The Reverend Dr. Valerie Andrews was born in Pompano Beach, Florida, and attended the Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, where she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at the age of 12. In 1977, her family relocated to Philadelphia, where she attended and graduated as Class Salutatorian from the William Penn High School. Rev. Val, as she is fondly called, furthered her education by attending Millersville University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts English, and a Master’s degree in Counseling Education. In 2008, Rev. Andrews graduated from the Palmer Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity, and in December, 2021, she received a Doctoral degree in Management, from the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Her dissertation was entitled: “Designing a Program to Help Urban Pastors Cope with and Manage Compassion Stress”.

During her tenure in graduate school, Reverend Val attended the Bright Side Baptist Church, where the Reverend Dr. Louis A. Butcher, Jr., served as her pastor. She was called to the gospel ministry of preaching and was licensed by this congregation on January 24, 1986. Returning to Philadelphia, she joined the Triumph Baptist Church in 1988, where she served for 17 years under the pastorate of Reverend Dr. James S. Hall, Jr. At Triumph, she served as a Sunday School teacher, member of the Victory Choir, Instructor for the Bible Institute and Servant Leader of the Women’s Ministry. In addition, she was the Principal of the Triumph Christian School and gave vision to and served as the Coordinator of the Partners in Prayer Ministry. In 2005, she was ordained by the Philadelphia Eastern Keystone Baptist Association, and began her studies at the Palmer Theological Seminary. Rev. Val served as an Intern at The Church of the Redeemer Baptist, and in 2007, she joined this body of believers and served on staff as Business Manager for nine years. In this role, she managed the day-to-day operations of the church under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Wayne E. Croft, Sr.

As an advocate of education, Dr. Andrews has been employed by several institutions of Higher Education including Cheyney University, Bucks County Community College, and Harcum College.

In 2013, Dr. Andrews was the Award Recipient of One of One-hundred four Influential Black Women Leaders by the NAACP-Philadelphia Chapter. She has been actively engaged in church ministries including President of the Women’s Division of the Pennsylvania Eastern Keystone Baptist Association, Pastoral Leader of the American Baptist Churches-USA, Consultant for the Prince of Peace Baptist Church Women’s Ministry Leaders, member of the Philadelphia Baptist Minister’s Council, Executive Board Member and Events Coordinator for the American Baptist Women’s Ministries, and Advisory Board Member of the Manna Bible Institute. Dr. Andrews is exceptionally gifted in managing church operations and highly skilled in training church leadership. From 2015-2017, she served as an Instructor at United Lutheran Seminary (formerly, Lutheran, The Philadelphia Seminary), for its Urban Theological Institute Certificate Program; she taught Servant Leadership, Church Administration and Managing Church Conflict at the St. Paul’s Baptist Church’s satellite campus of West Chester, PA. Dr. Andrews formerly served at St. Paul’s as an Associate Minister under Dr. Wayne E. Croft, Sr., and is presently the Pastor of the Eternal Life Missionary Baptist Church, a Liberian congregation in Southwest Philadelphia.

Dr. Andrews is the proud mother of three children: Joy, Jasmine and Ronald Jr. Her life scripture is Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.” Her passion in ministry is to enhance leadership for the Kingdom of God by providing training and tools for church effectiveness!