Rev. Larry Ashley - Pastor, Cosmopolitan Baptist Church (Oakland)

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 that his parents demonstrated would be the tool he needed that would assist him for the remainder of his life.

Pastor Larry and his mother moved to Alameda California in 1957 to unite with other members of their family. He attended school in the city of Alameda for one year before moving to Oakland. In Oakland, Pastor Ashley continued his education and graduated from Oakland High School in 1963. It was during this period of his life that he felt the call of God on his life to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Upon his graduation, Pastor Ashley attended Biola University in La Mirada California for two years.

In 1965 he was drafted into the United States Army and received an honorable discharge in 1967. Shortly after his discharge he enrolled into 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 the service of God. He enrolled in Bay Cities Bible Institute and graduated from Patten University 1997, receiving his B.S. degree in Pastoral Studies.

In 1990, he was elected to be 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. He and his wife are the proud grandparents of nine grandchildren.

Cosmopolitan Baptist Church: http://www.cosmobaptist.org