Our Church
New Salem Baptist Church History
In 1909, at the corner of Spruce and City Avenues, a group of baptized believers under the leadership of Reverend Hamlet, joined together and formed New Salem Missionary Baptist Church. The church moved to City and Charles Streets in 1920. In 1929, the church moved again to 329 North Garfield Avenue, changing the name to Big Bethel Baptist Church. The belief behind the name change was that the word “Big” would suggest grandeur and project a larger-than-life image of the church throughout the community, After some time, the church returned to the name that we currently know it by. Here is the roll call of the men who served as pastor of this good and faithful body. Reverend Hamlet; New Salem’s founder; Reverend Brown; Reverend Robinson, Reverend Cook; Reverend Harris; Reverend Payne; Reverend Edward; Reverend McCoy; Reverend Johnson; Reverend Ransom; Reverend Davis; Reverend Trotter and Reverend Cleveland. Reverend Frank C. Cleveland, Sr. served on New Salem’s deacon board for seven years. In 1958, the good Reverend accepted the call to the ministry and became the pastor. On August 7, 1960, New Salem Missionary Baptist Church moved to 487 North Champion Avenue. The first worship services were held in the lower auditorium. In 1964 New Salem paid off the mortgage and immediately intensified its efforts to complete the upper level of the church building. Finally, in 1966, New Salem celebrated the completion of its home of the past six years. After many years of good and faithful service, the Lord called Reverend Frank C. Cleveland, Sr. home in March of 1983. On September 11, 1983, the church prayerfully voted and extended an invitation to Reverend Keith A. Troy to become its new pastor. Reverend Troy accepted the invitation and began his pastorate at New Salem on the first Sunday of October, 1983. In March 1987, the church under its new leadership began a capital campaign with the theme: A Positive Past, A Fantastic Future. The purpose to purchase or construct a larger facility for the rapidly growing congregation.
The church voted in January of 1988 to purchase a larger facility. Easter Sunrise Service, April 3, 1988, marked the final baptism, communion and church service at New Salem’s Champion Avenue location. Immediately following the prayer of thanksgiving over 200 cars formed a motorcade and proceeded to 2956 Cleveland Avenue, New Salem’s current address. The years between October 1, 1983 through October 1, 1998 saw New Salem take shape and take flight There have been so many accomplishments, a weekly half hour radio program on 106 FM, the annual Beatrice Bess music workshop, the Young David’s program for boys ages 12 through 18, the Guild Girls program for girls ages 12 through 18, the New Salem Epistle newsletter, and N.A.I.T.I. (Not Around It Through It- Drug and Alcohol ministry), a Singles ministry, the Puppets of Praise, the New Salem Community Development Corporation, known as Renaissance Community Development Corporation and currently known as the Community of Caring Development Foundation and so much more. New Salem has ordained eight church members as deacons and six church members as ministers. A crowning achievement was that again, New Salem paid off its mortgage. As we head into the millennium, the work and service continue. New Salem has served thousands of members over the years. In 1999, New Salem gave away over $17,000.00 in grants to support the community. In addition, the church ordained 7 ministers which includes 5 women as ministers of the gospel, and 15 ordained deacons. The church as a total of 20 associate ministers. New Salem is on the move and intends to be a leader in recognizing and appreciating the rich diversity of its congregation and its community. New Salem Missionary Baptist Church has been blessed abundantly by God. This is evident by an increasing number of men, women, boys and girls who walk down the aisles on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights to publicly acknowledge the need for Christ in their lives. God is also allowing New Salem’s ministries to grow and expand As New Salem forges ahead to fulfill God’s plan for the Church, it is appropriate for this Church’s leadership and overall membership to renew their commitment to fulfilling the great commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and 10, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Pastor Keith A. Troy has been New Salem’s pastor for 40 years. The church celebrated he and his wife, Min. Brenda Troy’s 40th pastoral anniversary on November 12, 2023.
