From Twelve Founders to a Newport News Landmark
Shalom Baptist Church was organized as a New Testament Missionary Baptist Church on June 10, 1955, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Goode on 27th Street in Newport News, Virginia. Twelve charter members gathered under the leadership of the Reverend Joseph Brackett Reid, D.D., with Mrs. Mary Frances Reid leading the first hymn, "Let the Light from the Lighthouse Shine on Me." Drawing the name from the Hebrew word for peace and grounding it in Matthew 5:9 ("Blessed are the peacemakers"), the founders adopted the motto, "To Minister to People and Serve the Community." For more than three decades, parishioners greeted one another each Sunday with the words, "Shalom, Shalom Aleichem."
Without a permanent home, the pastor and members of a white congregation at 28th Street, the Church of God, invited Reverend Dr. Reid and his small group of Christians to worship in their building after their own Sunday services. On September 25, 1955, Shalom Baptist Church agreed to purchase that first home, known as "Little Shalom," along with its parsonage. The following spring, on May 14, 1956, the church was officially certified as a Baptist church by the Tidewater Peninsula Baptist Association, granting it recognition within the Virginia Baptist State Convention and the National Baptist Convention.
Growth came quickly. Membership rose from the original twelve to more than 700 across 20 to 25 clubs, and two worship services were added at 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. to seat the expanding congregation. In September 1965, Mrs. Mary Frances Reid founded the first Child Care Center established by a Black church in Newport News. On April 18, 1964, the church agreed to purchase its current building from the United Church of Christ, and on March 14, 1965, an automobile caravan of every club and organization left Little Shalom for the doorsill of Shalom Baptist Church at 1111 24th Street, with local high school bands providing music along the way.
A Lineage of Pastors
Reverend Dr. Joseph Brackett Reid shepherded the church for more than three decades before being granted the title Pastor Emeritus in 1988 and 1989. Following his passing in 1994, the pulpit was filled in turn by Reverend Nathaniel Huggins (1990 to 1993), Reverend Peter Evans (1995 to 1999), and Reverend Dr. Derrick Perkins, Sr., who was installed as the fourth pastor on November 20, 1999, after serving the church as associate minister. Under his leadership, the church mission statement became "Preparing God's People for the Lord's Work" (Matthew 28:19-20), and Shalom launched its radio ministry, "A Moment of Peace," on WTJZ 1270 AM in February 2008.
After Dr. Perkins' tenure, the church called Dr. Iris Perkins, his widow and longtime Evangelist, as Senior Pastor. She continues to lead the congregation today.
Sunday Mornings on 24th Street
The church gathers each Sunday at its long-standing home on 24th Street in Newport News. Virtual Sunday School opens the morning at 9:15 a.m., and the Sunday Worship Service follows at 11:00 a.m. The service is built around an inspiring message from the pastor, with congregational singing and choral music supported by a robust Music Ministry, including a Combined Choir, Mass Choir, and a Golden Praise Dancers ministry that has been part of the worship life of Shalom since its debut.
The church describes itself as "a church where you matter" and welcomes first-time visitors with three steps: connect with the church family, meet the pastor, and get engaged in the life of the congregation. Parents are encouraged to bring children and youth to worship, where programming is designed to give young people an enriched spiritual experience.
A Week Filled with Prayer and Study
Worship at Shalom extends well beyond Sunday morning. The rhythm of the week includes corporate prayer on Monday morning at 7:00 a.m. (held virtually) and a Wednesday Bible study at 6:00 p.m. (also held virtually), where members gather to learn more about the Word of God and be strengthened in their walk with Him. The Intercessory Prayer Ministry keeps the church covered in ongoing prayer, while the Noon Day Bible Study and Spiritual Growth Classes meet on Wednesdays for deeper teaching.
Monthly, the church hosts prophetic, prayer, and leadership trainings designed to refresh and renew attendees in the Holy Spirit. The fourth Friday of each month is set aside as Youth Fellowship Night.
