Rooted in Miracle Valley
North Stelton A.M.E. Church has called a quiet corner of Piscataway, New Jersey home since the late 1960s. The church sits at 123 Craig Avenue, where a small parcel of land once gathered thirteen charter members and a handful of children for Sunday School in a neighbor's basement. Generations later, that same address anchors a congregation that serves more than a hundred hot lunches a week to its neighbors, hosts one of the New Jersey Annual Conference's most visited gatherings, and broadcasts its worship online through a livestream. The setting may be suburban Middlesex County, but to the people who fill the pews the property is still known by an older name: Miracle Valley.
From a Basement Sunday School to a Consecrated Sanctuary
The story of North Stelton begins in 1963, when the Rev. Anna M. Howard received an unusual assignment from the Rev. James Waters, then pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E. in New Brunswick: start a church in the North Stelton community. Howard, described in the church's history as a strong Christian woman who never doubted the outcome, began by knocking on doors and holding an organizational meeting in the home of Sister Cordia Fleming. There was no building yet, so she started a Sunday School for the neighborhood's children, first meeting in the basement of Mr. Will Roby on Poplar Road.
Over the next several years, church members including the late Bro. James Bryant and the late Bro. George Hush, Sr., secured the Craig Avenue lot. On November 2, 1969, Bishop John D. Bright and the New Jersey Annual Conference held an official ceremony at the site. By May 7, 1978, the new church was dedicated, with Rev. Edward E. Adams installed as the first appointed pastor and Rev. Ann Freeland as assistant pastor. Membership grew so quickly under Rev. Adams that two Sunday services became the norm.
In April 1989, Bishop Frank Curtis Cummings appointed Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Saunders, Sr. as pastor. Within eight months the original mortgage was paid off, and on December 9, 1989, a Mortgage Burning Ceremony cleared the way for construction of a larger sanctuary. Working with architect Ben Gaudy and contractor Danladi Corporation of Pennsylvania, the congregation watched the present building rise. On June 27, 1992, the church marched into the new edifice in a grand assembly, and a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone to be opened in 2092. Saunders led the church for twenty-nine years before retiring on April 28, 2018, alongside his wife, Sis. Shirley Harris Saunders.
The years that followed brought growth and disruption in equal measure. On June 16, 2018, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram appointed Rev. Dr. Eric R. Billips, Sr. and Rev. Dr. Myra Turner Billips as co-pastors, the first clergy couple to lead the church. They oversaw the burning of a second mortgage in June 2019 and guided the congregation through the COVID-19 pandemic, pivoting to outdoor services and Zoom while expanding the James O. and Wilhelmina Bryant Food Pantry to serve three times as many families as before. On December 1, 2024, Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., appointed Rev. Ritney A. Castine as the new pastor.
A Vision Called North Stelton N.E.X.T.
Pastor Castine arrived with a framework he calls North Stelton N.E.X.T., an acronym for Nurturing, Engaging, EXpanding, and Transforming. The vision statement describes a fruitful, faithful, and future-focused church that connects deeply with God, with one another, and with the surrounding community. The mission that sits beneath it is straightforward: to make disciples, transform lives, and impact communities through the love of Jesus Christ, blending tradition and innovation, in-person fellowship and digital connection, heartfelt worship, and hands-on service.
Under Pastor Castine's leadership, the church has experienced what its members describe as spiritual and organizational revitalization, vibrant worship, and holistic discipleship. His favorite scripture, Matthew 5:16, is printed on his biography: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Sunday Worship and the Livestream
Worship at North Stelton takes place at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday morning, both in person at 123 Craig Avenue and through a livestream carried online. The service carries the warmth of a traditional African Methodist Episcopal gathering, with room for the musical and liturgical gifts of the Music, Worship, and Arts Ministry and the Liturgical Dance Ministry. Visitors who arrive early can settle in for the Bible Institute Sunday Campus, the church's Sunday School, which meets at 9:00 a.m. and is also available via Zoom.
Those who cannot attend in person find the service broadcast through the church's Holy Connection livestream page and its YouTube channel, where a library of past sermons is also kept. Recordings make it possible for shut-ins, college students away from home, and friends in other time zones to keep up with the preaching and music.
Weekdays Filled with Prayer and Study
Beyond Sunday morning, the church keeps a steady rhythm of prayer and Bible study across the week. All Church Prayer meets by phone at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a Women's Prayer Line runs at 6:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. An Intercessory Prayer Ministry gathers at 7:30 a.m. on Saturdays, all by conference call with a shared access code.
Bible study takes several forms. On Wednesdays at noon, Brother Terrell leads a midday study via Zoom; that same evening at 7:00 p.m., Pastor Castine hosts his Bible study both in person and virtually. Seniors meet for their own study on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. Each gathering is open to anyone who wants to dig into Scripture, whether a longtime member or a first-time guest.
Beliefs Grounded in Scripture and AME Tradition
As part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, North Stelton holds beliefs grounded in Scripture, shaped by tradition, and guided by the Holy Spirit. The congregation affirms one God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - revealed through Jesus Christ, whom they confess as the Savior of the world. Through grace, faith, and repentance, they teach, every person can experience forgiveness, redemption, and new life in Christ.
