Nia's Story

“Nia’s Story”

 

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

 

Ornithologists in their study of the mighty majestic eagle have discovered that because of their ability to find the columns of warm air which rise from the earth, eagles are able to stay aloft indefinitely, and often without even moving their great wings.

And so begins the story of Nia, a people of purpose, having the ability to purposely wait on the Lord for direction then find renewed strength which enables us to rise above the noise and clamor and soar to higher heights, to tell of His excellent goodness in new and exciting ways.

The history of Nia is replete with details of our journey through the wilderness, led by the Holy Spirit and our deliverance to our “promised land.”   Following is a brief chronology of the Nia story:

2002

  • February 3, 2002 - Initial conception of church establishment
  • February 9, 2002 – Group met to officially establish a church calling the Rev. Moses A. Knott, Jr. as Pastor.
  • March 9, 2002 – Trustee ministry formed.   By-Laws committee established.  Selected the name “The Nia Movement.”
  • Hired Moses Knott, III as minister of music
  • March 15, 2002 – Incorporation status granted
  • Selected the name “The Nia Fellowship Baptist Church” as the official name, “One People of Purpose” adopted as church motto
  • May 12, 2002 – First official public worship at St. John’s Masonic Lodge
  • Official ministry, Church Officers, groups and auxiliaries established
  • September 8, 2002 – First Daughter, LaWana Knott Licensed
  • October 13, 2002 – Deaconess H. Session Licensed

2003

  • Location search committee formed to seek a permanent worship site
  • September 26, 2003 – Death of Pastor Moses A. Knott, Jr.

2004

  • Pastoral Search committee established.
  • January 4, 2004 – Rev. Alphonsus Platt invited as guest preacher and to officiate the ordinance of communion.  Several other clergypersons were invited throughout the year.
  • Location Search Committee surveyed the congregation for worship site preferences
  • Toured facilities throughout the year under the leadership of the Location Search committee, to no avail. 
  • June 13, 2004 – Pastoral Search committee recommended that the church approach Rev. Alphonsus Platt to serve as Acting Pastor.
  • September – December – Rev. Alphonsus Platt served as Acting Pastor
  • December 5, 2004 – By-Laws and constitution adopted.

2005

  • January 30, 2005 – Rev. Alphonsus Platt installed as Pastor.
  • Building fund established
  • Hired minister of music, Robert Williams
  • Donated to Tsunami Relief fund
  • Missions Saturday outreach (Adopted Isaiah House – provided meals and clothing to the homeless on a monthly basis)

2006

  • Pursued property in Orange to no avail. (Hillside and Valley Presbyterian Church)
  • Deacons and Ministerial staff assigned as  Fold Leaders of member groups to assist Pastor Platt in providing immediate response to the membership issues or concerns
  • Ordained Associate Ministers Harriet Session and Walter Longshore
  • Deaconess Consecration service
  • Provided scholarships for three high school graduates

2007

  • Relocated to 30 North Clinton Street then to Patrick Healy Middle School in East Orange
  • Celebrated the Church 5th Anniversary

2008

  • Massive Relocation Fund initiative established
  • March 21, 2008 – Obtained 501(c)(3) status
  • Minister of Music, Robert Williams resigned
  • December 2008 Relocated to 506-510 Linden Place in Orange
  • Hired Clarkson Melton as Music Coordinator
  • Deaconess Consecration
  • Evangelistic services hosted by the clergy staff
  • First Annual celebration of  “God Not Guns” Sunday

2009

  • Associate Minister Jerryann Hendricks Licensed in March
  • New member “meet and greet’ hosted by the deaconess and a deacon fold celebration hosted by the deacons
  • Instituted the weekly sacrificial offering and distributed seed cards to friends and family
  • Designated each third Sunday as Youth Sunday and fifth Sunday as Missions Awareness
  • Established Board of Trustees for 501(c)(3) corporation
  • First Community Evangelism walk
  • September 2009 Joined the New Hope Baptist Association

2010

  • First annual “Super Bowl for Christ” Sunday
  • Pursued interest in property located at 80 Washington Street, West Orange, to no avail
  • Established Youth Director
  • Submitted Charter School application.  (Rejected at this time)
  • Heightened acquisition efforts toward the property at 506-510 Linden Place, to no avail
  • Charitable donation from Engineers Local 825 made to the Scholarship fund
  • Submitted an offer for purchase of the Patterson Memorial Presbyterian Church in West Orange to no avail.

