A History of

New Redeemer Baptist Church

 

 

 

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 on 1922 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC.

 

In June 1972, 16 months after 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 unitl 1978.  In 1979 we installed a baptismal pool in the Fellowship Hall.  After 10 years of faithful and devoted service to New Redeemer, on December 15, 1980, the Lord called Reverend Lee from labor to reward.

 

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.

 

In addition, he 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.

 

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 Reverend Rhodes. From December 1999 until the election of our next pastor, Reverend Lehman D. Bates II, he served as Interim Pastor.

 

In September 2000, the New Redeemer family elected Reverend Alan Thompson as the third Pastor of New Redeemer. Under our Pastor’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 (Deacons, Trustees, and Deaconesses) to better serve the church membership. Rev. Thompson also enhanced the Youth Ministry to include 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,  our First Lady established a computer lab in the Hope House to facilitate a tutorial program for our youth and the community utilizing students from Howard University and the Naval Academy.

 

In 2009, Pastor Thompson appointed Reverend Oran W. Young as the Assistant to the Pastor.  On September 18, 2016, Rev. Young was called to pastor First Rising Mount Zion Church in Northwest, Washington, DC. 

 

On October 23, 2016, Brother André Shepard was called and was licensed at New Redeemer Baptist Church by Pastor Alan Thompson.

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On Sunday, June 7th, 2021, after 20 years of faithful service, Rev. Alan Thompson retired.

 

On Sunday, September 25, 2022, the fourth Pastor of New Redeemer Baptist Church, Rev. Roman D. Gray, was installed.