Crystal E. Ward lives by her personal motto: “To inspire, to motivate, and to connect.”
She currently serves as the Executive Pastor at Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she integrates spiritual leadership with strategic oversight. In addition to preaching and pastoral care, she leads operations, administration, finance, and human resources, ensuring the church’s vision is effectively translated into meaningful action.
Crystal brings nearly two decades of leadership experience across the corporate, nonprofit, and faith-based sectors. Before answering the call to full-time ministry, she served as Senior Vice President at Citibank and Vice President at JPMorgan, where she specialized in relationship management and financial analysis while honing her skills in leadership, strategy, and organizational development.
She holds a Master of Divinity from Andrews Theological Seminary, a Master of Public Administration in Management, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business. She also earned an Executive Management Certificate from Columbia University Business School and is a certified Life Coach through the CAPP Institute.
Her pastoral training includes certifications in Grief Counseling, Marriage Counseling (Prepare and Enrich), Clinical Pastoral Education, and she is an endorsed Community Chaplain by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists.
In addition to her pastoral and leadership roles, Crystal serves on the board of the New Majority Capital Foundation, advancing initiatives that empower underrepresented entrepreneurs and communities.
Passionate about leadership, counseling, and coaching, Crystal equips individuals and organizations with tools to grow, lead, and thrive. She is dedicated to serving God in every aspect of her work, helping others unlock their full potential while staying rooted in faith and purpose.
Crystal deeply values her family—especially her siblings—and finds joy in nature, hiking, and her new favorite pastime: pickleball.