Larry Ashley, Senior Pastor

"Teach me thy way O Lord ... "Psalm 27:11

Pastor Larry Ashley is the youngest of fifteen children born to Nathan and Eliza Ashley in Columbia, Mississippi.  At the tender age of six, Pastor Ashley’s father died leaving behind a legacy of faith in Jesus Christ.  At the age of seven, he received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.  The abiding faith of his parents would be the tool he needed to assist him for the remainder of his life. 

Larry and his mother moved to Alameda California in 1957 joining the other members of their family.  He attended school in the city of Alameda for one year before moving to Oakland and uniting with Bethel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Herbert Guice.  In Oakland, Pastor Ashley continued his education graduating from Oakland High School in 1963.  It was during high school that he felt the call of God to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. After  graduation, Pastor Ashley attended Biola University in La Mirada, California for two years.

He entered the Armed Services in 1965 and received an honorable discharge in 1967.  Shortly after his discharge he enrolled in California State University in Hayward. At thirty-five Pastor Ashley responded to the call of God on his life and began to prepare himself for service to God. He enrolled in Bay Cities Bible Institute and graduated from Patten University in 1997 with a B.S. degree in Pastoral Studies.     

In 1990, he was elected at the Senior Pastor of Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Oakland, where he is currently serving with joy and humility. He is the husband of Gloria Ashley and the father of three adult children, Montrella (husband-Allen Wilson); Jevon (wife-Lynecia); Jermaine (wife-Lakisha).  He and Gloria are the proud grandparents of nine grandchildren.