BLACK
DOLTON, ILLINOIS
CHURCHES
NEW LIFE CELEBRATION CHURCH OF GOD
Six charter members joined Pastor Michael D. and Erica
Reynolds in November 1992 as they planted New Life Cel-
ebration Church of God in Markham, Illinois. For several
months the congregation operated as a mission, sharing
WASHINGTON,
facilities with the Markham Church of God. The two congre-
NORTH CAROLINA
gations merged and the current name was chosen in April
CORNERSTONE FAMILY WORSHIP CENTER
1995. Less than a year later, in February 1996, the congrega-
tion purchased the facilities of the former Dolton Church
Washington Church of God #1, Old Greenville Road, was
of God, a move that was followed by exponential growth in
organized in 1931. In its almost eight decades of ministry, the
ministry outreach, attendance, and finances.
church has been
In 2004, New Life Celebration broke ground for a building
served by only
project, and dedicated its spacious family life center and ban-
five pastors. Such
quet hall in 2005. This expansion provided facilities for the
pastoral longev-
ministries of the church and for the opening of the Chicago-
ity is common in
South Campus of Trinity International University (TIU).
African-American
TIU (home of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), one of
congregations. The
the nation’s leading Christian universities, is located north
founding pastor,
of Chicago. New Life Celebration’s partnership with the
William Anthony,
university makes it possible for students in the Dolton area
served for 27 years (1931-1958), and Julius N. Geiger served
of south Chicago and western Indiana to receive a quality
slightly longer—28 years (1973-2001).
Christian education, leading to a degree, from a classroom
For more than 70 years, the congregation averaged less than
on New Life Celebration’s church campus. Pastor Reynolds
50 in attendance, reaching a low of around 30 with the declin-
is the professor for preaching and other subjects to ministe-
ing health and death of its elderly pastor in December 2001. In
rial students
February 2002, James S. McIntyre Sr. became pastor and district
from vari-
overseer of the Pamlico District. During the first year of this
ous denom-
energetic young pastor’s tenure, the church experienced phe-
inations.
nomenal growth in attendance and membership. In 2003, the
One of
church purchased highly visible acreage on U.S. Highway 264
the core
entering Washington. In September 2005, the church opened
values of
the doors of a spacious new facility, providing worship seating
this con-
for 500, a nursery, toddlers’ room, classrooms, fellowship hall,
gregation
and administrative offices. The name was changed to Corner-
is service
stone Family Worship Center Church of God. Church member-
to others. In addition to its pastoral care teams, the church
ship now numbers more than 200, and hundreds worship regu-
provides ongoing marriage and family issues services, finan-
larly in this beautiful facility.
cial counseling, and a food distribution program. New Life
Bishop McIntyre and the congregation attribute their growth
Institute trains members of New Life Celebration and other
largely to community involvement. Agencies such as Beaufort
churches for Christian leadership, and this congregation is
County Supplementary Educational Tutoring Services, Century
a regular venue for beginning ministers and spouses in the
Community Learning Center, Beaufort County Community Col-
Ministerial Internship Program. Its well-manicured property
lege GED classes, and the local 4-H club all either have involve-
with beautiful facilities, located just off the Bishop Ford Free-
ment from this pastor and members of the congregation or they
way in Dolton, is a beacon of hope in its community.
regularly meet at the church facilities. No regular Sunday night
From its humble beginnings with six members just 18
services are conducted at Cornerstone, but not so the people can
years ago, New Life Celebration has grown to become one of
have a night off. Bishop McIntyre, his choir, and congregation
the leading congregations of the Church of God in the Great
visit smaller churches of all ethnicities on Sunday nights to pro-
Lakes Region, with more than 500 members who call this
vide encouragement and to promote growth and fellowship.
church their spiritual home.
Currently serving as first-elected member of the Eastern North
Carolina State Council, and as a member of the International
Black Ministries Board, McIntyre declares the motto of his church
to be “Loving God, Loving People; Serving God, Serving People.”
18 EVANGEL • FEB 2010
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32