The History of Macedonia Baptist Church in Lakewood, NJ

 

 

A group of Christian believers were the founders of Macedonia Baptist Church in 1905. The first Pastor was Rev. M. F. Matthews.

 

The Church was founded for the purpose of worshipping God and uniting the Body of Christ. The following are the blessed persons who have served as Pastors of Macedonia:

 

1) Rev. M. F. Matthews (1904-1915)

2) Rev. J. W. Griffin (1915-1921)

3) Rev. Luck (a few months in 1921)

4) Rev. Albert T. Turner (1922-1923)

5) Rev. Calvin S. Marshall (1923-1937)

6) Rev. J. W. Griffin (1938-1958)

7) Rev. Troy L. Mills (1958-1964)

8) Rev. John Goodwin, Jr. (1965-1966)

9) Rev. Dr. Albert C. Clayton (1966-1998)

10) Rev. Dr. Edward D. Harper (2000-present)

 

Rev. Dr. Albert C. Clayton (1966-1998) 32 years of Pastorate

He established a building program and the edifice was expanded. The membership grew. An education wing was added to the church. A day care center was instituted. The Macedonia Debutante Cotillion and the Lizzie Dunn Scholarship Ministry were formed.

The feeding program was established and Sister Doris Rozier was the President. The Macedonia Missionaries and Sister Rozier prepared hot meals for the needy of the community. More than 3,000 dinners were prepared and taken to the needy in the community during Thanksgiving and Christmas by the Pastor and the Macedonia Missionaries.

Pastor Clayton formed the Macedonia Housing and Development Corporation.

This corporation was formed to further develop the area around the Church. This corporation built a 50-unit senior citizen building on John Street in Lakewood.

 

Rev. Dr. Edward D. Harper (2000-present)

Dr. Harper instituted a biblical motto that has been inspired by 1 Corinthians 2:9 which states, “Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, nor minds have conceived what God has prepared for those who love the Lord.”

This biblical motto has inspired Dr. Harper to lead the Church to higher grounds both spiritually and physically! The Bible Study Ministry has tripled and the membership is increasing.

Dr. Harper has implemented many new ministries at Macedonia.

Holy Communion is served every Sunday except the fourth Sunday when Baptism is done.

Youth Church was established.

Yoke Ministry was formed so every new member of the church can personally be partnered with a Deacon or Deaconess to help them feel more welcomed and comforted as they walk into the new journey of the church.

New Members Classes were implemented so new members would have a better understanding of what it means to be a believer of Christ and a member of a church. Each new member must attend three classes before receiving the Right Hand of Fellowship.

Discipleship Ministry Manual was developed by Dr. Harper to be used as a modeling tool which helps strengthen new members growth in Christ! This manual is based on Matthew 28: 18-20 and Matthew, chapters 5, 6 and 7.

Millennial Ministry is a Christian Ministry that has been designed to help those who are between the ages of 24 to 44 years old. This Ministry helps young people form a closer relationship with the Triune God! Millennial Ministry develops multimedia and art ministry. It finds ways to care for toddlers in a safe area of the church while young parents enjoy the worship service in the sanctuary. Millennial Ministry is bringing Praise Dancing back to Macedonia. The Ministry demonstrates “joy” in serving God and coming to Church.

Dr. Harper has had the following Associate Ministers:  Rev. (J) Joshuwa Armstrong, Christian Education Ministry, Rev. Agnes McClendon, Evangelism Ministry, Minister Odis Carter, Good Will Ministry, Minister Gary Gainey, Millennial Ministry, Minister Jeffrey Prince, Youth Ministry, Minister Karen Paden, Women Ministry and Minister Patricia Skogsberg, Health and Wellness Ministry.

Macedonia Family Life Community Complex, Inc. (MFLCCI)

Dr. Harper is the founder, executive director and CEO of MFLCCI. It is a 501-C-3, nonprofit corporation that was founded in September 2001. The corporation has been organized to provide social and education services for the development of family values and the enrichment of the community. This cooperation also assists the needs and the development of individuals and families by training them technically and socially. Further, this corporation enables individuals and families to improve and obtain skills, knowledge and motivations that are needed to become more marketable in the workplace and more socially assimilated in the community.

From 2005-2015 New Deacons were Ordained:

Sunday, May 27, 2001, Brothers Carnell Marable, James Savage, Eddie R. Walton and Albert Williams were ordained.

Sunday, March 24, 2002, Brothers Kirk Morton, James Palmer and William Smith were ordained.

Sunday, May 25, 2003, Brothers LeVern Johnson and Milton Love, Sr. were ordained.

Sunday, October 21, 2007, Brothers John King and Linwood McWilliams were ordained.

Sunday, April 11, 2010, Brothers Bernard Conley, Melvin Paden, James Plummer and Bennie Bivins, Jr. were ordained.

Sunday, June 2, 2013, Brother Elton Adkinson was ordained.

Sunday, December 6, 2015, Brothers Danny Bivins, Sr. and John A. Warner were ordained.

From 2007-2023 Trustees were appointed:

July 1, 2007,  New Trustees Danny Bivins, Curtis Clark, Joyce Glasby, LeVern Johnson, John King, Linwood McWilliams, Marilyn Toombs and Towaner Williams were appointed.

January 1,2008, Deacon John Gill was appointed to the Trustee Ministry.

January 1, 2009 Brother Virgil Dowtin III was appointed to the Trustee Ministry.

January 1, 2010 Sister Valerie Williams was appointed to the Trustee Ministry.

February 1, 2011 Brothers Elton Adkinson and Bernard Conley were appointed to the Trustee Ministry.

January 1, 2013 Sister Patricia Hall was appointed to the Trustee Ministry.

January 1, 2014 Brother Jake Fisher was appointed to the Trustee Ministry.

January 2017 Brother Robert Skogsberg was appointed to the Trustee Ministry.

January 2019 Brother Gary Gainey was appointed to the Trustee Ministry.

March 2023 Brother Tony Smith was appointed to the Trustee Ministry.

NEW MINISTER 2013

Minister Karen Paden was licensed on Sunday, November 10, 2013.  Currently there are Three (3) Associate Ministers, Rev. J, Gary Gainey and Karen Paden. Other Associate Ministers that have served was Minister Bennie Bivins, Sr.(deceased), Minister Cynthia Mayfield, Rev. Cager Brown,(deceased), Minister Daquan Williams, Rev. Robert Morris, now Pastor at the Sixth Street Baptist Church in Lakewood, NJ, Minister Clarence Worthy, Jr. (deceased), Minister Odis Carter, Minister Patricia Skogsberg and Rev. Agnes McClendon.

Our Pastor has served from 2006-2010 as Seacoast Missionary Baptist Association Moderator.  Our Pastor also serves as Chaplain for the Lakewood Police Department, Lakewood, NJ, has served as Assistant General Secretary of the General Baptist State Convention in New Jersey and has served as Executive Assistant to President Guy Campbell, Jr.

He is the former Director of the Congress of Christian Education for the State Convention.  He is the Vice President of the Concerned Citizens in Action in Lakewood, NJ.