2011

  • “Bring a member to church” campaign challenge
  • Thematic focus for the year Sacrificial → Deliverance → Commitment → Victory
  • Acquired funding source and continued search for worship site (Plainfield, Elizabeth properties viewed, to no avail)
  • Offer submitted to GOC church (506-510 Linden Place) for purchase, to no avail
  • Hosted a Health and Wellness program for the United Clergy of the Oranges (Pastor Platt- served as Vice President and Treasurer  of the Clergy Association)

2012

  • Developed a Planning committee for 501(c)(3) programs (Grant writing, Commercial, Daycare)
  • Celebrated the Church’s 10th Anniversary
  • Developed leadership model
  • Major fundraising effort – GOA’s hosted monthly services
  • October 12, 2012 – Special Celebration to honor our Lady Platt sponsored by the Women’s Day Committee

2013

  • 2013 operating budget prepared by the Trustee ministry
  • Continued location search for permanent worship site
  • Began initial phase toward acquisition of property located at 174 So. Valley Road in West Orange, NJ
  • June 9th – Mothers of Distinction Installation:
    • Mother Betty Beamon
    • Mother Lucretia Daniel
    • Mother Dorothea James
    • Mother Luvenia Jeter
    • Mother Mary Kimber
    • Mother Neaera Knott
    • Mother Leoara Liggins
    • Mother Thelma McCrimmon
    • Mother Martha Melton
    • Mother Gwendolyn Reynolds

  2014

  • Pastor Platt installed as President of the Clergy of the Oranges and Vicinity
  • Massive fundraising efforts toward purchase of 174 So. Valley Road
    • 365 Fund initiated
    • Go Fund initiated
  • Secured funding for purchase of 174 So. Valley Road
  • Closed on property July 18, 2014
  • July 27, 2014 – First worship service at 174 South Valley Road
  • Instituted Annual Test the Tithe Sunday in November

2015

  • September 18th celebrated First Anniversary of Church acquisition
    • Pastor Samuel Wright celebrant
  • September 20th Reconsecration Service
    • Pastor Platt celebrant
  • Capital Improvement Project Campaign
    • Major renovations and building improvements
  • Community Health Fair hosted by the Missionary Society
  • Pastor participated in community outreach

2016

  • Renamed the high school scholarship in honor of Mother Thelma B. McCrimmon
    • First recipient of the scholarship
      • Aaliyah Williams
      • Jordan Purcell
  • Mass Choir debut at church anniversary
  • Pastor presented a debt free empowerment workshop
  • Ongoing GOA events
  • Internal Audit committee established
  • Feed My Sheep implemented by the Deaconess Ministry
  • Ministry Leaders retreat
  • New members meet and greet
  • New member disciple classes
  • Joint New Year’s Eve service with New Beginnings Faith Fellowship Church in Orange

2017

  • Amended and adopted the church’s bylaws
  • Instituted Mindful Academy Awareness for Children (MAAC) – a tutorial program encompassing Language Arts Literacy for High School students
  • Sanctuary Improvement Fund led by the youth
  • Meet and Greet Church Leaders Forum hosted for all new members
  • Instituted Empowerment Wednesdays
  • Re-united with Imani Baptist Church in celebration of Church Anniversary – Rev. Derik Lee (Imani Baptist Church) - Celebrant
  • Annual Community Health Fair sponsored by the Missionaries
  • Community Evangelism walks

2018

  • Continued the Church’s “Sweet 16” Anniversary
  • The Women’s Ministry presented a Domestic Abuse Seminar
  • Instituted “Adopt A Bill” – Each Auxiliary participated
  • Ordained Evangelist Jerryann Hendriks to the Gospel Ministry
  • Established a Nominations Committee
  • Hosted a Community Valley Arts Flea Market
  • Welcomed sister church “Rhema”
  • Celebrated Joint Men/Women’s Day

2019

  • Annual “Super Bowl For Christ” Sunday Breakfast
  • Celebrated 14th Pastoral Anniversary (Elder Wayne Brunson and Rhema Church)
  • Hosted a “Paint & Chill” and Family Game Night for the Pre-Church Anniversary Fellowship
  • Celebrated the Church Anniversary (Pastor Ralph Branch, Jr.)
  • Presented an afternoon of Classical Music, Brother Brian Fenderson and Friends (Voices of Spring)
  •  Celebrated Men’s Day – “Men Staying Connected With God” – Pastor Platt – Celebrant
  • Hosted Women’s Day Prayer Breakfast
  • Celebrated Women’s Day – “Designed, Defined, Destined” Rev. Thursell Williams - Celebrant
  • Annual Community Health Fair sponsored by the Missionaries
  • Community Book- Bag give-a-way sponsored by the Scholarship Committee
  • Celebrated Kwanzaa and Watch Night Service with New Beginnings (Pastor Alan Lawrence- Celebrant)