The Bible is received as God's authoritative Word and the foundation of the church's faith and practice. Members affirm the power of prayer, the importance of Christian fellowship, and the call to serve others in love. They understand the Church itself as the body of Christ, called to make disciples, seek justice, and bring healing and hope to the world. The church's own summary puts it plainly: faith is not just what is believed, but how it is lived.
Serving Piscataway Through the Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry
Outreach to the surrounding community has been a hallmark of North Stelton for years and has only deepened under recent leadership. The Bernice Olive Soup Kitchen, established in February 2023, prepares and distributes more than one hundred lunches every week to anyone who comes by. It carries on a ministry that began during the pandemic years, when the church found ways to feed neighbors even while its doors were closed.
The James O. and Wilhelmina Bryant Food Pantry, named for two longtime members, partners with regional food networks to supply groceries to families in need. After reopening following the COVID shutdown, the pantry tripled the number of households it was able to serve and has continued that pace. Together, the two programs make the church one of the most visible food resources in the area.
A Wide Circle of Ministries
Inside the church, a long list of ministries invites members to find their place. Anna Howard Missionary Society continues the work of the church's founder through women's mission and service. The Class Leaders' Ministry, Lay Organization, and Steward, Stewardess, and Trustee Boards keep the spiritual and administrative life of the congregation running. The Music, Worship, and Arts Ministry, Liturgical Dance Ministry, and Drama Ministry shape the sound and movement of weekly worship.
Discipleship and care ministries meet people at every stage of life. The Married Couples' Ministry supports couples seeking to grow together. The Men's Fellowship and the Women's Ministry (Sisters Helping Sisters) offer fellowship and service opportunities by gender. The Ruth E. Burroughs H.E.A.L. Ministry and the Mental Health Ministry address whole-person wellness, while GriefShare walks with those who are grieving. The Legacy in Action - Social Justice Ministry carries the church's call to seek justice beyond the sanctuary walls. The Hospitality Ministry, Culinary Ministry, and Ushers' Ministry keep Sunday mornings welcoming and orderly.
Young people have a strong claim on the life of the church. The Youth Ministry and the Young People's Division (YPD) walk alongside middle and high school students, and a Young Adult Ministry serves those navigating college, early careers, and new families. The Scholarship and Grad Care Ministry supports students as they move from high school into higher education. The Bible Institute Sunday Campus anchors Christian formation for children and youth each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.
Pastoral Leadership and the First Lady's Circle
Rev. Ritney A. Castine brings more than two decades of ministry experience to his role as pastor. A Louisiana native and lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, he was first appointed in 2017 to Trinity A.M.E. in Gonzales, Louisiana, where the church purchased a modern facility and grew into a community-centered congregation. In November 2021, Bishop Julius H. McAllister Sr. appointed him as the twelfth pastor of Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church in Jersey City, where he led post-pandemic reopening, a major renovation of the sanctuary, fellowship hall, and parsonage, and a biweekly community meal that served hundreds. He holds a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and a Master of Divinity, and is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Kairos University, where his research centers on reimagining church leadership in a post-pandemic world. Beyond the pulpit, he serves as Principal and Chief Strategist of Imagine Greater, Inc., a public health and strategic consulting firm.
Working alongside him is Rev. Darius L. Glenn, the church's Executive Minister. Raised in Orlando, Florida, and ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2025, Rev. Glenn focuses on youth ministry, media and digital communications, outreach, worship support, and church operations. He is pursuing a Master of Divinity at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio.
The First Lady, Darsheena Castine, supports the ministry of the church alongside her own career in human resources, real estate, and consulting. A former United States Air Force Civil Engineering Assistant who served at Barksdale Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, she holds a bachelor's in Healthcare Administration from Colorado State University, an MBA in Human Resources Management from Louisiana State University-Shreveport, and is pursuing a Doctorate of Business Administration. Her favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13. Together, Pastor and First Lady Castine are raising their son, Amari.
Congregational Care and Becoming a Member
Members who are navigating baptism, a wedding, hospital visitation, communion at home, food or resource assistance, or bereavement are invited to share those needs through the church's Congregational Care page. The information shared is held with compassion, respect, and confidentiality. Those new to North Stelton can request a New Member Card through the membership page, where they can also indicate interest in any of the church's ministries, from Anna Howard Missionary Society to the Mental Health Ministry, from the Culinary team to the Drama Ministry.
The church office at 123 Craig Avenue is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Online giving is available through the church's secure giving page for anyone wishing to support the ministry, the food pantry, or the soup kitchen.
A Family of God in Piscataway
From thirteen charter members in 1969 to a congregation that hosts the New Jersey Annual Conference and feeds more than a hundred neighbors every week, North Stelton A.M.E. Church has spent more than half a century learning what it means to be a faithful presence in Piscataway. The cornerstone of the present sanctuary holds a time capsule to be opened in 2092, a quiet reminder that the work being done today - in worship, in study, at the soup kitchen counter, and on the prayer line - is being carried forward for a generation that has yet to arrive. To God be the glory.