ABOUT

A Family-Friendly Local Church Community

WHO WE ARE

NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of this church is to create habitation for the Spirit of God. We seek to unite and worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

Our goal is to exemplify the creative Word of God by assembling as a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic representation of 'God's People.'

The proclamation of the gospel, prayer, and the study and application of God's Word is our lifeblood.

We seek to raise up a body of believers who will stand strong and courageously for the truth of God's Word, confronting both believers and non-believers with the love and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our goal is to train and equip each believer to make an impact on their generation. We will strive to stand firm in the Lord's command.

This church is duly aligned with both the Southern Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention.

CHURCH COVENANT

OUR CHURCH COVENANT

Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant as one body in Christ.

We engage therefore by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort to promote its prosperity and spirituality, to sustain its worship, ordinances, disciplines, and doctrines; to cheerfully and regularly contribute to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spreading of the gospel to all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; religiously educate our children; seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances, walk circumspectly in the world, be just in our dealings, faithful to our engagements, and exemplary to our deportment, avoiding all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger, abstain from those things that are harmful to our body, and zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love, remember each other in prayer; aid each other in sickness and distress; cultivate Christian sympathy in feelings; courtesy in speech; being slow to take offense; always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word, as soon as possible.

And now unto Him, who brought from the dead our Lord Jesus, be power and glory forever. Amen.

LEADERSHIP

REVEREND DR. GARY E. PALMER

Pastor

Dr. Palmer is an undergraduate of St. Leo University, Tampa, Florida, Bethany Bible College and Seminary, Dothan, Alabama, and The Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. He has earned a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Religion (Christian Counseling).

Dr. Palmer recently served on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanities and the United Way, Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He was a former Auxiliary Chaplain for the United States Air Force, Hanscom AFB, Bedford, Massachusetts, a member of the Board of Ethics for the Nashoba Valley Medical Center, serves on the Mayor of Fitchburg’s Task Force Against Youth Violence.

He currently serves as the president of the North Central Faith Based Community Coalition, Fitchburg, MA. In 1987, Dr. Palmer was ordained Reverend, and along with his wife, they founded the New Hope Community Church, Ayer, and the ‘Hope Center Project,’ Fitchburg, MA in 2010.

REVEREND DR. BRENDA A. PALMER

Co-Pastor, Prophetess, Minister of Education

Prophetess Brenda Palmer was born and raised in Washington D.C. She is married to the Reverend Dr. Gary E. Palmer. Together they founded and pastor New Hope Community Church in Ayer, Massachusetts. She is a retired public-school teacher, mother of five children and grandmother of eleven.

She is an ordained minister, licensed biblical counselor, certified facilitator of the Jackson Theological Seminary and has been involved in church ministry for more than 30 years.

Prophetess Palmer is a graduate of Morgan State University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She holds two master’s degrees, one in Special Education for Fitchburg State University and the other in Biblical Counseling from Bethany Theological Seminary College. Prophetess has completed a Doctorate in Biblical Counseling at the Jacksonville Theological Seminary, Jacksonville Florida.

Reverend Kardell & Michele Woodson Sr.

Reverend Melva (Pat) Morin

Reverend Shimeca Wilson

Minister Gerry Meyers

DIACONATE BOARD

Deacons and church members today are discovering that God has called them to ministry, and that calling is lived out through the spiritual gifts that God provides (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4). God never calls someone to do something that He does not first equip and empower him or her to perform.

DEACON THOMAS JONES

Chairman of the Deacons

Deacon Thomas W. Jones, Sr. was ordained 38 years ago. He loves the Lord and has a heart to serve mankind. When asked about his walk with the Lord, he always shares this sentiment.

Deacon Jones likens his life to Abraham's call of salvation and a call to service. Abraham first exercised saving faith, and the evidence of his having saving faith was that he trusted what God said. God told him to leave his country, his relatives, and his father's house and go to a land that He would show him. Abraham did what God said. He showed his faith by putting his trust in the Lord and acting upon God's word.

Deacon Jones’ faith is unwavering; he knows his path is one of obedience and serving God by serving others.

DEACONESS ROSA JONES

Mother of the Church

Mother Jones loves the Lord with all her heart and soul. She is always ready, willing, and able to serve. She loves this church and prays diligently for each and every person who enters in. Mother believes that it is for us to always strive to be like Jesus. We are to be patient, understanding, and kind to one another. We should endeavor to love, pray, and support one another as this was the example Jesus left for us to follow.

Deacon Raymond Davis Deaconess Queida Davis Ward 1, A-C, S

Deacon Neal Connor Deaconess Dianne Connor Ward 2, D-J, T

Deaconess Yolanda Cunningham Ward 3, K-R, W

Deaconess Tambrie Wilson Ward 3, K-R, W

Deacon Russell Talbert - Church Clerk Deaconess Karen Talbert, Ward 4 S-Z

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DEACON/DEACONESS

In accordance with the meaning of the word in the New Testament, deacons are to recognize their roles as ministering servants of the church. They are to be members of this church whose character and qualifications shall be specified in Timothy 3:8-13, Acts 6:1-6, and Titus 1:6-9.

The deacon body shall serve under the leadership of the pastor and assist him in performing duties in order to free him for the ministry of the Word. The deacons will support and work with the pastor as follows:

To lead the church in the achievement of its mission
To minister to believers and unbelievers
To care for the church’s members and others in the community
To demonstrate consistent stewardship through the deacon’s example in tithing to the church

To demonstrate Christ-like consecration, loyalty, prayer support, and faithfulness to the local church program
To visit the sick, needy, and indifferent of the church
To encourage and strengthen new converts and the spiritually weak
To be available at the worship services for assisting the pastor in receiving new members and counseling new decisions
To be available to serve on a Deacon Ministry Team
To be able to serve the Lord’s Supper

In accordance with the meaning of the work and the practice of the church in the New Testament, deacons are to be servants of the church. Their task is to serve with the pastor and staff in performing the pastoral ministries of our church.