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| (Newark, New Jersey) |
has been receiving worldwide attention for being the site
of Whitney Houston’s funeral. However - long before that, and even long before Houston first began performing there at age 11, New Hope had been a steady force for good within the Newark community.
According to its website, The New Hope Baptist Church began as a home-based mission and was first organized in 1903. It then became incorporated on May 1, 1918. New Hope has had only six pastors to date; some of these six served for decades (such as Reverend Terry Redd, who served from 1908 until his death in 1936 – Reverend C. H. Walters, who served from 1937 until his death in 1966 – and Reverend Doctor Charles Everett Thomas, who served from 1968 until his retirement in 1998).
Rev. Dr. Thomas carefully planned his retirement way in advance. During the 1990 National Baptist Convention, Thomas “had the occasion to hear a young preacher from Oklahoma City, OK deliver with resounding power and conviction, the unadulterated Word of God…” This 21-year-old preacher was Pastor Joe A. Carter, who had been preaching the Gospel since age 9. Reverend Dr. Thomas “discerned the spirit of God working in this young preacher,” and Pastor Carter was called to begin serving at New Hope in 1993.
Carter became New Hope’s pastor in 2000, and has served in that capacity ever since. He has proven himself to be a strong “advocate for cohesive change within the community and religious sector by developing and organizing Christian Leaders for Community Empowerment (CLCE)…” Pastor Carter also leads the Vision of Hope Community Development Corporation, which helps with “counseling, substance abuse
referrals, mental health issues, afterschool tutorial program/activities and food and clothing.”
The church website displays this quote from Abdul Taylor: “New Hope Baptist Church is the church to go to if you are looking for powerful word, worship and work.” There are services on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in addition to the three on Sundays, plus “a slew of other ministries…” All this truly offers New Hope in Newark and beyond.
Resources
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-15/entertainment/showbiz_whitney-houston-funeral_1_houston-family-houston-and-brown-cissy?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ
http://www.newhopenewark.org/our-church.php
http://www.newhopenewark.org/our-pastor.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark,_New_Jersey
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