THE HISTORY OF YOUR CHURCH

 Every organization or institution that desires to work smoothly and efficiently must have certain rules and regulations to follow and in the same sense, there must be a basic foundation of moral virtue. For belief and obedience to be realized from rules and regulations, there must be a love for the total program and objectives and growth of the organization.

With an underlying love for the continued growth of God’s work, a few dedicated Christians met together for a prayer meeting in the home of Sister Donald in 1870. The prayer meetings continued until there were enough members to organize a church, New Providence Baptist Church. The first Pastor was Reverend Jessie Hatchett. The first Deacon was Mr. King Thomas.

Down through the years, the church has been under the auspices of many good shepherds. After a few years, Reverend Hatchett was succeeded by Reverend Philip Owens.

At the turn of the century in 1900, the church was located at Nanki pooh under the pastorate of Reverend Shipp. In 1902, a young lady read a paper and caused some confusion among some of the white residents living near the church and due to complaints; meetings could not be held at this particular place any more. Therefore, meetings were held at different churches.

In 1904, Reverend Shipp accepted leadership at another church and Reverend Bill Smith was called to be the shepherd of the flock.

In 1906, a piece of land in a cow pasture was sold by Mr. Britt Davis for the building of our second church.

In 1907, Reverend McKinney succeeded Reverend Bill Smith and served until his death in 1910. After the death of Reverend McKinney, Reverend Smith was recalled to be the Pastor.

In 1911, some determined young men joined the church. Not liking the location being in a cow pasture, they searched for a better site and in 1914 the present land was purchased. On the first Sunday in November of 1914, a business meeting was held on this spot.

In 1915, a temporary structure (Bush Arbor) was erected. In assembly, the members erected weather boards which were continually blown down by the wind. The young men still determined to build the church, decided to put up wood frames which were also blown down by the wind.

In 1916, Reverend Smith died and being without a Pastor, with only two Deacons, some of the brothers and some members contacted a white man, Mr. Dudley, with the deeds to the church along with thirty-five dollars to ask him to build a church. Not having enough money, the members continued praying until the Lord made a way to raise enough money to get the church built. This struggle continued through 1917 and after long hours of hard work another Pastor,

Reverend A.C. Cox was called in 1918 and served for one year. Still not giving up hope Reverend J.H. Carter was called in 1919 and he also served only one year. Keeping the faith and being determined, in 1920 Reverend R.J. Lewis accepted the church for one hour a Sunday and having only twenty-five members, Reverend Lewis stayed with the church and did everything possible to help the church grow strong until the Lord called him home in 1942.

After the death of Reverend Lewis, a man of God was called to continue in the fight of saving souls and working for God.

In 1943, Reverend Benjamin Franklin Patrick, known as a “Ball of Fire”, arrived. Reverend Patrick served as a father for the membership and under his leadership many converts were added to the church. Many improvements were made and he saw the need for a larger church. He set a goal and along with the hard work of the members, the new church was built. Reverend Patrick reorganized the Missionary Society, started a Musical Choir, the Young Matrons Club and other groups.  One of the fond memories of the young members was having the opportunity to help Deacon George Walker or Deacon Ernest Mitchell ring the bell for the beginning of Sunday School and for funerals. Reverend Patrick served faithfully until his health started to fail and his death in October 1957. He left the church with a bank balance of approximately seventeen hundred dollars after serving fourteen years.

In 1958, the Church was again in need of a Pastor and Reverend C.C. Cloud was called. He came with many ideas to meet the church and community’s present-day challenges. He felt the need of an additional unit to the church and started a building fund. Under his leadership, the first effort in April of 1959 resulted in more than sixteen hundred dollars and the church budget increased from thirty-five hundred dollars annually to fourteen thousand. Work was started on the Educational Building, by one of our members, Brother Robert Murphy, and supervised by Reverend Cloud. It had a value of fifty-five thousand dollars when completed, resulting in a saving to the church of twenty-two thousand dollars. The Cornerstone for the Educational Building was laid in 1962. Much progress was made and the membership increased greatly.

The Church was incorporated in 1961. With a complete reorganization of the Church’s program a part-time secretary was hired, office equipment purchased, and a telephone line installed. In December 1969, Reverend Cloud saw the need for a free Daycare Center for the church and community. The Beallwood Heights Child Development Center, Inc., was opened at New Providence Baptist Church and was the first and only free Daycare Center in Columbus. Also, in the late 60’s, Reverend Cloud was Dean of the American Baptist Extension Center, which was held in our Church. After completion of payment for the Educational Building, in 1970, Reverend Cloud launched a financial campaign to raise funds for a new sanctuary. It was financed by members and friends buying church bonds. The Cornerstone for the new sanctuary was laid in 1971.

