New Birth Baptist Church

 

On March 7, 1961, under the leadership of the late Rev. George F. Henry, a small number assembled in the church house of the Saints of God in Christ, located at 401 New York Ave. NW. 

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In 1963 the church was officially organized and named “New Birth Baptist Church” and the congregation moved to a church building located at 1200 Kirby Street, NW. Under Rev. Henry’s leadership, the following organizations were formed: Deacon Board, Deaconess Board, Trustee Board, Senior Choir, New Birth Echoes, Usher Board, Pastor’s Aid and Flower Club.

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In 1977, Rev. Henry was called to pastor the First Baptist Church of Charity, in Charity, North Carolina.  We thank God for his wise, strong, and loving leadership. 

From 1977 through 1979, Rev. Nolan Williams, from the First Baptist Church of Vienna (Vienna, Virginia) served as our Pastor Elect. 

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In 1979, the late Rev. Ronald W. Divers was installed and ordained the Pastor.  Pastor Divers organized several organizations which included the Lamb of God Choir, Traveling Choir, Youth Fellowship Advisory Board, Junior Ushers and Culinary Committee. In January 1986, a mortgage burning service was held, thus relieving the church of a mortgage. The church voted the late Sister Mertes Ray as the “Mother of the Church” in 1991. 

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In June 1994, Rev. Divers resigned as the Pastor of New Birth.  In November, the church extended the call for the Pastorate to Rev. William M. Gregory.  Rev. Gregory accepted the call and became the Pastor elect in December.  On February 12, 1995, Rev. Gregory was installed as Pastor. Several singing groups and ministries were formed under Reverend Gregory’s leadership.  They include: The Volunteer Choir, Youth Ministry, Missionary Ministry and the Pastor’s Aide Ministry.  

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The late Sister Elizabeth Thomas was named the “Mother of the Church” in 1997.  Sister Jarice Parish was named the “Mother of the Church” following Sister Thomas’s death.

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Around 2005 Pastor Gregory licensed the first female ministers to serve at the New Birth Baptist Church: Minister Janice Cason, and Minister Polly Henry.  Other Ministers have also been licensed; those include Minister Alvin Tobe, Minister Rosa Burbridge, Minister Sheila Gregory, and Minister DaMeda Lewis. Other ministers have served at New Birth also, they include Rev. Bryant Stewart, Minister William R. Gregory, and Rev. Jason Grimes. 

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In 2012 Brother Brandon Stewart started worshipping with us and Rev. Gregory appointed him Minister of Music. At that time, My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), the church’s band, was formed. 

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In 2020, like many places of worship worldwide, New Birth was faced with the obstacle of having to temporarily close its doors due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Although the members could not worship in person, services continued through multiple virtual platforms. God continued to bless New Birth throughout the pandemic and in late 2022, the Lord allowed the church body to return to in-person services, with COVID precautions still in place.

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Over the course of New Birth’s 60+ years, the church has hosted several outreach activities such as clothing and toiletry drives for the homeless, donations of activity kits for patients at Children’s Hospital and hygiene packets for patient caregivers, monetary and food donations to feed homeless families in the city, book drives, support of the sick and shut in and providing benevolent services to the bereaved.

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We thank and praise God for the new Christian converts who have prayerfully decided to join the New Birth family.  We continue to trust God to provide the wisdom and patience to maintain a spirit of excellence in ministry as well as a heart to serve others. We thank God for allowing the doors of New Birth Baptist Church to remain open for over 60 years. It is our prayer that we will continue to care for His people and that we faithfully worship and fellowship in the community for many years to come.