Meet The Pastor
Senior Pastor and Founder Dr Ronnie Mathis
Dr. Ronnie J. Mathis
Senior Pastor Crossing Jordan Baptist church
Executive Director
South Georgia Partnership to End Homelessness and
Senior Volunteer Connection
Dr. Ronnie J. Mathis Born September 25, 1962, came to Valdosta, Georgia in November 1993. Dr. Mathis knew at age 7, he was called of God into the ministry. Dr. Mathis was born in Macon County, Georgia. Married to Betty J Mathis 26 years; 5 children and several wonderful grands.
• Licensed to preach February 1970
• Called to pastor first church June 1976 at age of 13
• He was educated in the Dooly County Public-School System.
• He received his formal studies at the University of Tennessee, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
• His further academic achievements include a Diploma in Theology from Turner Theological Seminary-Macon, Georgia,
• Master’s degree from Gulf Coast Seminary in Panama City, Florida majoring in Church Administration,
• Doctorate in Divinity from Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, Georgia.
While preaching for 54 years and Pastoring for 49 years he was called to engage in various mission work in the community. There he conceived the idea of starting a community-based service organization.
• In 1996, he organized a local private, nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing people from every sector of the community life, to improve the conditions of disadvantaged and economically distressed areas of Valdosta.
• Later he diversified into such areas as highway safety education, as Regional Director for the Governor's Office of Highway Safety appointed by Former Governor Roy Barnes. Dr. Mathis distributed over 800 car and booster seats to needy families in the public schools of Clyattville Elementary and Pinevale/Lomax Elementary. Dr. Mathis went on to organize the Greater Lowndes Coalition of Highway Safety. He serves as Executive Director to the Board of Advisors.
• Looking to improve the problem solving of those community situations that needed fixing, he gained valuable experience dealing with them; he then took them to local leaders with good problem-solving experience. This concept of building strong collaborative efforts allowed them to come up with several viable solutions to improve academic success and solve problems, reduce school and neighborhood violence, alcohol, drugs and tobacco use, and to build character and competence of young people-in the areas of childcare, after-school programs, youth leadership programs (boy scout and girl scout) and affordable housing.
• Serving as Executive Director of South Georgia Partnership to End Homelessness, Dr. Mathis has helped to reorganize the South-Central Georgia Homeless Task Force. Dr. Mathis gained the attention of the homeless population in region 11.
Dr. Mathis is the recipient of numerous local and state awards and public recognition.
• Governor's Office of Highway Safety Community Partnership Award.
• Featured in the National U.S.A. Today newspaper
• Featured on Tom Joiner National Radio Talk Show.
• Georgia Civil Justice Foundation
• Georgia Association of Law Enforcement Chaplains
• Governor’s Office Of Transition, Support and Reentry
• 2015 American Red Cross Community Hero
• Georgia Bureau of Investigation Training Certificate (Security & Integrity)
• Nominated for 2017 Stakeholder of the Year for Department of Community Supervision
• In addition to his highway safety education programs, youth community service outreach programs have been featured in the Valdosta Daily Times newspaper and local and state major television news networks.
• His highway safety education and youth community outreach service program receive unwavering leadership and community support from several public and private schools, area colleges, judicial, law enforcement, and government highway safety agencies throughout the United States.
Dr. Mathis presently serves on various community boards:
• Executive Director, South Georgia Partnership to End Homelessness.
• Executive Director, Senior Volunteer Connection
• Chaplain, Valdosta Police Department and Valdosta Fire Department.
• President, Valdosta Area Ministerial Association.
• Advisor, Concerned Clergy’s of Valdosta
• CEO, Crossing Jordan Landing.
• Senior Pastor, Crossing Jordan Baptist Church.
• Hearing Officer, Department of Community Affairs.
• Greater Lowndes Coalition of Highway Safety Board of Advisors
• Governor’s Office of Transition, Support & Recovery
• Governor’s Office Healing Communities Initiative
• Southwest Central Georgia Homeless Taskforce
Dr. Mathis previously served on various community boards:
• National Habitat for Humanities.
• City of Valdosta Community Development Department Key We Housing Coalition;
• Georgia Medical Center, Institution Review Board.
• Weed & Seed Board of Advisors.
• ECHAD, Inc.
• Jimmy Carter Work Project 2003-Registration Committee.
• CUEE Board Member.
• Better Neighborhood and Housing.
• L.A.M.P.
• Foster Grand Parents Board.