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Synopsis of Shalom Baptist Church History 1955-2008
Shalom Baptist Church was organized, as a New Testament Missionary Baptist Church, June 10, 1955, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Goode, 740-27th Street, Newport News, Virginia, by the late Reverend Joseph Brackett Reid, D.D.
Mrs. Mary Francis Reid led the first song, “Let the Light from the Lighthouse Shine on Me.” In keeping with the spirit of love, harmony, and peace: the name, “Shalom Baptist Church” was suggested by Reverend Dr. Reid based on the principles preached by “Jesus who in His Sermon on The Mount” said, in St. Matthew 5:19, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God,” with the initial church motto–“To Minister to People and Serve the Community.” Each Sunday, Shalom Baptist Church parishioners quoted, “Shalom (Peace), Shalom Aleichem (My Peace Be With You),” from 1955 to 1988.
During its initial organization and framework, the following 12 persons were present:
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Reverend Dr. Joseph B. Reid
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Samuel Clarke
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James Page
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Dr. Mary Frances Reid
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Weldon Davis
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Louise Sample
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Ida Flake Alexander
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Charity Goode
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William T. Stewart, Jr.
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Dorsey Washington
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Chauncey Pringle
The following were elected as the first church officers:
Reverend Dr. Joseph Reid: Pastor
Dr. Mary Frances Reid: Church Secretary
William T. Stewart, Jr.: Trustee/Church Clerk
Dorsey Washington: Deacon
Weldon Davis: Deacon
James Page: Deacon
Samuel Clarke: Deacon
Chauncey Pringle: Deacon
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Newport News, VA 23607
Without a permanent church home, the Pastor and members of the Church of God, a white congregation, at 850-28th Street, Newport News, invited the Reverend Dr. Reid and his small group of Christians to worship and use their church home for their worship services after their regular morning services. On September 25, 1955, the Shalom Baptist Church agreed to purchase the “Little Shalom” church and its parsonage from the Church of God. On Monday, May 14, 1956, Shalom Baptist Church was officially certified as a “Baptist Church” by the Tidewater Peninsula Baptist Association, which allowed membership and church recognition within the Virginia Baptist State Convention and the National Baptist Convention.
The First Church Anniversary was observed from Sunday, June 3rd. through Sunday, June 10, 1956, with the theme “In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” based on the emphasis Scripture Psalm 133:1.
On June 17, 1962, Shalom Baptist Church celebrated the church’s mortgage burning. Shalom’s membership grew continuously from the original twelve to over 700 members with 20-25 clubs. To accommodate its increased congregational membership, two worship services were firmly incorporated at 8:00 and 11:00 a.m.
On April 18, 1964, the Shalom Baptist Church agreed to purchase its current building from the United Church of Christ. Upon entry to our current church site on March 14, 1965, a great automobile caravan of all clubs and all organizations left the premises of “Little Shalom” to the doorsill of Shalom Baptist Church, 1111-24th Street, with a great deal of community support as musical arrays were provided by local high school bands.
It is to be remembered that the first Child Care Center was established by a black church in Newport News, founded by Dr. Mary Frances Reid, September 1965.
During the years of Shalom Baptist Church, six of its members were called to the Gospel Ministry: Reverend Dr. E.T. Byrd, Reverend Dr. T.T. Brown, Reverend Joseph Dupree, Reverend Dr. M. Ivory Jefferson, Reverend Walter Dean and Reverend John A. Mann, Jr. As our pastor physically aged and health concerns evolved, Reverend Arthur House, Jr. assisted Pastor Reid with worship services. In 1988-1989, the church acknowledged and accepted the retirement of Pastor Reid, with the bestowed title, Pastor Emeritus.
Reverend Dr. Reid and Mrs. Dr Reid were towers and pillars of strength encouraging its members to develop themselves progressively and intelligently.
Mrs. Dr. Mary Francis Reid succumbed October 23, 1991 and Pastor Emeritus Reverend Dr. Joseph Brackett Reid succumbed March 20, 1994.
