Phone and Address:
Physical:
330 Wellington Street,
Bessemer, Alabama 35020
Mailing:
P.O. Box 1471,
Bessemer, Alabama 35020
Church History
The New Light Baptist Church was organized January 8, 2004, with approximately 29 charter members. We received an offer from the Jonesboro United Methodist Church to acquire their former building at 330 Wellington Street, Bessemer, Alabama.
The New Light Baptist Church moved into the building on a Saturday and held Sunday Worship Service the next day. The congregation was blessed beyond measure to acquire a building that was equipped for use. In January 2004, the church officially called Reverend Dr. Melvin D. Bishop as Pastor!
New Light has relied upon the fact that if God has called them to do ministries, then he will provide.
The Deacons’ ministry was organized, an adult, male and youth choirs were organized, the missionary society organized as well as the usher board, praise dance ministry, a video conferencing ministry and most important, Wednesday night small group bible study was implemented.
The church employed a music staff consisting of organist, pianist, and drummer. In 2005, a Wednesday night worship service was implemented.
Keeping the mandate of John 21:15, during 2007, Pastor Bishop implemented a food ministry, and the New Light Church became a certified United Way distributor of food to low-income families in the Bessemer and surrounding areas. Monthly food is distributed to families in need. On July 8, 2007, another milestone was celebrated – the laying of the New Light Baptist Church cornerstone.
During fiscal year 2010, the New Light Church liquidated the debt on the 15-passenger van. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift! The church created the New Light Community Development Corporation and was designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 organization.
In 2013, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we achieved a “Great and Mighty Act.” Through Pastor Bishop’s financial proficiency, we succeeded in the burning of the church mortgage on May 26, 2013.
In 2016 and 2017, through the New Light Baptist Church Food Ministry, twenty families were given Thanksgiving and Christmas food packages. During FY 2018 God has continued to perform miracles in the life of the church. A new roof was installed, and the food ministry continued to grow and expand within the community. God has continued to perform miracles in the life of the Church and the work continued in 2020, a new roof installed, foyer and the women’s’ restroom was refurbished including the installation of new flooring.
For seventeen years, God has done amazing things in the life of the church. People are discovering who God is and what he desires for their life. Truly the future looks bright for the New Light Baptist Church.
Being a visionary pastor, always sensitive to the move of God’s Spirit, under Pastor Bishop’s leadership the Church has grown spiritually. Pastor Bishop’s belief is in line with Christ’s words in the Gospel of Luke:
‘The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hasAnointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted. To preachDeliverance to the captives and recovering of sight toThe blind, to set at liberty all of them that are bruised…’
Church Association
The New Light Missionary Baptist Church is dully aligned with the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., The Alabama State Convention, and the Southern Baptist Conventions.
