Dr. Brandon McCrae

Dr. Brandon Isaac McCrae is the son of Elder Diann V. Riley (Pastor Troy), Bishop Wade S. McCrae (Dr. LaConya), and Eldest brother of Brittany Nicole (Tessler), Tyler James, and Immanuel Jamal. Brandon is VERY happily married to the beautiful and brilliant Dr. Erica Breann and the proud father of Benjamin Isaac, Ethan Blake, and Timothy Braxton Wade. They are his life’s joy! Brandon’s life is truly a testament to his motto, “Your Potential is simply your untapped Reality!”

Brandon gained his bearings behind an old Ludwig Vistalite kit during Sunday morning services at then Greater Union Missionary Baptist Church. Gleaning a great knowledge of improvisation, format, and overall musicianship, he would later be elected to attend Georgia’s Governor’s Honors program. It was here that his life would be indelibly altered by meeting Professor Leon Anderson. Brandon would go on to receive a full scholarship and graduate from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Art degree in Jazz Studies and Commercial Music. Shortly after graduation, he returned to Valdosta to diversify his educational portfolio with a teaching assistantship and a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Valdosta State University.

Music has afforded Brandon the opportunity to share the stage with an array of artists, from Jazz icons such as Marcus Roberts, soul music superstar and 12-time Grammy nominee Musiq Soulchild, to Gospel Music revolutionary 3-time Grammy award and 10-time Stellar award-winning Pastor Donnie McClurkin. Most recently, Brandon has traveled the length and breadth of this country and abroad with the 2-time Grammy, 2-time Oscar-winning timeless balladeer, Mr. Peabo Bryson.

On the sacred educational front, Brandon has garnered his Master of Arts degree in Expository Preaching with an emphasis on Christian Apologetics and Philosophy at Trinity Theological Seminary. (Newburgh, IN). Brandon completed his first doctoral work in February 2020, earning a Doctor of Ministry degree from South University’s College of Theology (Savannah, GA). His dissertation was entitled “Through a Tinted Lens: A Series of Seminars Addressing the Influence of Africa on Church History.” Currently, Dr. McCrae is pursuing his Doctorate in Philosophy with a concentration in Leadership at the Evangelical Seminary of Kairos University.

In the true vein of achievement, Brandon was afforded the great privilege of pledging Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated (Valdosta Alumni Chapter) in March 2010.

Dr. McCrae currently serves as Executive Pastor of Development at Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church – The House of Hope ATL, under the incredible leadership of Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr. In this capacity, he provides executive-level leadership for the strategic growth, structural development, and long-term advancement of the ministry. His work centers on building and strengthening the systems that sustain a thriving church, including leadership development, ministry infrastructure, and organizational alignment. Through a combination of theological insight and practical strategy, he helps position the church for scalable impact, ensuring that vision is not only cast, but effectively executed across every level of ministry.

Beyond the local church, Dr. McCrae serves as Overseer of District #4 and Protocol within the Rhema Word Covenant Fellowship of Pastors, where he provides leadership in matters of governance, order, and ministerial alignment across the fellowship. He is also a Consortium Member of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops, contributing to collaborative theological engagement, leadership development, and the advancement of African American Pentecostal scholarship and episcopal praxis.

Within academia, Dr. McCrae serves as Academic Dean at Kerygma University, offering visionary leadership in theological education and ministerial formation. Widely regarded for his expertise in leadership, adjutancy, episcopacy, and worship, he travels extensively to teach, train, and equip leaders for effective Kingdom service, shaping minds through a distinctly Christocentric lens.

In addition to his executive and academic leadership, Dr. McCrae continues to serve as Overseer of Worship and Arts for Christ International Fellowship and as a Musical Director across regional and national platforms. His work in this area reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence in worship, creative expression, and the development of musicians and ministry leaders.