Rev. Dr. Kimberly Credit Paterson, New Jersey Obituary

Rev. Dr. Kimberly Credit

Suddenly, without warning, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Credit peacefully entered eternal rest on April 5, 2021. Life’s Journey for Kimberly Credit began April 20th, 1976 in the city of Paterson, New Jersey where she was born the only daughter of the late Laverne Taylor and Lou Genia Alford and the only sister to her brother Jeffrey Alford. She achieved her formal education in the Paterson school system, receiving a BA Degree in Psychology from William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ. Kimberly became a widow at a young age and was the mother to one son Litherain Alford (Rain) who is currently completing graduate school. A Time of Spiritual Growth and Accomplishments was evident in the life of Kimberly Credit. She accepted the Lord as her personal Savior and surrendered her all to Him in 2001, considering herself a “Progressive Liberal”, working out of the box as she outreached for lost souls. She was governed and guided by the God of the scriptures and the Lord’s spirit. Beneath the core of fundamentalism Kimberly experienced deeper and greater TRUTH! She enjoyed reading, traveling and was passionate as she invested in Pastors, Preachers and Godly Leaders in the outreach to save souls and further The Help Ministries. A Time to Live and fulfill Purpose created a thirst in Kimberly for the word of God and a passion to study and excel in much knowledge and wisdom to rightly divide the word of Truth. Her educational accomplishments included a Master’s in Divinities and a PhD in Homiletics and Christian Apologetics from the New York Theological Seminary in 2012 and 2015 respectively, also including work in Forensic Psychology. Her PhD of Ministry dissertation focused heavily on Homiletics and Christian Apologetics. She was an adjunct professor at the Payne Theological Seminary at the same time she was pastoring in Boonton, NJ. God used her in many avenues, and she never ceased to allow one to see that she was not so Heavenly bound that she was no earthly good…. She enjoyed cooking, art, Tupac, Biggie, Daniel Kaluuya, Rege-Jean Page, 90-day Fiancé’, Charles Stanley, and reading by candlelight while listening to Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2. She was also an avid horse rider and owner for a period of time. A Time to Serve, a mandate in Kingdom Building: Dr. Credit’s life was enriched as she began humbly serving at the Grace Chapel Baptist Church of Paterson, NJ, under the leadership of Pastor Gregory L. Wilson, and at St. Paul’s Baptist Church of Passaic, NJ, under the leadership of Rev. Carey McCall (Her spiritual Father). As she served, God began revealing more of His WILL in her life. A Time of Answering A Higher Calling: Dr. Kimberly Credit became the illustrious, esteemed first female and seventh Pastor at the 100-year-old Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Boonton Township, NJ. She was elected Pastor on December 19, 2015 with over 95% of the vote. She was a theologian and a Christian apologist. There she led and fed the flock of God toward their spiritual wholeness and divine purpose, advancing the ideas of the Gospel and sharing the love of Christ. She worked diligently developing disciples for social engagement and responsibility in the surrounding community, both locally and globally. Her ministry model was Luke 4:18 “Liberation, Restoration, Healing and Empowerment. In addition to Dr. Credit’s former accomplishments and Pastoral Ministry, her foundation of education and her qualities assisted her in directing the Doctor of Ministry Cohort for the Transformational Preaching at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio (2018) and She successfully designed and served as the Doctor of Ministry Cohort Director of the Inaugural Transformational Preaching Program at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, until her resignation in January 2018. As an adjunct professor of Homiletics, she also taught at New York Theological Seminary and Nyack Christian College. Founding, writing and Producing for Kingdom Building: Dr. Credit is the Founder and Director of “The Preaching Lab,” a monthly preaching clinic where she provided coaching and training for preachers. She also served as the Vice President of the African American Clergy Association of Morris County, N.J. and served on the Advisory Board of the IC3 Church Growth & Development Conference in Houston, TX. She traveled regularly to preach, lecture, and train preachers and leaders across the nation. As a part of her legacy, she is the author of Prophetic Apologetics: Eyeleting the Culture; Equipping the Church, Fifty Shades to Being a Female Preacher, and Thirteen Crucial Lessons for the New Pastor; from the book of Nehemiah. Dr. Credit had the honor of being the first female and first African American to present in the National Conference on Christian Apologetics, the first female preacher to present in the E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference and remained an annual speaker. In addition, on April 4, 2019, Dr. Credit had the esteemed honor of being inducted into Morehouse College’s MLK Board of Preachers. Dr. Kimberly Credit faithfully served nearly 45 years, touching lives, tirelessly giving of her time and it is truthful to say that her life summed up would be vivacious, influential, impactful, eloquent, passionate, generous, demanding, meticulous and anointed. Preceded in death by: Her Father Laverne Taylor, her Mother Lou Genia Alford and her nephew Jeffrey T. Dickson. A Time to Mourn: She leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved son - Litherain Alford (Rain), beloved brother, Jeffrey Alford, her niece Margaux Alford, her nephew Jaiden Lee, her beloved Aunt Sarah Alford, Evelyn and Murray Shaw (family of her Ministry) a devoted ministerial staff, the congregation of Mt. Zion – a loving church family, her doctoral students, a host of preachers, pastors, and friends whose lives were indelibly impacted by her ministry. Dr. Kimberly Credit was dearly loved and will be greatly missed, but God loved her best and we say in humble submission, “Thy Will Be Done” The Family and Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Boonton Township
April 20, 1976 - April 5, 202104/20/197604/05/2021
