Biographies
Pastor Gerald Anthony Criswell 
Pastor Gerald Anthony Criswell was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He graduated from Mission High School, and continued his studies at City College of San Francisco, Bay Cities Bible Institute, and Conroe Bible College.
Pastor Criswell preached his first sermon in 1979. He was baptized, licensed, and ordained under the leadership of The Late Great Reverend Jame Albert Morgan of the Saint John Baptist in San Francisco. Much praise and thankfulness is given to Pastor J.A. Morgan and Pastor Whiteside who mentored and helped to prepare Pastor Criswell for his ministry. He also thank his father, JC Criswell, for being a great provider and his mother, the late Grace Criswell, for being his first bible teacher.
Pastor Criswell was called to pastor his first Church, St Mark Institutional Baptist Church, in 1995. Several years later in 1998, he was lead to organized New Life Fellowship Baptist of San Francisco where he now serves as pastor.
Pastor Criswell is married to the beautiful Sister Shunda Criswell, a wonderful wife, a loving mother, and a gifted speaker. They have been married for twenty six years and have five children and five grandchildren.
God has used Pastor Criswell to be guest speaker in many churches, to share in revivals, teach in seminars and conferences. His goal is to make disciples for Christ with sound biblical teaching and preaching.
His favorite Scripture is James 1:12, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Come share in the worship experience at the New Life Fellowship Baptist Church and be blessed by the preached word of Pastor Criswell.
Sister Shunda Ashley Criswell
Sister Shunda Ashley Criswell was born in McMomb, Mississippi. She was raised in San Francisco, California where she has lived since she was two years old. Sister Criswell attended the local schools, graduated from St. Paul High School and attended San Jose State University, San Jose, California.
Sis. Criswell accepted Christ at a young age at the New Providence Baptist Church in San Francisco under the late Rev. Clarence E. Scott. She was baptized and very active at New Providence. She was the chaplain of the Young Adult Christian Movement, an usher, sang in the Voices of New Providence choir and served in the Woman’s Auxiliary and the Mission. She allowed God to use her in her gift of exhortation above all. Sis. Criswell’s favorite passage(s) of scripture includes: Psalm 27, Psalm 51, Psalm 91 and Isaiah 41:10.
Sister Criswell is married to Pastor Gerald A. Criswell of 26 years. They have five children and five grandchildren. Sister Criswell joined the St. John Missionary Baptist Church in San Francisco shortly after she and Pastor Criswell were married. She was active in Sunday school, Class 2H, in the Baptist Training Union (BTU), and sang with the Inspirational Choir, Assistant teacher to the Young Women’s Ministry, Assistant teacher in the Women’s Missionary Union (Rebecca Circle) and the Second Vice President of General Mission (WMU). Also, Sis. Criswell served as the past Dean to the Minister Wives and Widows of San Francisco and Bay Area.
Presently, Sis. Criswell is a faithful member of the New Life Fellowship Baptist Church, San Francisco where her husband is founder and pastor. She is a Sunday School Teacher, Young Adult Women’s Spiritual Advisor and Servant-Ministry Leader of God’s Women of Worship Ministry at New Life.
Sister Criswell is the Sunday School Religious Columnist for the Sun Reporter Publishing Company in San Francisco, as well as the Church Editor.
Sister Criswell is truly one of God’s vessels. God has been using her for many years in many areas of His vineyard. She has allowed God to direct her in her ministry, which extend beyond her hometown of San Francisco. Her ministry includes her dedicated service to the Lord as an instructor, guest speaker and facilitator in many churches of various denominations. She has been a featured speaker at Women Retreats, Women Annual Day celebrations, Prayer Breakfast programs, Church Banquets and workshops and seminars through San Francisco and Bay area. Sis. Criswell has been a speaker and guest lecturer for the California State Baptist Convention. She has also served as past Dean for the Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows of San Francisco and Bay Area Council.
Sister Criswell knows “without God, she is nothing … like a ship without a sail.” Her desire is to exercise her gift of exhortation to encourage and inspire the people of God.
