History
History of the New Fellowship Baptist Church 1953 – Present
Under The Leadership of
Rev. A. L. Mays
January 1953 - 1993
Rev. A.L. Mays received his education and theological training at Simmons University Extension in Georgia. He was a businessman and Associate Minister at the Morning Star Baptist Church. A few people who were not members of the church desired to organize a Mission. They asked Rev. Mays to organize them.
January 1, 1953 - After prayerful study, Rev. Mays consented to the request of 10 people and called a meeting at his home. The 10 people were present plus 6 others. They had prayer and a discussion of reasons for a Mission. After hearing their reasons, Rev. Mays agreed to lead them out in a mission field.
The Mission grew by leaps and bounds to the point where his home could not accommodate the assembly. Rev. Mays appointed a committee to look for a larger place to Worship. The committee brought back a recommendation to worship at Watson's Funeral Home for a donation of $10 per week. The Mission accepted the recommendation and on the first Sunday in February, moved to their new location.
The Mission grew spiritually, attentively and financially and the members of the Mission asked to be organized into a church. Rev. Mays consented to their wishes and asked the acting Clerk to write letters to recognize them as a church to the following churches: Morning Star Baptist Church, Rev. S.L. Cole, Pastor; St. Timothy Baptist Church, Dr. J.T. Weeden, Pastor and Second Mt Olive Baptist Church, Rev. G. Caslin, Pastor. Some of the churches responded and formed a counsel to organize the Mission into a church. Dr. S.L. Cole acted as Moderator, Rev. R.M. Banks as Secretary and Rev. B.M. McKinney as Kalikizer. They proceeded to organize according to the Baptist doctrine and procedures. The Moderator asked for letters and 10 responded (J.C. Deadwyler, John D. Jones, Eddie Harris, Odessa Harold, Canie L. Jones, Charles Branch, Linda Jones and Willie M. Perry) and 6 came on their Christian experience (Frank Young, Odessa Young, Daisy Mays, Mary Jones, Robert Mays and Naomi Mays).
The Mission was organized into a church by a unanimous vote. Rev. Mays offered the name, New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church and the majority accepted it. The counsel asked the church, "Who shall be your Pastor?" It was motioned by Bro. Charles Branch and seconded by Bro. Eddie Harris that Rev. A.L. Mays be Pastor. The motion carried unanimously. There was a short sermon by Dr. S. L. Cole and the invitation to discipleship. Nine people came forward. The following Saturday night was the first business meeting of the newly organized church. The order of the day was to elect officers. Bro. J.C. Deadwyler was elected Church Clerk, Bro. Frank Young, Chairman of the Deacon Board, Bro. Charles Branch, Treasurer and Sis. Willie Perry, President of the Mission.
April 15, 1953 - They worshiped at the Watson Funeral Home where the donation for rental fees was raised to $20 per week.
March 9, 1953 - The Pastor called the Board together and recommends purchasing a building at 10511 Pasadena Avenue at a cost of $17,500. The Board accepted the recommendation. It was approved in a church business meeting held Saturday night before the first Sunday in April 1953. - They purchased the building and marched into their new home with 60 active members. These 60 members challenged a mortgage of $275 per month plus purchased a piano and organ, believing they could overcome with the help of God.
1956 - They worshiped on Pasadena Avenue until the membership had grown to the extent that they needed a larger chapel. The Pastor, deacons and trustees began to look for larger quarters and contacted Rev. Bivens and the officials of Calvary Hill Baptist Church concerning their building at 1230 Parkwood Drive. They negotiated a sale of $15,000 for the building and the church accepted the offer.
1956 - They worshiped on Pasadena Avenue until the membership had grown to the extent that they needed a larger chapel. The Pastor, deacons and trustees began to look for larger quarters and contacted Rev. Bivens and the officials of Calvary Hill Baptist Church concerning their building at 1230 Parkwood Drive. They negotiated a sale of $15,000 for the building and the church accepted the offer.
On June 15, 1956 - They marched into the new building. The Saturday night before the first Sunday in November, the Pastor recommended enlarging and remodeling of the wood frame structure. The church accepted the recommendation. The remodeling consisted of the right wing on the south side of the building including an office, a nurse's room, a choir room and a new brick veneer for the entire building. In addition, a neon sign was installed outside and new flooring inside. Rev. Mays led us to fence-in and blacktops the parking area. The Pastor then recommended that the church should have new furniture. The church accepted the recommendation. The furniture was purchased and paid for in 12 months.
May 23, 1965 - The mortgage was burned.
1967 - The church held a cornerstone-laying service.
1972 - The church was robbed of office supplies, the piano and organ. The Pastor recommended that we purchase another piano and organ and the church accepted the recommendation.
