Our Team

Pastor Teja Smith received her license to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ on March 18th, 2007, at the First Baptist Church of Oakeola in Glenolden, Pennslyvania, under the leadership of Pastor W. Lonnie Herndon.

Since accepting her calling into ministry of the Gospel, Reverend Teja Smith has been gifted and anointed to serve God in many capacities. Among her expansive service to others under the banner of the Christ, Reverend Teja has served in the following capacities: as a Sunday School instructor, an evening Bible Study teacher, an educator in Women’s Discipleship and Vacation Bible School, led as a dynamic Evangelism Ministry Leader, and as the Superintendent over Missionary Circle Groups.

Serving God with heart and mind, Pastor Smith’s formal, theological and academic background is comprised of many components.  Her foundation began with monthly Ministers’ Training sessions at Compassion Ministries in Philadelphia, PA from 2008 through 2012. In 2011, Reverend Smith attended Gratz College in Melrose, PA after being drawn to their vision of inspiring life-long learners. It was at Gratz College that Pastor Smith received continuing education credits, which she then combined with her studies at Eastern University’s Palmer Theological Seminary in Wynnewood, PA. Her theological training concentration while attending Palmer Theological Seminary was Biblical and Theological Studies. As evidenced by her theological and academic career, Pastor Teja Smith is indeed a lover, devotee, and student of God’s Holy Scriptures.

As if being a student of God’s Word was not enough, Reverend Teja Smith is committed to sharing her passion for embracing, understanding, and properly teaching the Bible. Since September 2017, Pastor Smith has been employed as a Professor of Biblical Studies for Transfiguration Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. Teaching from a wide range of topics, Pastor Teja Smith is devoted to the coming generations of pastors, ministers, and laypersons properly handling the Scriptures.

In addition to her theological attentions, Pastor Smith is also a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Having received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1999, she matriculated with distinguished honors in secondary Mathematics and taught mathematics in the Philadelphia School District from 2005 to 2021. Pastor Smith made the transition into full-time ministry at the end of 2021. In addition to being a mentor, counselor, and life coach, much of her ministerial focus can be found on her YouTube channel, Living Water with Teja Smith. There you can enjoy a daily devotional Word (Jump Start with Jesus),  as well as Bible commentaries on various books of the Bible.

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Mark A. Cooper is the second child of Jesse and Rebekah Cooper. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa. He attended The Light of The World Chapel under Pastor Thomas Ridley. He was taught to read the bible at a young age, and the evangelism and prayers of his mother and Aunt Josephine Smith was fruitful. At age five he attended a Youth Christian rally at Town Hall in Philadelphia where he went forward to accept Christ as his Savior. He was baptized at age seven by Pastor John Green Jr. of the Christ Baptist Church where he became a member. At age 15 he dedicated his life to serve God while attending Camp Streamside. The following year he responded to an invitation to serve God as a missionary after a sermon by Rev. Joe Jeter of Have Christ Will Travel Missions. That summer he went on his first missions trip to Macon Georgia with Tim Green and Jimmy Griffin. There they worked as Counselor at the Crossroads Bible Camp under Rev. Reginald Shipley. After attending Northeastern Christian Jr. College in Villanova Pa. Rev. Cooper transferred to Geneva College in Beaver Falls and completed his B.A. in Communication Arts. In 1985 he was ordained as a deacon at Christ Baptist Church. Because of his love for missions Rev. Cooper took his first short term mission trip to Ivory Coast West Africa in the summer of 1985. In 1991 he was licensed as a minister of the Gospel at Christ Baptist Church and ordained in 1996 under the pastorship of Rev. John Green Jr. He started the Solid Rock Outreach Ministry to make summer camp available to inner-city youth in Philadelphia. He was made steward over a 48 acre neglected camp property in Lake Lure NC by Evangelist Charles Williams. He put together a team of workers and did restoration work and ran summer camp for seven years. In the winter of 1996 with Pastor John Green Jr. he returned to the Ivory Coast where they spent a month ministering with Daisie Whaley, preaching in small villages in the bush regions. Rev. Cooper researched and self published the book “Dear Father: Letters to Frederick Douglass from His Children” and composer of praise and worship music. In 2002 he married Dr. Crystal Robertson Cooper. In the winter of 2009 they planted the Crossroads Fellowship Church in Royersford, Pa. which was a mobile church that met in a local school. In the spring of 2013 he met a neighbor Ted Josey in Perkiomen Twp area of Montgomery County Pa. After discussion and prayer they started The Simon Fellowship, a Men’s Bible Study group that has continued to meet once a month. The aim of the group is to help men to grow in God’s grace and knowledge, and have an impact on the lives of others.

Dr. Crystal Robertson Cooper MDiv.,MD was born and raised in Philadelphia. She graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls and went on to attend the prestigious Bryn Mawr College graduating in the class of 1983. In 1989 she graduated from the Hahnemann School of Medicine and completed her work as a Resident of Internal Medicine at Reading Hospital. She had a successful community based private practice which she maintained until 2000. At that time Dr. Cooper realized God had always been calling her to minister to people by addressing their spiritual needs as well as their physical needs. In 2003 her childhood pastor Rev. James S. Hall Jr. of Triumph Baptist Church licensed her to preach the Gospel. In August of 2004 she graduated with her Master of Divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, Pa. She is married to Rev. Mark A. Cooper and together they are active in ministry. They share an affinity to reach youth and young adults for God. Pastor Cooper’s ministry has included programs like “Woman’s Healing Day” which drew hurting woman throughout the Tri-State area. She has also taught young adult and woman’s, and congregational bible study groups. Rev. Cooper has been a guest preacher for numerousWomen’s Days and Church Anniversaries throughout the area. Her passions include helping fellow Pastors in need of sabbatical breaks. In April 26th 2009 Rev. Mark Cooper convened an ordination council led by Rev. William Balls of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Pottstown, Pa. Upon passing examination by the council Pastor Crystal was Ordained as a Minister of the Gospel at the Crossroads Fellowship Church in Royersford, Pa. Pastor Cooper has used her expertise in leading the Women’s Fellowship at the Triumph Baptist Church organizing a successful Children’s Christmas Angel Outreach, and Handbags of Hope, which ministered to women in shelters. Her unique vision for organizing can be seen in the renovation of the Bible Baptist Church of Christ. She was instrumental in bringing ideas and contractors together to create a warm and inviting place of worship and fellowship. Rev. Cooper is blessed to be the proud Aunt of numerous young people. Some through blood and others through the spirit.

Coming Soon …