2020

  • Celebrated 15th Pastoral Anniversary
    • Friday Celebrant – Dr. Milton Biggham (Mt. Vernon Baptist Church)
    • Sunday Celebrant – Rev/ Dr. Marion Franklin (First Baptist Church, Vaux Hall)
  • Super Bowl for Christ Sunday sponsored by the Men of Nia
  • Celebrated the 18th Church Anniversary – Rev. Gilbert C. Young, Jr. (Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church) – Celebrant
  • Hosted the United Clergy of the Oranges Ash Wednesday Service – Pastor Alan Lawrence (New Beginnings) – Celebrant
  • March 22nd – Due to Covid 19- First Virtual Worship Service “The building was closed but the church was open.”)
  • Virtual Bible Study/Sunday School held weekly
  • July 19th Park and Praise Worship Service celebrating the 6th Year of Church Acquisition – Worship from the car
  • August Guest Preachers: - “Preparing the Soil”
    • Rev. Gilbert Young, Jr.
    • Rev. Longshore
    • Rev. Marcus Johnson
    • Rev. Thursell Williams
  • September 6th – Return to the sanctuary – “Welcome Back Service”
  • Served as a Covid 19 Testing Site for the community (9/22/20)
  • Celebrated “God Not Guns” Sunday
  • Celebrated Men’s Day – Rev. Glenn Andrews (Greater Cornerstone) – Celebrant
  • Celebrated Women’s Day – Rev. Carolyn Ricks (New Eden Baptist Church) – Celebrant
  • DMAC presented “Thankful For Family” – Night at the opera with young, gifted and talented performers
  • Thanksgiving Virtual Service
  • Watchnight Virtual Service

2021

  • Celebrated 16th Pastoral Anniversary:
    • Friday Celebrant – Dr. Stephen Webb (New Life Christian Center) – Celebrant
    • Sunday Celebrant – Rev. William Rutherford III (Ebenezer Baptist Church)
  • Celebrated Super bowl for Christ Sunday sponsored by the Men of Nia
  • Celebrated the 19th Church Anniversary – Rev. Lori Williams (Word of Life Christian Fellowship) – Celebrant
  • Celebrated Women’s History Month/Youth Sunday-
    • Honored Deacon Cynthia Umukoro -1st Female Deacon for exemplary dedication to God, church family and community
  • Youth Rededication to Christ Weekend
    • Pizza Party sponsored by Deacon Odell Harris and West Orange Quick Check
  • Celebrated Mother’s Day- Rev….( New Hope Hackensack) - Celebrant
  • Induction of New Mothers of Distinction on Mother’s Day
    • Mother Sylvia Black
    • Mother Ruth Davis
    • Mother Essie Martin (Posthumously)
  • Community Outdoor Worship Service – “Reviving, Restoring, Reigniting the Sanctuary”
  • August Preachers: - “Reviving, Restoring, Reigniting the Sanctuary”
    • Rev. Platt
    • Rev. Longshore
    • Rev. Carolyn Ricks
    • Re. Marcus Johnson
    • Rev. Thursell Williams
  • Consecration and 7th Year Acquisition Service
    • Silva F. Umukoro Inaugural Humanitarian Award presented to Kyrie Irving Foundation
  • Celebrated the Ushers/Nurses Annual Day
    • Honored the late Beverly Daniel (Chief Usher)
  • Celebrated Pastor’s Birthday sponsored by Dr. Platt
  • Celebrated Men’s Day – Rev. Gilbert C. Young – Celebrant
  • Co-sponsored Haiti Disaster Relief with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
  • Celebrated Women’s Day – Rev. Dr. Millie Biggins (New Hope Baptist, East Orange) -Celebrant
  • Hosted weekly House Fitness Health/Wellness Sessions
  • Fellowship Singers annual day celebration featured tenor, Brian Fenderson along with a string quartet (DMAC and friends)
  • “Keeping Christ in Christmas” worship service sponsored by the Clergy Staff- Rev. Robert Clegg (New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church) – Celebrant
  • Hosted a virtual Kwanzaa Celebration featuring noted Kwanzaa Guru, Evelyn Stanley
  • Celebrated Watchnight service with New Beginnings Faith Fellowship – Pastor Al Platt was the celebrant