1973 - We were again robbed of office supplies and the P.A. system. The Pastor, again, recommended that we purchase new equipment and the church accepted the recommendation.
1974 - The women requested new kitchen facilities and we also purchased an air conditioning system.
1975 - The church remodeled the restrooms and carpeted the entire main sanctuary.
Under the leadership of Rev. Mays, we established an education fund to help our high school graduates in the furthering of their education and have been able to assist many students.
From the church's beginning, we have been members of the Progressive Baptist District
Association, Ohio Baptist State Convention, Inc., National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc. and the District, State and National Congress of Christian Education. Rev. A.L. Mays served as Vice Moderator of the Progressive District Association and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Progressive Baptist Bible Institute. He also received his doctorate degree.
The church has given birth to several churches such as True Light Baptist Church, Rev. J. Hudson, Pastor; Second Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Rev. W.C. Whitworth, Pastor; Rising Star Baptist Church, Rev. Andrew Braxton, Pastor and St. Matthews Baptist Church, Rev. John C. Miley, Pastor.
Other achievements that we have accomplished are:
1978 - Purchased new dining tables
1980 - The church has licensed Rev. Darien Knuckles, Rev. Frederick Knuckles and Rev. Ricky Pierce.
1980 - Installed alarm system and pew cushions
1981 - Purchased new piano and organ and bargained to buy Parkwood Elementary School at a cost of $100,000. The church lost $1000 and the Pastor lost $1500 because of petty politics. Three steel doors and 2 wooden doors were also purchased.
1982 - The church sponsored the first banquet for the Pastor and his wife and the church ordained Rev. Norman Daily and Rev. Frederick Knuckles.
During all of the accomplishments for 1985 on a Sad Note in:
1985 - The Pastor appointed Rev. Frederick Knuckles as Assistant Pastor.
May 1985 - The church lost its first lady, Sis. Daisy Mays, who is deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
December 1985 - The church elected Rev. Frederick Knuckles as the Assistant Pastor.
Also in 1985 - The church and Pastor began planning for another expansion which included building on the South corner of Olivet, but after much effort and costly drawings, we were denied the opportunity to expand 2 times in 1987 and 3 times in 1988. After much prayer, Rev. Mays recommended to the church to turn our minds to the North and look forward to owning the entire block, from Olivet to Hampton Avenues. We believe with the help of God and with willing workers and strong hands, that we will be victorious and see the dream of Pastor A.L. Mays becomes a reality.
1986-87 - The Lord blessed the church's spiritual and physical growth. In these 2 years, the Lord sent the church over 100 souls and is continuing to add laborers to the vineyard. The Lord has truly blessed this church.
1987 - We purchased a Hammond organ and Leslie speaker
Through the years, we have purchased several items to beautify the church as well as 3 lots for parking.
1990 - The Daisy Mays Food Pantry was established and Rev. Frederick S. Knuckles was elected Co-Pastor.
August 1991 - An addition to the church, the A.L. Mays Annex was completed at a cost of $148,000.
July 1993 - The church was saddened by the loss of our Pastor and Founder, Rev. A.L. Mays.
Under The Leadership of
Rev. Dr. Frederick Sebastion Knuckles, Sr.
August 1993 - Present
August 1993 - The church elected Rev. Frederick Knuckles as Pastor. Under his leadership the church has grown both spiritually and financially. He established the Mother's Board Ministry, the Executive Board Ministry, hired 2 administrative assistants, and became 2nd Vice Moderator of the Progressive Baptist District Association. We also had the parking lot repaired and the Pastor's parking area blacktopped. In 4 months, 13 souls were added to the church.
1994 - Pastor Knuckles began the F.S. Knuckles Angelic Voices Choir, 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services and the Children's Sermon Hour; became Director General of the Ohio Baptist State Convention and was appointed to the Cleveland Foodbank Advisory Board. We also replaced the roof on the church sanctuary. 24 souls were added to the church.
1995 - Pastor Knuckles proudly received his doctorate degree, started a Mid-Week Service, a Singles' Ministry, and Family Night outings; began a Praise Team and a Spring Institute; named and dedicated the Frank & Odessa Young Fellowship Hall and purchased studio portraits of our late Pastor Mays and Sis. Daisy Mays. We also remodeled the Daisy Mays Food Pantry, the choir purchased new robes, we purchased land at 10926 Olivet Avenue and 69 souls were added to the church.
1996 - Because of church evangelism in the neighborhood, we had our first “Worship in the Park” Ministry. After much prayer, the 2 buildings on the north side of the church were torn down and 81 souls were added to the church.