New Salem Baptist Church History
In 1909, at the corner of Spruce and City Avenues, a group of baptized believers under the leadership of Reverend Hamlet, joined together and formed New Salem Missionary Baptist Church. The church moved to City and Charles Streets in 1920. In 1929, the church moved again to 329 North Garfield Avenue, changing the name to Big Bethel Baptist Church. The belief behind the name change was that the word “Big” would suggest grandeur and project a larger-than-life image of the church throughout the community, After some time, the church returned to the name that we currently know it by. Here is the roll call of the men who served as pastor of this good and faithful body. Reverend Hamlet; New Salem’s founder; Reverend Brown; Reverend Robinson, Reverend Cook; Reverend Harris; Reverend Payne; Reverend Edward; Reverend McCoy; Reverend Johnson; Reverend Ransom; Reverend Davis; Reverend Trotter and Reverend Cleveland. Reverend Frank C. Cleveland, Sr. served on New Salem’s deacon board for seven years. In 1958, the good Reverend accepted the call to the ministry and became the pastor. On August 7, 1960, New Salem Missionary Baptist Church moved to 487 North Champion Avenue. The first worship services were held in the lower auditorium. In 1964 New Salem paid off the mortgage and immediately intensified its efforts to complete the upper level of the church building. Finally, in 1966, New Salem celebrated the completion of its home of the past six years. After many years of good and faithful service, the Lord called Reverend Frank C. Cleveland, Sr. home in March of 1983. On September 11, 1983, the church prayerfully voted and extended an invitation to Reverend Keith A. Troy to become its new pastor. Reverend Troy accepted the invitation and began his pastorate at New Salem on the first Sunday of October, 1983. In March 1987, the church under its new leadership began a capital campaign with the theme: A Positive Past, A Fantastic Future. The purpose to purchase or construct a larger facility for the rapidly growing congregation.
The church voted in January of 1988 to purchase a larger facility. Easter Sunrise Service, April 3, 1988, marked the final baptism, communion and church service at New Salem’s Champion Avenue location. Immediately following the prayer of thanksgiving over 200 cars formed a motorcade and proceeded to 2956 Cleveland Avenue, New Salem’s current address. The years between October 1, 1983 through October 1, 1998 saw New Salem take shape and take flight There have been so many accomplishments, a weekly half hour radio program on 106 FM, the annual Beatrice Bess music workshop, the Young David’s program for boys ages 12 through 18, the Guild Girls program for girls ages 12 through 18, the New Salem Epistle newsletter, and N.A.I.T.I. (Not Around It Through It- Drug and Alcohol ministry), a Singles ministry, the Puppets of Praise, the New Salem Community Development Corporation, known as Renaissance Community Development Corporation and currently known as the Community of Caring Development Foundation and so much more. New Salem has ordained eight church members as deacons and six church members as ministers. A crowning achievement was that again, New Salem paid off its mortgage. As we head into the millennium, the work and service continue. New Salem has served thousands of members over the years. In 1999, New Salem gave away over $17,000.00 in grants to support the community. In addition, the church ordained 7 ministers which includes 5 women as ministers of the gospel, and 15 ordained deacons. The church as a total of 20 associate ministers. New Salem is on the move and intends to be a leader in recognizing and appreciating the rich diversity of its congregation and its community. New Salem Missionary Baptist Church has been blessed abundantly by God. This is evident by an increasing number of men, women, boys and girls who walk down the aisles on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights to publicly acknowledge the need for Christ in their lives. God is also allowing New Salem’s ministries to grow and expand As New Salem forges ahead to fulfill God’s plan for the Church, it is appropriate for this Church’s leadership and overall membership to renew their commitment to fulfilling the great commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and 10, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Pastor Keith A. Troy has been New Salem’s pastor for 40 years. The church celebrated he and his wife, Min. Brenda Troy’s 40th pastoral anniversary on November 12, 2023.
