The history of Macedonia Baptist Church is not unlike that of many urban African American congregations that began in the early 1900’s. The church was first conceived in the hearts and minds of people in and around the Ivy Avenue area of Newport News, Virginia. The people felt the need for a church in that area. They met and organized what is now Macedonia Baptist Church. The first building was completed in July 1906. The physical location of the building was on the corner of Ivy Avenue and 12th Street in the city’s lower southeast community; this clearly defines the demographic and economic roots of the early church. The first members of the church lived in single family framed homes on both sides of Ivy Avenue bounded by 6th and 16th streets to the south and north respectively, and along 12th Street between Ivy and Jefferson Avenues. The homes of the early church members served as the meeting place for the church during its formative years. It was through the faith and commitment of these Macedonians that God provided the resources for them to complete the construction of the first church building in July 1906.
The first church building, a white wooden framed structure, stood prominently on the northwest corner of 12th Street and Ivy Avenue for almost 40 years. During that time, a number of ministers of the gospel served the congregation as its pastor. Reverends Monroe James, Beavley Gardner, Malloy and W. A. Price all served with distinction. It was during the pastorate of Reverend Price that the mortgage on the first church was retired. The church’s growth continued under the leadership of Reverends Zachariah White, Daniels and James Monroe.
In the early 1940’s, as part of the preparation and planning for low-income housing development in the area immediately surrounding the church, the city’s housing authority purchased the church building from the congregation for demolition and provided for their procurement of the property at 1217 Ivy Avenue as the site for a new church building. In 1945, the congregation celebrated the completion of its new block and stucco structure. In addition to the sanctuary that seated approximately 150 for worship, the gleaming white building contained a modest lobby, two rest rooms, a choir stand and pulpit area with a hidden concrete baptismal pool, and two small rooms on each side of the choir stand that served as a choir room and pastor’s study.
The new building was constructed under the watchful eye of Reverend Moses I. Tynes, the most notable of the church’s early pastors. During his pastorate, the church became well known throughout Tidewater for its preaching, and singing ministries. As a result of Reverend Tynes’ innovation, Macedonia became the first African American congregation in the area to broadcast its worship services over the air via radio. Following the death of Reverend Tynes, the church was pastored by Reverends Charles S. Banks, Irvin Waters, and James Hicks who provided solid leadership for the congregation.
In November of 1960, subsequent to the resignation of Reverend Hicks, the congregation called Reverend Thomas L. Hardmon to pastor, thus beginning a new era and an unprecedented period of stability for the church. The church’s accomplishments during the pastorate of Reverend Hardmon were numerous. It was also during his tenure that the congregation elected, with Pastor Hardmon’s blessing, young Reverend Alfred A. Terrell to serve as Assistant Pastor. Near the end of Pastor Hardmon’s 26-year tenure, the congregation was blessed by God to purchase the building that was formerly home for the First Friends Church congregation. On July 7, 1985, the members of Macedonia had a motorcade from the church site at 1217 Ivy Avenue to 201 Pear Avenue. During the short drive, we each had time to reflect on the many people missing from our church family who had somehow and in their own way helped us to keep progressing as a church. One could not help but remember Deacon Grandville Johnson, Deacon J. H. Mosley, Deacon Aaron Corbett, Deacon David Jennings, Deacon Rural Richardson, and Deacon Henry Bunn. Upon Reverend Hardmon’s retirement on January 2, 1987, Reverend Terrell was named Interim Pastor and in January of 1989 was voted Pastor-Elect.
On July 28, 1989, the church building suffered major damage due to an electrical fire. During this time, love and Christian commitment created a bond that kept the Macedonia Baptist Church family together. Thus, “The building was destroyed, but the church still stood!” From July 30, 1989, until September 2, 1990, our worship services were held at Calvary Seventh Day Adventist Church. The Macedonia congregation will forever owe a debt of gratitude to the Calvary Seventh Day Adventist Church family. As a result of the fire, the congregation was able to make a number of beneficial modifications to the structure. The most notable modifications were: the enlargement of the choir stand and the addition of a fiberglass baptistery, restrooms adjacent to the sanctuary, and an office for the music ministry. God blessed us to move back into our reconstructed and improved edifice on January27, 1991 – “Praise God!”
