A Church Born on Gum Street in 1906
In 1906, New Jerusalem Church grew out of Old Jerusalem Church with eleven members under the leadership of Rev. Walter Robinson. More than a century later, New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church still meets on Gum Street in the heart of Greenville, Mississippi, where it has become a steady presence in the Mississippi Delta. Pastor Myron Holmes, the tenth pastor in the line, summed up the long arc this way: the church has "a rich history in our local community" and "by the Grace of GOD, we've stood strong."
The building itself carries a piece of that history. In 1951, Pastor J.V. Haywood, who came to New Jerusalem from Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1933, led the congregation in the construction of a new church building. Earlier pastors had set the course: Rev. Walter Robinson (1906 to 1924) planted the church, Rev. Eddie Payne (1924 to 1927) carried it forward, and Rev. Cleveland Williams (1927 to 1932) was remembered for his enthusiasm to remodel and update the church before his death in 1932. Pastors C.R. Raymond and H.C. Cherry each served brief terms from 1956 to 1962, followed by Rev. C.H. Moreland (1962 to 1969), who introduced a "smooth and spiritual program for worship." Rev. Hosea Robinson came from Chicago on December 7, 1969 and led the church until 1985. Rev. Jesse Jackson, elected in February 1986, brought a "fiery, articulate, and strong voice" along with "a Bible-teaching ministry filled with the Holy Ghost." Then, in May 2005, the congregation elected its youngest minister ever: Pastor Myron Holmes, who was installed on September 4, 2005.
Preach to Impact, Not to Impress
Pastor Holmes's motto, "Preach to Impact and Not to Impress," runs through his welcome to first-time visitors. "My hope is that we continue to be Christians that are on a Mission for Jesus Christ through the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and edifying the body of Christ," he writes. The church describes its mission in six words: ministry, mission, fellowship, discipleship, evangelism, and worship, with the goal of evangelizing the unsaved, promoting spiritual maturity, and helping every member become a minister of Christ.
New Jerusalem's Statement of Faith rests on six convictions. The entire Bible is "inspired by God, without error and the authority on which we base our faith, conduct and doctrine." God exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came as Savior of the world. Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins; salvation comes by faith in what He did there, and He rose from the dead and is coming again. Water baptism is a symbol of the cleansing power of Christ's blood and a testimony of faith, and Communion is regularly taken as an act of remembrance. Every believer is called into a growing relationship with Jesus by obeying God's Word, yielding to the Holy Spirit, and being conformed to the image of Christ.
Sundays on Gum Street
Worship at New Jerusalem centers on Sunday morning. Sunday School meets in person from 8:30 to 9:30 AM, with classes for every age from toddlers through senior adults. The youngest class, ages 2 to 5, is taught by Sis. Gloria Sturdevant; ages 6 to 8 meet with Sis. Bertha Morgan; ages 9 to 14 with Sis. Yvette Hurst; ages 15 to 18 with Sis. Leonia Dorsey. Young adults ages 19 to 29 gather with Sis. Cynthia Cannon, adults 30 to 50 with Sis. Angela Faye Holmes, and there are separate classes for women and men ages 50 and older. An Evangelism/Discipleship class for adults meets at 9:00 AM with Rev. Authur Johnson. Most classes also offer Zoom access for those who cannot attend in person.
At 11:00 AM, the Worship Service begins. Visitors are told to expect "a smile, a handshake or even a hug (if you prefer)," a praise and worship time that blends hymns with contemporary music to usher in the presence of the Lord, and a teaching style that seeks to teach the "unadulterated Word of GOD, through exploration, explanation and application." Newcomers should be ready for a friendly "How are you?" - the church writes, "We're not afraid to get to know who you are." Ushers, led by Sis. Gloria Dukes, are usually the first people a visitor meets, and their "pleasant spirit and helpfulness" is meant to make the entrance into worship easier.
Wednesdays of Mission, Tuesdays of Song
The week around the church building is full. On Tuesday evenings, the Adult Choir rehearses from 6:00 to 7:00 PM under Sis. Shequeta Wells-Murphy, with a men's choir rehearsal added on any month that has a fifth Sunday. Youth Choir rehearsals are typically the second Tuesday or Thursday before Youth Sunday. On the second and fourth Tuesdays, Sunday School teachers gather on Zoom from 6:00 to 7:00 PM to discuss the upcoming lessons, a gathering meant to help teachers "Rightly Divide The Word of Truth."
Wednesdays carry two distinct rhythms. Mission Ministry Wednesdays meet from 5:30 to 6:30 PM each week for prayer, praise, and worship, with the goal of equipping members to share their faith "with boldness and confidence." At 6:30 PM, an online Bible study or teaching session is held for those who cannot make it to the building.