1997 - The Church purchases the property to the north of the Church on Parkwood Drive and has taken actions to purchase additional property, as it becomes available. These actions were the first of many to achieve our goal of building the New Fellowship Family Life Center. The church began its partnership with Ministerial Day Care and began the New Fellowship Baptist Church Headstart Center. 70 souls were added to the church. The church began an outreach ministry cable television broadcast seen 2 hours weekly.
1998 - The church was presented the drawings for the New Fellowship Baptist Church Family Life Center by Pastor Knuckles, as he continues to build partnerships with community grassroots organizations that promote social, economic and spiritual change to this community.
August 1998 - The First Family lost their son, “Little Fred”, who touched the lives of many. 50 New Members were added to the church.
November – December 1998 - The church sanctuary gets an interior facelift, adding mirrors to the walls, blinds to the windows (hung by Sister Knuckles), additional interior lighting, and plants. New pulpit ware and curtains were sewn by one of our members.
March 1999 We paid off our mortgage on the Rev. Dr. Arlanda L Mays Annex.
April 1999 We purchased additional land for parking
November 1999 We were awarded a grant from the department of education to provide tutoring.
December 1999 We purchased new windows for our Church Sanctuary , forty two souls were added to the church.
January 2000 , We purchased a new Heating System for our church
March 2000, We burned the mortgage for the Rev. Dr. A.L. Mays Annex
March 2000, We were awarded a grant from the State of Ohio (Ohio Reads) to provide tutoring
April 2000 , We begin our Sanctuary Renovation phase
September 2000, we completed and paid off our Sanctuary renovation , which included lighting , carpeting, pew renovation
January 2001 , We began a partnership with the Cleveland Municipal Schools and were awarded a grant ,which enabled us to start a Saturday School program
March 2001 ,We laid the conerstone for The Rev. Dr. A.L. Mays Annex
April, 2001, We purchased 4 parcels of Land from the City of Cleveland
July, 2001 , We enclosed all of our land by adding decorative fencing
July 2001, We added landscaping to the our property at a cost of over $2,500.00. Much of this was donated by Home Depot.
Jan 2002, we became a part of Eelleo Ministries ( A local group of Pastors who desire to see our Church's grow spiritually by offering workshops and classes collaboratively.
October 2002 . We Began a an Audio Visual Ministry , Purchased and Installed the Equipment
October 2002 , We Began a Couples Ministry
November 2002 , We Began a Singles Ministry
January 2003 , We rewired the church electrically
March 2003, The Women’s ministry Spearheaded a Project to remodel, the Women's lounge , The service and labor to this project was donated by, Mr. Clifton Steger
May 2003 , We Celebrated our 50th Year with a joint Banquet for the Church and Pastoral Anniversary Banquet
July 2003, We Paved our Parkwood Drive Parking lot, and began renovations and improvement to our Olivet Avenue property.
August 2003, We presented our first Singles conference
2004 Began community partnerships with Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center , American Diabetes Association , The Heart Association .
2005 Began Health and Wellness Ministry
Summer 2006 Renovations to Sanctuary
Spring 2007 We held our first Women’s Retreat
Summer 2007 Installed Central Air– Conditioning , Dedicated the Geraldine Hall Health & Wellness Center .
Summer 2010 ,Pastor Knuckles was appointed vice– moderator of Progressive Baptist Association.
Summer of 2012 Pastor Knuckles became the Moderator of The Progressive Baptist Association.
2013 , We Celebrated our 60th Year with a joint Banquet for the Church and Pastoral Anniversary Banquet
August 2013 was elected the Moderator of The Progressive Baptist Association.
Summer 2013 we updated audio/visual equipment
Summer 2013 Replaced Heating and air Condition Units in Dr. A.L. Mays wing
Fall 2016, We replaced the heating and air Conditioning in the main building
Summer 2017, We became a leading Organization for the Greater Cleveland Faith Based Save our Babies Initiative. Through this project under the leadership of Lady Bregina Knuckles, We were able to secure over $250,000.00 in funding over four years to provide two full time staff and deliver vital supplies to expectant mothers and families, such as Pack & Plays, pampers ,personal hygiene products over $ 200,000.00 in baby formula, strollers , baby beds clothing etc.
2019-2021, We distributed over 250 New Coats and shoes to families in the community
2019- present, Throughout the Pandemic, we were a beacon of light in the community, providing PPE to community churches and families. To date We have distributed over 40,000 masks, 20,000lbs of Hand Sanitizer, over $20,000.00 of household products and over 20,000.00lbs of food to families in need.
2021, We were able to drastically improve our outreach Ministry through social media platforms by the dedication and donations of our media team.
Our Pastor is dedicated to teaching the word of God and implanting the Word into the hearts and minds of God’s children.
We hope this history will serve to inspire and encourage others to become more involved in the Kingdom’s program for a bigger and better New Fellowship Church.