From 1870 through the end of Reverend Cloud’s pastorate, New Providence had been blessed with as many as 30 Deacons. Reverend Cloud served well until he was called to pastor in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1974, Reverend Albert McCorvey became the Pastor. He became the first hired full time Pastor. Under his leadership, we witnessed the growth of our membership and development of the church and many new ministries were initiated, namely: The Young Ladies Auxiliary, The Rosettes, Young Men Ambassadors (later became known as Young Laymen), Little Angels Choir (now known as the Angelic Youth and Family Choir), 2nd Sunday Early Morning Worship Service, Mid-Week Bible Hour, Prison Ministry (with the Pastor or Associate Minister providing the word, along with Choir and other members in attendance), New Member Orientation and organization of the Department of Christian Education and Evangelism. Other accomplishments under the pastorate of Rev. McCorvey included: Reorganization of the Brotherhood, Reopening of the Nursery, obtained Quit Claim Deed for the street behind the church, and purchased the Sanctuary Altar Set. In 1978, four lots were purchased costing a total of thirty thousand dollars, which included four houses on 13th Avenue and Alexander Street, to expand the church parking lot and for future needs. The final payment of two hundred five thousand dollars for the new Sanctuary was paid in October 1980. In February of 1981, Reverend McCorvey hired the first full time secretary, Mrs. Patricia Gant, and the mortgage burning was held in March 1981. Under Reverend McCorvey, a new bus was purchased with the requirement of drivers having a CDL license. Reverend McCorvey had several dialogues and conferences with the city to accomplish the paving of 14th Avenue. The paving of the church parking lot was completed along with a new ramp making the church handicap accessible. Renovations to various parts of the church were made. Establishment of a Computer Lab and a church Newsletter, “The Voice”, was also started. The American Baptist Extension Center continued under Reverend McCorvey’s leadership as Dean. One of his favorite times of the year was Vacation Bible School. Nothing delighted him more than seeing children and youth learn about Jesus, and ultimately accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Reverend McCorvey was a busy Pastor and also very active in the Community and made sure the church members were involved. He was active in the Mount Calvary Association, Head of the Religious Affairs Committee, and The Primus King Breakfast of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Due to his dedication, the Columbus, GA Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, established The Albert McCorvey Humanitarian Award in his honor. We are thankful for the accomplishments of Reverend McCorvey, who retired on January 28, 2007 after thirty-two years and eight months of service.

On April 6, 2008, Reverend Gerald Parker, Jr. became our Pastor. During his leadership, we continued to grow in membership and made progress. In 2009, we repaved the parking lot, purchased two new buses and additional land surrounding the Church. The property on the corner of Alexander Street and Fourteenth Avenue was cleared and other improvements to the Church building and lot were done in 2010. Four new Deacons were ordained on January 30, 2011. In 2012, the Church purchased equipment starting our Media Ministry and other Sanctuary renovations were performed. Reverend Parker served until January 24, 2014.

On January 14, 2015, during a pivotal period in the Church, Reverend Thaddeus Tyrone Spencer was elected as the new Pastor of New Providence Baptist Church. In February 2015, his first order of business was to improve New Providence’s greatness within the Columbus community. He focused on improving the church’s ministries. New Providence became the first African-American Church to register with the Columbus African-American History Museum. In 2016, under his leadership, he licensed the first female minister in the history of New Providence, Minister Ella Brown. He also started the Fifty-Year Recognition of Members Concept, the Restoration of the Marriage Ministry and Prison Ministry in the Church. In 2017, he started the Leaders Meeting for all members, Fit 4 Christ Exercise Ministry and New Providence Hall of Fame. A Training Seminar (for Ministers, Deacons, Trustees, and their Spouses) was completed. One new Trustee, Brother Gary Smith was appointed, two new Deacons, Brother Darrell Tony Floyd and Brother Frank Williams, were ordained. The Church ramp was repaired, a new Church wide Camera Security System installed, the Pulpit was rebuilt and the Pastor’s Office was remodeled with new furniture. The Women Make Things Happen Annual Seminar was added. Under Reverend Spencer’s leadership, in 2018, the Church developed the Young Adults Ministry (YAM), established a Covenant Partnership Program with the Pastoral Institute Counseling Center, developed a new Church Welcome Guide, reviewed the Church’s Vision, Mission and Objectives, the Church’s first Active Shooter Training was held, established a new Online Electronic Newsletter, implemented Bible Study at the RiverPlace Independent Living Facility for Seniors, instituted the Church’s Family and Friend Recognition Program, created a Financial Tracking Program, reunited into the Columbus Spiritual Renewal Fellowship (Reverend Spencer elected Vice-President) and hosted an Onsite Voter’s Registration Campaign Drive (including Education and Awareness Training). In 2019 under Pastor’s leadership, we’ve added full time Security Guards on Sundays; kitchen equipment has been added in the C. C. Cloud Fellowship Hall, and a new Speaker System, Video Projections in the sanctuary, and state of the art lighting. We are continuing to grow in membership and progress. There were trials, progress, and giving of thanks as the Church moved forward in its chronology. During the Church’s sesquicentennial (150th ) year, New Providence and the entire world began to experience the infectious and deadly novo-coronavirus and COVID-19. Safety required the members of the Church, as it did the rest of the world, to severely limit physical and social contacts. The public health restrictions prevented gatherings at the church building and 150th Anniversary Celebration Services were canceled. Although not in the building, under the leadership of Pastor Spencer and the Officers, the Church remained involved in Christ-based activities and services through the technologies of Facebook Live, Free Conference Call, and Givelify. The members worshipped, studied, fellowshipped and attended meetings from their homes. There were drive-through tests for the virus, in-car parades, and drive-by birthday celebrations. Pastor Spencer ended his pastoral relationship with the Church in August 2021.

