The History of

New Redeemer Baptist Church​​

January 1971 to Present

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On January 30, 1971, sixteen adults along with their children, met at the home of Reverend    John R. Lee and Sister Mary E. Lee with the purpose of organizing a church of Christ.  The results of this meeting were the establishment of a fellowship to be known as New Redeemer Baptist Mission.  The first church service was held on February 7, 1971, at the first church home at 1922 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC.

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In June 1972, 16 months after its inception, New Redeemer Baptist Church entered a permanent edifice, our present location, 5714 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 

Under Rev. Lee’s inspired leadership, and with much prayer, New Redeemer experienced spiritual and financial growth.  The church provided a Christian-based child development center to the community and church family which was fully operational until 1978.  In 1979 Pastor Lee installed a baptismal pool in the Fellowship Hall, an accomplishment deemed “impossible” by former churches occupying the edifice.  After 10 years of faithful and devoted service to New Redeemer, on December 15, 1980, the Lord called Reverend Lee from labor to reward.

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In April 1981, Reverend John T. Rhodes, Assistant to the Pastor, was installed as New Redeemer’s second pastor.  Under his leadership, the Church continued to grow spiritually and financially. He led the major renovations of the church property and the acquisition of Hope House, the property adjacent to the church – it served as classrooms and overflow space for church events and activities.

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In addition, Pastor Rhodes appointed Reverend Jones E. Jennette as the Minister of Christian Education, Coordinator of the Outreach Ministry, and the “Children’s Church Ministry.” After 18 years of faithful service, in 1999, Reverend Rhodes was called to pastor the flock of Trinidad Baptist Church in Northeast, Washington, DC.

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From October to December 1999, Reverend Lester Best, Jr. served as Pastor-Elect of New Redeemer. Reverend Best served as Assistant to the Pastor and Youth Minister under Rev. Rhodes. From December 1999 until the election of our third pastor, Reverend Lehman D. Bates, II, served as Interim Pastor of New Redeemer.

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In September 2000, the New Redeemer family elected Reverend Alan Thompson as the third Pastor of New Redeemer. Under Pastor Thompson’s leadership, the Lord continued to bless New Redeemer spiritually, physically, and financially.  Pastor Thompson established a Pledge Fund for the direct purpose of liquidating the mortgage, which by God’s grace, was paid off on December 28, 2005. Additionally, he expanded the church leadership by adding Deacons, Trustees, and Deaconesses to better serve the church membership. Pastor Thompson focused on the Youth Ministry by including a monthly fellowship, a Youth Sunday, a Liturgical Dance Ministry, a Step Ministry, a Mime Ministry, and an African Drumming Ministry — appointing First Lady Rita Hardy Thompson as coordinator. Additionally, Sister Thompson established a computer lab to facilitate a tutorial program for our youth and the community.  Students from Howard University and the U.S. Naval Academy served faithfully as tutors.

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In 2009, Pastor Thompson appointed Reverend Oran W. Young as the Assistant to the Pastor.   Rev. Young was called to pastor First Rising Mount Zion Church in Northwest, Washington, D.C. in September 2016. 

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Brother André Shepard, a lifelong member of New Redeemer who was born and raised in the church has been a member of the Youth Choir, Sunday School, and Children’s Church Ministries was called and licensed to the Gospel Ministry at New Redeemer Baptist Church by Pastor Thompson in October 2016.

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In July 2022, Pastor Thompson resigned from the Ministry at New Redeemer.

After an ardent search, and much prayer, on October 25, 2022, Rev. Roman D. Gray was installed as the fourth Pastor of New Redeemer.  We welcomed Pastor Gray, First Lady Michelle, and children Isaiah and Brianna into the New Redeemer Family and are blessed and grateful that God answered our prayers for a pastor who loves the Lord, his family, and the church.  Rev. Gray has embraced the congregation with compassion and love that can only be given by our God in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ.  Moving ahead with God as “our refuge and strength,” we embrace Pastor Gray’s “God-inspired” vision of “Rebuilding By Working Together” Nehemiah 4:6 (KJV).

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Up to the updating of the current history, Pastor Gray has ordained additional Deacons and consecrated additional Deaconesses, in addition to leading preaching sermons to strengthen the spirituality of the Church, leading Bible Study, and being ever ready to attend to the spiritual needs of the Congregation.  We follow Pastor Gray as he follows Christ!