Bringing NEW LIFE to New Life Ministry Church

We have a thirty-three-year-old beautiful mid-size church with seven acres of land right on the busiest road in Gloucester, but the membership was in the low twenties when we were asked to become the Pastor in October of 2022.  At the time, it was not the kind of church a good pastor is looking for.  The church did not have the money to pay the pastor more than maybe the food they ate.  It had no insurance, no phone, no internet, etc.  I had retired from my career and was asked to take on this church since it was near my home.

 Our first Sunday drew just about twenty people, and they ranged in age from fifty to eighty-five years old.  We began visiting those who had left the church over the last few years and eventually raised attendance to the mid-forties.  We tried things like setting a tent up advertising free coffee and donuts from 5am to 8am, handed out fliers, running ads in the local paper, etc. with little results.  We needed to do something new and innovative.  We had no kids and wanted to attract them, so we put a six-swing swing set in with rubber mulch.  The cost was more than we wanted, but what is a child worth?  Kids began coming over and swinging once in a while.  Then we had a picnic.  At the picnic, we set up a small freezer and distributed popsicles and ice cream bars.  The children came to swing, and we invited them to join us and even entertain us with their cartwheels and singing.  On Sunday, two of these little ones came to church.  We told them as soon as we have seven for three Sundays in a row, we would have an ice cream party.  The very next week, we had eleven children and one grandmother in the service.  Last Sunday, an ice cream party was held in children’s church.  We are now planning Vacation Bible School.

In addition, we have planted a community garden featuring vegetables and cantaloupes, and plan to invite our neighbors to come and take what they want.  Our COMMUNITY church is now running over fifty, and we are just getting started!  One day, I hope to perform a wedding here, and later, possibly even a baby dedication. 

We are going to reach this community for Jesus.  Amen

Pastor Jack Smith
New Life Ministry Church (Gloucester, VA)