We thank God for all our previous Pastors and their family members for their service.

Since August 2021, under the caring oversight of the Church’s leadership and the COVID Team, the members have continued to participate in either Online or In-Person ministry meetings, Prayer Ministry, Bible Study, Sunday school and Worship Services.

Under the leadership of the Deacons, on March 27, 2022, the Church celebrated its 152nd Anniversary. Upon approval, on April 1, 2022, Reverend Chad D. Bryant began to serve as Interim Pastor. Under his Interim Pastorate, the Church continued to make progress toward resuming the full range of services. Several members were added to the Fellowship through Christian experience and Baptism. Two new Trustees; Brother Victor Howard and Dr. Fredrick Weldon were appointed and three new Deacons; Brothers Rudolf Crawford, Gary Howell and Gary Smith, were ordained. The Pastoral Search Committee continued its efforts to identify a potential permanent pastor.

On April 23, 2023, the Church called Reverend Martai D. McCullough, Sr., to the office of Pastor. After a pastor-led corporate 21-day Period of Prayer and Fasting, Reverend McCullough was installed as the 15th Pastor of New Providence Baptist Church on July 9, 2023. Soon afterward, his family united with New Providence, and each, in their own way, with a spirit of generosity, has been a tremendous blessing to the Congregation.  Pastor McCullough introduced a theme, “#PreparingForTomorrow,” to encourage the Congregation to develop a mindset of looking higher and forward to what the Lord was preparing to do.  

Pastor and Sister McCullough displayed a clear interest in prayer, services to the youth and young adults, mission, and Christian education.  He initiated the daily 6:00 PM member-facilitated Laura Johnson Prayer Line, consisting of a brief scriptural exhortation, prayer requests and praise reports, and intercessory prayers.  Pastor McCullough applauded the post-COVID re-start of the Vacation Bible School, emphasizing the need to establish a class for young adults. He immediately established a goal of having over 200 daily attendees during the 2024 VBS.  As done in the pre-COVID past, several of the Church’s youth, for the first time, attended Mount Calvary’s Congress of Christian Education. Pastor McCullough continued emphasizing the importance of being mission-minded and a blessing to our youth by encouraging a Church-sponsored, Youth Ministry-led, community-wide “back-to-school activity.” The back-to-school activity distributed over 200 donated book bags filled with school supplies, family fun, and plenty of food.

Under his pastorate, there has been increased attendance and participation in the monthly Youth Church, which is dedicated to the youth, and the monthly Youth Emphasis Worship, which encourages youth participation in the devotion, offering, choir, and usher services.  Sunday School classes for each age group were re-established. New Providence has re-started serving breakfast to promote attendance, and the Church’s buses have been available for transportation.  In February, the youth served as the cast of a Church-sponsored, Youth Ministry-led theatrical production entitled “The Promise.”  Several youth members have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and baptism.

Christian education is a principal component of the Pastor’s vision of embarking on a 150-week SEEDS journey (Sow Expectantly Embracing Devine Supply).  The other two components of the vision are Missions and Ministry.  Under Pastor McCullough’s leadership and ministry, many technological advances have been employed or improved, and the weekly worship services and some teaching activities are carried out on several media platforms.  He has continuously supported the weekly, morning, mid-week Bible Study and conducted the weekly evening Bible Study regularly.  The New Members Orientation was revised, re-started, and occurs regularly on a monthly basis. The local, state, and national associations, conventions, and congresses are prioritized, regularly attended, and fully supported. Many adults have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and/or united or re-united with the Congregation.