Like Father, Like Son
By Sharon Mager
COCKEYSVILLE, Md
. — August 17 was a special day for Justin Manry and his father, John. Serving as interim pastor of
Cockeysville Baptist Church for the past two years, John passed the mantle to Justin, who was called and installed as senior pastor.
Justin Manry (l) was installed as pastor of Cockeysville Baptist Church. Justin’s father, John Manry, was serving as the interim. (Photo courtesy of the Manry family)
Justin said growing up as a pastor’s kid at North Harford Baptist Church, where John served as senior pastor from 1986 to his retirement in 2023, meant church on Sunday mornings and evenings, and on Wednesdays — it was the rhythm of life. And that was okay! “I was there from when I was born — even before that, really — until I was about 24 and went off to seminary,” he said.
He loved his church-centered life and made a profession of faith early, kneeling by his bedside with his mother, Jody. “I prayed and asked Jesus to be my Savior. At eight, my dad baptized me.”
Justin said his parents loved him, and his dad always made time for the family. “My dad was always there for us, even when he had to attend meetings or was busy. We had Saturday family time, where we would do a devotional, pray, and then we would play a game or watch a show. It was always a positive experience for me.”
John did not pressure his children, said Justin. “My dad never told us to go into the ministry; he was always supportive of whatever we wanted to do.” His brother Jared is a mechanical engineer; Jordan is a registered nurse and active in ministry at
Connecting Church, Edgewood; Jessica serves in the area of elder care/special needs care; and Jason is an associate pastor at
First Baptist Church of Perryville.
Justin’s path to ministry began with his involvement in the youth group. “That’s where I got some of my first opportunities to serve, going on mission trips, and being part of the youth worship band. That’s where I developed some of those skills and leadership. When I graduated from high school, my youth pastor asked me to stay and help with the worship band. I went to Towson University and commuted back and forth, and kept serving at North Harford. I was also involved in the
Baptist Collegiate Ministry and got to lead some Bible studies. Each step along the way God just started to put a passion in my heart for ministry,” he said.
Although he studied mass communication with a theater minor, Justin said his true calling was leading worship, Bible study, and teaching. After graduating from Towson University, he began attending
Southern Seminary online, then completed his Master of Divinity on the Kentucky campus, where he met his wife, Rebecca, who served as communications director for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. They married in 2017.
His first pastoral role was as a student pastor at Harvest Fields Baptist Church in Tennessee, and the church invited John to be part of Justin’s ordination council.in 2018. “I think that was really special for him,” Justin said. At Harvest, God used Justin to double the youth group and to collaborate with other small churches to create a broader youth “community.”
In 2020, Justin and Rebecca moved to Southern Maryland to serve at
Emmanuel Church in Huntingtown, growing the youth group to about 30 students. Senior Pastor Rick Hancock encouraged him to consider senior pastor roles and to pray about it.
As Justin prayed and observed what his father was doing at Cockeysville, he felt God giving him a passion for a local church that may be struggling — to see how God could move in a revitalization process. Visiting Cockeysville Church, he and Rebecca loved the people and were excited about the opportunities. “Right across from the church is a middle school, and there’s a walkable neighborhood. Right down the street is a shopping center. The possibilities were amazing.” Although the church is not able to currently support a full-time pastor, God provided Justin with a position at Perry Hall Christian Academy as a technology teacher. After working with the search committee and completing the candidate process, the church unanimously called Justin as lead pastor.
Justin and Rebecca Manry with their children, Lydia, five; William (Will), three; and Rachel, five months.
John said, “It was Justin’s willingness to go to a bi-vocational position that surprised me. When he applied, I dismissed myself from the Search Committee process and prayed that God’s will be done. I am very thankful that Justin is at Cockeysville. He will faithfully minister the Word of God, love the people, and seek to reach the community. The church looks like the community, wants to reach the community, is committed to doctrinal integrity, has invested leaders, and is a caring, praying fellowship that loves the Word of God.”
Justin and Rebecca now have three children: Lydia, five; William (Will), three; and Rachel, five months. The children have already brought excitement to the church, sparking hope for more families and children to attend.
Looking ahead, Justin hopes to start Sunday School and Wednesday night family nights. “I know it’s slow and steady. I want to build trust, relationship and community, and lead from a place of knowing the culture of the church and where God has led me to lead,” he said.
Sharon Mager serves as BCM/D News Editor and Communications Specialist