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Suddenly, without warning, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Credit peacefully entered eternal rest on April 5, 2021. Life’s Journey for Kimberly Credit began April 20th, 1976 in the city of Paterson, New Jersey where she was born the only daughter of the late Laverne Taylor and Lou Genia Alford and the only sister to her brother Jeffrey Alford. She achieved her formal education in the Paterson school system, receiving a BA Degree in Psychology from William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ. Kimberly became a widow at a young age and was the mother to one son Litherain Alford (Rain) who is currently completing graduate school. A Time of Spiritual Growth and Accomplishments was evident in the life of Kimberly Credit. She accepted the Lord as her personal Savior and surrendered her all to Him in 2001, considering herself a “Progressive Liberal”, working out of the box as she outreached for lost souls. She was governed and guided by the God of the scriptures and the Lord’s spirit. Beneath the core of fundamentalism Kimberly experienced deeper and greater TRUTH! She enjoyed reading, traveling and was passionate as she invested in Pastors, Preachers and Godly Leaders in the outreach to save souls and further The Help Ministries. A Time to Live and fulfill Purpose created a thirst in Kimberly for the word of God and a passion to study and excel in much knowledge and wisdom to rightly divide the word of Truth. Her educational accomplishments included a Master’s in Divinities and a PhD in Homiletics and Christian Apologetics from the New York Theological Seminary in 2012 and 2015 respectively, also including work in Forensic Psychology. Her PhD of Ministry dissertation focused heavily on Homiletics and Christian Apologetics. She was an adjunct professor at the Payne Theological Seminary at the same time she was pastoring in Boonton, NJ. God used her in many avenues, and she never ceased to allow one to see that she was not so Heavenly bound that she was no earthly good…. She enjoyed cooking, art, Tupac, Biggie, Daniel Kaluuya, Rege-Jean Page, 90-day Fiancé’, Charles Stanley, and reading by candlelight while listening to Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2. She was also an avid horse rider and owner for a period of time. A Time to Serve, a mandate in Kingdom Building: Dr. Credit’s life was enriched as she began humbly serving at the Grace Chapel Baptist Church of Paterson, NJ, under the leadership of Pastor Gregory L. Wilson, and at St. Paul’s Baptist Church of Passaic, NJ, under the leadership of Rev. Carey McCall (Her spiritual Father). As she served, God began revealing more of His WILL in her life. A Time of Answering A Higher Calling: Dr. Kimberly Credit became the illustrious, esteemed first female and seventh Pastor at the 100-year-old Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Boonton Township, NJ. She was elected Pastor on December 19, 2015 with over 95% of the vote. She was a theologian and a Christian apologist. There she led and fed the flock of God toward their spiritual wholeness and divine purpose, advancing the ideas of the Gospel and sharing the love of Christ. She worked diligently developing disciples for social engagement and responsibility in the surrounding community, both locally and globally. Her ministry model was Luke 4:18 “Liberation, Restoration, Healing and Empowerment. In addition to Dr. Credit’s former accomplishments and Pastoral Ministry, her foundation of education and her qualities assisted her in directing the Doctor of Ministry Cohort for the Transformational Preaching at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio (2018) and She successfully designed and served as the Doctor of Ministry Cohort Director of the Inaugural Transformational Preaching Program at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, until her resignation in January 2018. As an adjunct professor of Homiletics, she also taught at New York Theological Seminary and Nyack Christian College. Founding, writing and Producing for Kingdom Building: Dr. Credit is the Founder and Director of “The Preaching Lab,” a monthly preaching clinic where she provided coaching and training for preachers. She also served as the Vice President of the African American Clergy Association of Morris County, N.J. and served on the Advisory Board of the IC3 Church Growth & Development Conference in Houston, TX. She traveled regularly to preach, lecture, and train preachers and leaders across the nation. As a part of her legacy, she is the author of Prophetic Apologetics: Eyeleting the Culture; Equipping the Church, Fifty Shades to Being a Female Preacher, and Thirteen Crucial Lessons for the New Pastor; from the book of Nehemiah. Dr. Credit had the honor of being the first female and first African American to present in the National Conference on Christian Apologetics, the first female preacher to present in the E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference and remained an annual speaker. In addition, on April 4, 2019, Dr. Credit had the esteemed honor of being inducted into Morehouse College’s MLK Board of Preachers. Dr. Kimberly Credit faithfully served nearly 45 years, touching lives, tirelessly giving of her time and it is truthful to say that her life summed up would be vivacious, influential, impactful, eloquent, passionate, generous, demanding, meticulous and anointed. Preceded in death by: Her Father Laverne Taylor, her Mother Lou Genia Alford and her nephew Jeffrey T. Dickson. A Time to Mourn: She leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved son - Litherain Alford (Rain), beloved brother, Jeffrey Alford, her niece Margaux Alford, her nephew Jaiden Lee, her beloved Aunt Sarah Alford, Evelyn and Murray Shaw (family of her Ministry) a devoted ministerial staff, the congregation of Mt. Zion – a loving church family, her doctoral students, a host of preachers, pastors, and friends whose lives were indelibly impacted by her ministry. Dr. Kimberly Credit was dearly loved and will be greatly missed, but God loved her best and we say in humble submission, “Thy Will Be Done” The Family and Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Boonton Township

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Events

Apr
16
Visitation
Friday, April 16 2021
12:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
4 Church Road
Boonton, NJ 07005
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Apr
17
Visitation
Saturday, April 17 2021
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Calvary Baptist Church
10 Martin Luther King Ave
Morristown, NJ 07960
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Apr
17
Service
Saturday, April 17 2021
12:00 PM
Calvary Baptist Church
575 East 18th St.
Paterson, NJ 07514
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Apr
19
Cremation
Monday, April 19 2021
10:00 AM
Cedar Lawn Crematory
200 McLean Blvd
Paterson, NJ 07504
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