Dr. Marshall F. Prentice is the Pastor of Zion Baptist Church, a progressive, urban congregation in Baltimore, Maryland. His dedication to God’s Kingdom is evident through his leadership in community initiatives supporting seniors, youth empowerment, cultural awareness, homelessness, drug rehabilitation, transitional housing, and outreach missions.
A Pittsburgh native, Pastor Prentice holds degrees in Elementary Education and Theology from Geneva College, a Master’s in Counseling Education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University. He was licensed and ordained at Victory Baptist Church under Dr. Lehman D. Bates and served as Pastor of First Antioch Baptist Church in Greensburgh, PA, before joining Zion in 1985. Under his leadership, Zion has grown spiritually, numerically, and financially.
Pastor Prentice co-founded and served as the first President of Clergy United for the Renewal of East Baltimore (C.U.R.E.) and has held leadership roles in several organizations, including the Progressive Baptist Convention of Maryland and Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (B.U.I.L.D.). His awards include the Ray of Hope Religion Award, Excellence in Leadership, and honorary doctorates in Divinity and Human Letters.
He has preached internationally, including in Africa, and continues to be invited to pulpits across Maryland and beyond. Pastor Prentice is married to Elvira Johnson, and they have three children—Tonya, Preston, and Kevin—and two grandsons, Brandon and Konner. He is guided by Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…”