Mondays and the early mornings belong to smaller gatherings. The Signing and Deaf Ministry meets for ASL practice on the first Monday of each month from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. The Men's Ministry meets on the second Monday at 6:00 PM on Zoom, an initiative to "help men develop a stronger relationship with GOD and build solid spiritual leaders in our churches, homes, and communities." Four mornings a week, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 to 10:30 AM, the Health Ministry hosts Chair Aerobics on Zoom, open to any member who has cleared it with their physician.
A Network of Ministries
New Jerusalem's ministry directory lists more than a dozen teams, each with its own leader and email address. The Evangelism/Discipleship Ministry counsels, encourages, and equips new disciples with a solid foundation of the Gospel, guided by core values that include loving God and one another, living an exemplary life, making disciples, using spiritual gifts, being good stewards, respecting family, and pursuing excellence. The Mission Ministry, led by Sis. Shelia Parker, gathers weekly for prayer and worship and finds its charge in Jesus's words, "Feed My Sheep."
The College and Singles Ministry (Sis. Cynthia Cannon) and the Young Adult Ministry, known as "The Vine" (thevine@njmbc1906.org), focus on the years between high school and middle adulthood. The Vine's motto is "Real Faith. Real Friends. Real Purpose," and its ministry is rooted in John 15:5 - "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches." The Youth Ministry, led by Sis. Karen Stephney, exists "to REACH youth by showing GOD's unconditional love revealed through Jesus Christ" through the values of REACH, CONNECT, GROW, DISCOVER, SERVE, and HONOR. Graduating high school seniors can apply for the Theodore Rollins Scholarship and Service Award and the Robert James-Myles Memorial Scholarship through the youth program.
The Culinary Ministry (Sis. Sadie Gray) prepares "hearty dishes" for many of the church's events and ensures "a wonderful fellowship experience" at the table. The Audio/Visual Ministry (Bro. Genesis Miller) carries the Gospel into a "visual and sound-driven world," running mics, cameras, graphics, and the church's online presence; team members accept requests for graphic design, audio, and video work, and an A/V Item Checkout form makes equipment available to other ministries. The Choir/Music Ministry welcomes anyone with a musical gift to share, while the Usher Ministry directs and guides the congregation into the worship experience. The Mother's Ministry (Mother Dot Higgins) and the Deacon's Ministry (Bro. William Murphy) provide spiritual nurture and service, and the Homebound Ministry reaches members who can no longer attend in person, sending "an arm from the church" so they remain connected to the church family.
The Food Pantry on Gum Street
In May 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jerusalem launched a food pantry to bridge the food shortage gap in the Mississippi Delta. Today, the pantry continues to serve needy families and individuals in Washington County and surrounding areas. Distribution happens on Saturdays from 7:00 to 9:00 AM at the church, with lead volunteer Sis. Vivian Maddox coordinating the work and foodpantry@njmbc1906.org as the point of contact. A 2026 grant from King's Daughters and Sons Circle Number 2 has helped expand what the pantry can offer. Volunteers, including Sis. Sadie Gray who accepted the grant on the church's behalf, see each visit as a chance to "extend hope, care, and a helping hand to our neighbors in need" and to address food insecurity "one family at a time."
Making the Gospel Accessible: Signing and Deaf Ministry
The Signing and Deaf Ministry, led by Sis. Marie Wilson, works to make sure the Gospel reaches the Deaf community in Greenville and beyond. Its stated goals are to find church members willing to learn the basics of American Sign Language, which the ministry notes is "the third most used language in the United States," to bring together Deaf disciples and hearing ASL learners for teaching and fellowship, and to build trusting friendships with the wider Deaf Community. The ministry meets on the first Monday of each month at 6:00 PM for ASL practice and ministry time.
Staying Connected Online
For those who cannot attend in person, New Jerusalem keeps a strong digital footprint. A livestream page points worshipers to YouTube and other social platforms, and the Audio/Visual Ministry team can provide recordings of past services on request. The Vimeo archive holds recent sermons and special programs, and the church's Facebook page (NewJerusalemMBChurch) and Instagram (@newjerusalemmbchurch) share announcements, media, and updates from across the ministries.
Giving is set up for both members and visitors. Members can create an online giving account through the church's Realm system to view giving history, print statements, and set up recurring gifts. Visitors and members alike can text-to-give by texting NJMBCGVILLE to 73256. The church also operates a Life Outreach Foundation, a 501(c)(3) entity that supports the congregation's broader community work, including the food pantry and scholarships. A current capital campaign is raising funds for the next chapter of ministry on Gum Street.