Baptist Temple Celebrates 50 Years Faith & Fellowship

By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones

MIDDLETOWN – Fifty years of faith, perseverance, leadership, and service were celebrated in grand fashion as Baptist Temple Church held its 50th Anniversary Jubilee Gala on Sunday, September 20th, at Villa Venezia in Middletown. The evening brought together longtime members, clergy, family, and friends to reflect on Baptist Temple’s journey from a small group of believers with a vision to a church that has served generations in the City of Newburgh. Guests first gathered for appetizers and beverages before moving into the main ballroom for dinner, presentations, and dancing, with DJ Gary White providing the music. Deacon Darryl Artis served as Master of Ceremonies and immediately reminded attendees of the reason for the celebration.

“The Lord has been good to Baptist Temple,” declared Deacon Artis. “The Lord has favored Baptist Temple. Every time Baptist Temple was in need, the Lord stuck His hand out, opened up the window, and all the blessings came out.”

Artis also noted something remarkable about the church’s history: in 50 years, Baptist Temple has had only three pastors—founding pastor Rev. Dr. Saul S. Williams, Rev. Dr. Byron E. Williams, Sr., and current pastor Rev. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk-Briggs. Deaconess Glenda Faison provided Scripture and prayer, grounding the celebration in the biblical meaning of Jubilee.

“And you shall consecrate the 50th year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you,” she read from Leviticus 25:10. “We thank you, Lord God, for allowing us to be here and celebrate 50 years… Fifty years of your favor… We thank you, Heavenly Father, for bringing us through the years.”

Karen Moody, who has been part of Baptist Temple since she was 17 years old, continued that theme with a solo rendition of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

“The song that I want to sing reflects how the Almighty has blessed Baptist Temple because He has been faithful to us,” said Moody. “He has been faithful!”

Trustee Kelly Moody-Williams then facilitated the viewing of a video presentation, “Through the Years,” featuring historical photographs from Baptist Temple’s past.

“I found as many pictures from as many years back as we could go,” said Moody-Williams, who thanked John Harris for his technical work scanning and compiling the material. The presentation continued on a loop during dinner, allowing guests to revisit decades of memories.
City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey brought both an official proclamation and his own personal connection to Baptist Temple. Harvey recalled becoming involved with the church after moving to Newburgh as a young man in 1991, participating in its youth department and choir.

“Baptist Temple is always home for me,” said Mayor Harvey, who also remembered a lesson frequently shared by Rev. Dr. Saul S. Williams. “Be nice to somebody somewhere, and somebody somewhere will be nice to you. If somebody’s not nice to you, don’t let that stop you from being nice.”

Mayor Harvey’s proclamation documented Baptist Temple’s history, beginning August 9th, 1976, when 22 believers gathered under Williams’ leadership to discuss forming a new church. On September 5th, 1976, more than 300 people attended the first worship service at 167 Grand Street. The congregation purchased the Westminster Presbyterian Church building in 1977 before relocating in 1982 to its current home at 711 William Street. Rev. Dr. Saul S. Williams served as founding pastor for 27 years. Following his passing in 2003, Rev. Dr. Byron E. Williams, Sr. became the church’s second pastor. In 2019, Rev. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk-Briggs became its third pastor, making history, as the first African American woman to serve as a Baptist pastor in the City of Newburgh.

“This milestone represents 50 years of faith, 50 years of perseverance, 50 years of leadership, 50 years of sacrifice, 50 years of dedication,” Harvey proclaimed.

Rev. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk-Briggs, who is in her 13th year of pastoring and eighth year at Baptist Temple, said reaching the milestone is an experience she does not take lightly.

“It’s an amazing opportunity. It’s been an experience… The journey was already prepared. God had already set out the plan through the founder, Rev. Dr. Saul S. Williams,” said Rev. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk-Briggs as she credited Rev. Dr. Saul S. Williams, who laid a foundation that continues to influence the congregation. “Dr. Saul Williams placed leadership in their hands. He placed excellence in their hands. He placed integrity in their hands.”

One of the evening’s most touching moments came as Rev. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk-Briggs recognized Baptist Temple’s charter members who have been connected to the church throughout its 50-year history. Each charter member was presented with a commemorative award honoring 50 years of membership and service. She also emphasized that those who joined throughout the decades have each contributed to making Baptist Temple the church that it is today. Charter member Sister Carolyn Green traveled from Florida for the Jubilee and spoke about the influence Baptist Temple has had on her life.

“Baptist Temple is my life. It is where I will always call home… It is where I started my journey. It is where a lot of us learned what it is to be a true Christian,” said Green, who remembered Rev. Dr. Saul S. Williams as a visionary who emphasized young people, education, and studying the Word of God. “He had a vision… He took us to higher heights.”

She also acknowledged that the journey was not always easy.

“It has not always been sunshine,” Green said. “But… we have stood tall. We have stood the test of time.”

While the Jubilee provided an opportunity to look back, Rev. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk-Briggs is also looking toward Baptist Temple’s future. Her vision centers largely on bringing more young people into the church.

“My vision is young people because if we don’t, the church dies, and the church lives when you have life,” she said. “I’m seeking the Lord with how to go about trying to get more young people back into the church.”

Rev. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk-Briggs has previously used creative approaches to youth ministry, including a back-to-school event featuring a DJ playing contemporary gospel music, Bible-based movies and anime, youth choir rehearsals, and “Ice Cream Sundays.”

“You gotta let people grow in Christ on the level that they can grow and what’s familiar to them and what pulls them,” she explained. “As long as it’s biblically based, let them move in it.”

For now, however, she wants Baptist Temple to embrace the significance of the moment.

“This is the Jubilee experience,” she said. “It’s an amazing feeling to be part of something as celebratory as this.”

The Jubilee continues Saturday, September 26, at 3 p.m. with a street-naming ceremony honoring founding pastor Rev. Dr. Saul S. Williams. The portion of William Street from Broadway to Ann Street will be renamed Rev. Dr. Saul S. Williams Boulevard. Baptist Temple’s 50th Anniversary celebration culminates Sunday, September 27. Rev. Dr. Byron E. Williams, Sr., now pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Troy, will return for the 9 a.m. service. Dinner will follow, with guests invited to attend. At 4 p.m., Rev. Dr. Elgin Joseph Taylor Sr., pastor of Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Albany and President of the Empire Baptist Missionary Convention, will preach the culminating service. After 50 years, Baptist Temple is celebrating its history, honoring those who laid the foundation, and preparing a new generation to carry that legacy forward.

Journalist Ms. Jones