Dr. Darrow Perkins, Jr. was born in August 1965 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the fourth of five children of Lilly and the late Darrow Perkins, Sr. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized at the Beech Grove Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, LA under the pastorate of the Rev. Alexander. In 1975, the family relocated to New Orleans, LA where he graduated from West Jefferson High School in Harvey, Louisiana on May 10, 1983. After graduation, he entered the U. S. Marine Corps on May 26, 1983.
He rededicated his life to the Lord in March of 1990 at the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Okinawa, Japan under the pastorate of the Rev. Charles S. Reynolds, Sr., where he was ordained a Deacon in February 1991. During June 1991, he was transferred to Millington, Tennessee and became a member of the First Baptist Church (now Historical First Baptist Church) under the pastorate of the Rev. Quintin R. Smith, Sr., where he accepted his call into the Gospel Ministry in December 1992. He preached his first sermon and was licensed to preach the Gospel in April 1993, then ordained to preach the Gospel in November 1993. Due to military reassignment, the family relocated to San Diego, CA and in August 1995, he became a member of the Linda Vista Second Baptist Church in San Diego, CA under the pastorate of Dr. David C. Greene. There he served as a Sunday School Teacher, Minister of Evangelism and Outreach, Techniques of Teaching Instructor, Pastor of Christian Education, and implemented and served as the first Facilitator for the Marriage Enrichment Ministry. He began his current work in the Lord as the Pastor of Mesa View Baptist Church in May 2002. Since assuming the pastorate, the church has grown, ministries have increased, and God has “enlarged our territory” with the multi-million dollar purchase of our current church campus in Poway, CA in 2012.
During his time in the U. S. Marine Corps, Dr. Perkins had duty stations in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines; New Orleans, LA; Okinawa, Japan, Millington, TN, Oceanside and San Diego, CA. While stationed in Oceanside, he deployed twice to the Persian Gulf region prior to the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 with Battalion Landing Team 1/1, attached with both the 13th and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units.
He served his country honorably and retired from the United States Marine Corps as a Chief Warrant Officer W3 on September 1, 2003 after 20 years of honest and faithful service. For his service, he received numerous medals, awards, and commendations.
Prior to retiring from the Marine Corps, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology (Summa Cum Laude) in April 1998, his Master’s Degree in Theology (Summa Cum Laude) in October 2000, and his Doctorate Degree in Theology in May 2001 from the Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, GA, and in 2023, he completed the Doctor of Ministry degree with emphasis in Pastoral Leadership, also from the Andersonville Theological Seminary (www.andersonvilleseminary.com).
In addition to his current responsibilities, Dr. Perkins facilitated a Marriage Enrichment Conference in Monroe, NC and a Marriage Enrichment Cruise aboard the MS Paradise to the Cayman Islands and Jamaica. He was an instructor for Immanuel Bible College in Lemon Grove, CA, and has been a featured contributing writer for the Soul of San Diego Magazine. He has served as the Recording, Corresponding, and the General Secretary for the Progressive Baptist District Association of Southern California; Chairman of the Foreign Mission Board of the California Missionary Baptist State Convention; and as a member of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America.
The Lord has used him to preach in the United States; while on deployment aboard the USS Peleliu; in the Kingdom of Bahrain; teaching pastor’s conferences in Zimbabwe and Malawi, Africa; preaching crusades in Malawi, Africa; and is a conference speaker on Christian Stewardship.
In 2015, he was blessed by the Lord to publish his first book, “Principles of Kingdom Living: How to Live Right in a World Gone Wrong”; his second book entitled, “Which Church Are You? Are You Real or Just Going Through the Motions?” was published in 2017; his third book, “Nahum – From Nineveh to America” was published in 2019; his fourth book, “To Tithe or Not to Tithe? Let’s Answer the Question” was published in 2020; his fifth book, “Striving to Be a W.H.O.L.E. Church Through Worship, Holy Living, Outreach, Leadership, and Evangelism” was published in 2021; his sixth book, “There’s Power in HIS Name” was published in 2022; and his seventh book, “52 Weeks in the Word – A Devotional” was published in 2023. Purchasing and additional information concerning his books can be found here.
In 2018, the San Diego Voice and Viewpoint Newspaper presented him with the “Good Shepherd Award,” and he was selected as “Pastor of the Year – North County” by the San Diego Prestige Awards.
Dr. Perkins and his wife Teresa have been married since August 1985 and have three grown children and two grandchildren.
