, Discipleship, Stewardship, Prayer, Leadership and Management. This ministry sponsors annually a Prayer Warriors’ Conference that instructs and inspires a mighty prayer movement in the Church and a Teaching and Training Conference on Leadership & Management (equipping leaders for purpose, productivity and partnership).

He is also CEO of New Life Community Development Corporation, a not for profit corporation seeking to bridge the needs of the community with available resources to improve the quality of life based on revelations from Isaiah 58.

In August 1999, he was consecrated as Regional Overseer, in the Christian Ecumenical Covenant Fellowship, out of Indianapolis, IN., serving Presiding Prelate Bishop Thomas Garrott Benjamin, Jr. and is given jurisdiction for the State of Maryland and the Northeast Region.

Dr. Mason serves as a registered national evangelist and Bible instructor for the United Christian Ashram International; founded by the late Eli Stanley Jones of Baltimore and sits on the Board of Directors for the Keuka United Christian Ashram at Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York.

He is an instructor in the Annual Churchwide Institute of the United Baptist Missionary Convention of MD, and many local institutes of many churches throughout the State of Maryland. He is also a certified instructor serving the National Congress of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Dr. Mason is a serious advocate of Christian Education having instituted many new opportunities for earning at Perkins Square, as well as, requiring all officers and leaders to participate in regular Bible study and learning opportunities in and outside of the church. Dr. Mason participates continuously in personal Bible study, seminars, workshops, and institutes locally, nationally and internationally.

He is associated with many preaching and teaching organizations. Dr. Mason currently serves as2nd Vice President of the Baptist Ministers Conference for Baltimore & Vicinity; President of the United Baptist Missionary Convention of Maryland; an affiliate of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. He has served as Vice-President at Large for the Congress of Christian Education of the Progressive Baptist Convention of Maryland. He is a covenant partner of Benny Hinn Ministries, Morris Cerello, Creflo Dollar and T. D. Jakes Ministries, a member of Peace For The City, A Coalition of Pastors and Congregations in Baltimore and the Baltimore Pastor’s Prayer Group.

He is married to Florence Shielda Greenhill Mason. He is the father of three wonderful children: two sons, Cleveland Taft Andre Mason, 3rd; Clevon George Herbert Mason; and daughter, ShaNearah Monique Mason.

Two of the most notable sayings Pastor Mason has used as underpinnings of his ministry are: “Believers Prevailing By the Power of Prayer and Proclamation” and “Much Prayer, Much Power; Little Prayer, Little Power; No Prayer, No Power!”