The reconstruction of the church building, thus, became the first phase of a new direction and focus for Macedonia under the leadership of Reverend Terrell. The church’s accomplishments under Reverend Terrell have been chronicled throughout the state of Virginia. In July of 1996, Reverend Terrell founded the In-Agape Family Life and Educational Center, a non-profit 501(c)3 outreach program, based at Macedonia Baptist Church. The most noted new Family Life Center programs were the Stay Up While You Are Out (School Suspension Program) and the One More Chance Program. With the full support of the congregation, the programs have successfully affected and improved the lives of over 4500 at-risk youth in our community. Reverend Terrell’s commitment to service and to all mankind and his unwavering fidelity to the youth of this community through the church’s ministries was unprecedented. So much so that a land use study, conducted by the City of Newport News, deemed the construction of a new facility to house the Macedonia ministries to be the best use of a six-acre tract of land at 5500 Marshall Avenue in the Southeastern section of Newport News. As a result, the property, which was owned by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, was sold to the congregation.
It is because of Reverend Terrell’s foresight and his acceptance of God’s assigned mission that Macedonia has experienced unparalleled spiritual and physical growth. It was also during his tenure that the congregation elected Reverend John A. Wilson and Reverend Edward T. Melton as Assistant Pastors in 1995. Reverend Wilson served to lead a thriving youth ministry while Reverend Melton led the blossoming mature adult’s ministry and substance abuse ministry. Under the leadership of Reverend Terrell the church’s blessings were numerous. Other ministries that commenced under his leadership includes: a Tutorial Program, Tape Ministry, Computer Education Ministry, Early Morning Worship Service, Media Library Ministry, Mature Adults Ministry, and Scholarship Program. Reverend Terrel served the Macedonia Baptist Church Family and the Virginia Peninsula tirelessly until his passing on November 2, 2003. On Thursday, December 4, 2003, the Macedonia Baptist Church Congregation elected Assistant Pastor, Reverend John A. Wilson to serve as Interim Pastor. On February 24, 2005, he was elected as the pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church. His leadership has enabled the church to continually walk in the vision for the new place of worship and ministry at 5500 Marshall Avenue in Newport News, Virginia. He led the groundbreaking ceremony for the church on Saturday, March 20, 2004. With God’s help, the church’s ministries and spiritual strength has continued to grow, and the vision of a new church has been manifested in our lives. The Macedonia Baptist Church Family held their first worship service at 5500 Marshall Avenue in November 2006.
As a result of the Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19), the church was presented with unprecedented challenges. From 03/29/2020 to 06/27/2021 worship services were conducted on Facebook with Pastor Wilson faithfully providing a sermon every Sunday from the sanctuary with the assistance of the Multi-Media Ministry and the Music Ministry providing songs of worship, with no members of the congregation present. On July 4, 2021 with the implementation of the CDC social distancing guidelines, the congregation returned to the sanctuary. The Trustee Board and the Usher Board implemented temperature checks and masks were required to be worn by those in the sanctuary. Today, worship services continue to be provided on Facebook and masks are optional.
We are blessed to have as our Associate Ministers, Reverend Thomas Harrelson, Minister James Howard II, Minister Benetta Johnson, Reverend Jesse Pettaway, Minister Patti Richardson, Minister M. Fay Wilson, Elder Phyllis Marshall and Elder Wilmer Thomas. This congregation continues to fulfill the vision of Pastors Hardmon and Terrell. We stand on their shoulders, over one century from the church’s birth, prepared to worship God and serve our fellow man from our edifice at 5500 Marshall Avenue.
To God, we give the glory, and we thank you for your prayers and continued support as …