Twenty-Six Ministries Under One Roof
Shalom Baptist Church organizes its congregational life through an unusually broad network of ministries. The Deacons Ministry assists the pastor in addressing the moral needs of the congregation, while the Deaconess Ministry and Trustees Ministry carry parallel responsibilities for spiritual nurture and physical stewardship. The Christian Education Ministry oversees teaching across the church, and the Sunday School Ministry coordinates weekly classes.
Worship and the arts are anchored by the Music Ministry and the Drama Ministry. Younger members serve through the Youth Ministry, the Youth Praise Dancers, and the Golden Praise Dancers. Women's Fellowship and the Women's Retreat, alongside the Men's Ministry and the Fruit of the Spirit senior group, give distinct age and gender communities a place to grow together. The Ushers and Gleaners Ministry welcomes and serves worshippers each Sunday.
Care for the congregation runs through the Shepherd's Care Ministry, the Nursing Ministry (a Health Care Ministry offering workshops, screening, and check-ups for members and the wider community), and the Culinary Ministry, which prepares meals for church gatherings. Practical support comes from the Transportation Ministry and the Decorating Ministry, which maintains the sanctuary. The J.B. Reid Scholarship fund supports the educational growth of the church's youth, and the Communication and Social Media Ministry keeps the congregation connected.
Reaching Out Beyond the Walls
Community outreach has been part of Shalom's identity since its founding. Its signature ongoing effort is the Daily Bread Meals outreach, held on Fridays, where volunteers are always needed to help feed neighbors in need. The Homework Assistance Program, started in September 2005 under the leadership of Missionary Patricia Johnson, provides academic support to children in the community. Street Evangelism takes the church's witness into designated community areas each week, and members have organized support for disaster relief efforts in times of national crisis.
At Christmas, the congregation has gathered in the Fellowship Hall to serve full-course meals to more than 100 members of community homeless groups, alongside self-help workshops and gifts for all age groups. The annual Evangelist Explosion, first held on the church parking lot in April 2005, has become a spring tradition for sharing the gospel with neighbors.
Raising Up the Next Generation
Children and youth are central to the life of Shalom Baptist Church. The Nursery, reopened in May 2005 on the second floor of the Education Building, welcomes children up to age 5 under the care of a Nursery Coordinator. Children are expected in worship, and the church frames its investment in young people with the words, "Parents, we got your back!" The Youth Ministry operates as its own entity within the church, with a separate Youth Director and Sponsors, dedicated choirs, and the Youth Praise Dancers who lead movement in worship. Through the J.B. Reid Scholarship fund and the Deacon Jessie T. P. Dixon Scholarship fund, the church invests directly in the educational futures of its young members.
A Faith Centered on Salvation
Shalom Baptist Church teaches that salvation is a free gift of God's mercy, received through faith in Jesus Christ. Drawing on Romans 10:9-13, the church lays out a four-step journey: confessing with the mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, believing in the heart that God raised Him from the dead, receiving salvation through that confession and belief, and being justified by faith, declared righteous in God's sight. The church holds open an invitation to anyone who has received Christ to become a member of Shalom.
Meet the Pastor
Dr. Iris F. Perkins is a respected leader, educator, visionary, and woman of faith based in nearby Hampton. A lifelong advocate for spiritual growth, education, and community empowerment, she holds multiple academic and theological degrees and is the author of nine books, including the #1 International Best-Seller, and her first published work, Deliver Me From..., dedicated to the memory of Reverend Karen L. Robbins. She assists pastors and church leaders in inner healing, deliverance, dream interpretation, and prophetic prayer intercession, and she teaches on spiritual gifts, evangelism, and Christian business in the digital marketplace.
For many years, Dr. Perkins faithfully served alongside her late husband as First Lady of Shalom Baptist Church, strengthening families, mentoring women, supporting church leadership, and cultivating a spirit of unity, healing, and excellence within the congregation and community. A skilled musician as well as a teacher and counselor, she continues to touch countless lives through worship, teaching, and unwavering faith, carrying forward the legacy of ministry that has shaped Shalom for seven decades.