Meet Our Assistant Pastor

REVEREND cheryl simmons hargrave, m.div

Assistant Pastor

Reverend Cheryl Simmons Hargrave is the eldest of five children born to Nathan and Nellie Simmons in Philadelphia, PA.  Reverend Hargrave’s early Christian roots were nurtured while attending Catholic Church and parochial school.  She later accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized by the late Reverend Donald A. Strong at Walter Avenue Baptist Church in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania.  She is an alumna of Sacred Heart Academy, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and Johnson & Wales University, Providence Rhode Island.  Reverend Hargrave has actively labored in Christian leadership and service for the past forty years.  She has always possessed an intellectual curiosity about the “things” of God.  This curiosity led her towards theological education.  She earned a Diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies from Eastern’s School of Christian Ministry at Palmer Theological Seminary (formerly Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary).  In response to the “call” of God on her life to serve God and humanity, she submitted herself to further education and training and in May 2012 Reverend Hargrave received a Master of Divinity from Palmer Theological Seminary where she was awarded the Harriet B. Paullin Scripture Reading Award.  She is currently matriculating in the Doctor of Ministry in Contextual Leadership Program with a focus on Prophetic Preaching and Teaching at Palmer (projected completion May 2021).
Reverend Hargrave’s journey of Christian service has led her to assist from the pew to the pulpit.  She was a faithful servant at Redemptive Life Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she was ordained a Deacon by Reverends Louis C. and Sylvia B. Earls.  She later became an active member of Bethany Baptist Church, Lindenwold, New Jersey pastored by Bishop David G. Evans where she served as an advocate for victims of domestic violence.  During her theological field education and pastoral internships, Reverend Hargrave served by teaching, preaching and ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Cathedral of Praise Community Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania pastored by Rev. Dr. LaVerne Adams, the Simpson House, a senior citizen residential home, and Mount Olivet Tabernacle Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Currently, Reverend Hargrave serves as an Associate Pastor at Mount Olivet Tabernacle Baptist Church under the leadership of the Reverend Andre L. Price, M.Div.  At Mount Olivet, she provides ministerial and administrative support to the ministry.  Her ministry experience includes oversight of Christian education and leadership to God’s Daughters Women’s Ministry.  In addition to her ministerial responsibilities, she serves as the Director and an Adjunct Professor in Eastern’s School of Christian Ministry at Palmer Theological Seminary and participates in the Micah Group of Fuller Theological Seminary – Ogilvie Institute of Preaching, where her spiritual journey continues to be nurtured and guided in a community of diverse Christian leaders.  She is a member of the Academy of Homiletics, the Baptist Pastors and Ministers Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity, the Pastors and Ministers Conference of Camden County, New Jersey, the Fellowship of Women Clergy, as well as the Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia.  She is a co-author of a “Legacy Journal” which provides testimony of God’s rewards to pursuing Him in prayer.
            God has prepared Reverend Hargrave to preach the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, heal the brokenhearted, announce freedom to the captives, comfort those who mourn, and restore sight to the spiritually blind in this generation. (Isaiah 61:1-2)  The Lord has truly blessed and anointed her to minister to those who are hurting and in need of restoration and renewal.
Reverend Hargrave was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by Rev. Dr. Adetokunbo A. Adelekan, Ph.D. with the affirmation of the church, on March 12, 2016.  Her life Scripture is Jeremiah 29:11.  “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  The revelation received through this Scripture has reinforced that God has always had His eye on her and had designs for her glorious living all of which are part of the overall purpose He is performing in her life.  It is because of this revelation that Reverend Hargrave walks and serves in the assurance that Jehovah God will always be present with her and has her best interest in His heart.