Our History
“Upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Christian congregations are more than social organizations. They are groups of people who share a common faith in God and are committed to His leading. Our history was written in the firm belief that churches are His, that He calls them into being, and that faithful congregations, like New Covenant, are developed by loyal Christians open to His call and guidance. The information and dates included here were gleaned from a prayerful reflection of the past. New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church was organized under the leadership of Dr. F. L. Crouther on June 10, 1979, with 169 members under the guidance of Reverend W. J. Calvin, Pastor, Mt. Zion Baptist Church. New Covenant had her first service on June 17, 1979, at the Bethel Baptist Church Education facility, where the late Reverend Leonard McDonald was pastor. Dr. F. L. Crouther delivered a very inspiring and timely message, “Going Up Together” using Acts 3:1 as his text. Following this powerful message, more than two hundred new members joined the church. On May 11, 1980, with faith and hope burning brightly, sustained by prayer and determination, Pastor Crouther led his congregation to their current edifice located at 2315 N. 38th Street. New Covenant’s First Anniversary and Dedicatory service was held jointly on June 8, 1980. After worshipping in this edifice for 165 days, portions of the church building and edifice were destroyed by fire, and many treasured contents were lost. As a result, church services at 2315 N. 38th Street were temporarily interrupted. Pastor Anderson of Reformation Lutheran Church offered Dr. Crouther and New Covenant the use of their facilities for worship services and other related activities. On January 4, 1981, services resumed in the lower auditorium of New Covenant. On May 24, 1981, led by Pastor Crouther, the congregation marched upstairs to hold worship services in the main sanctuary. We will always be eternally grateful to Pastor McDonald of the Bethel Baptist Church and Pastor Anderson of Reformation Lutheran Church for the use of their church facilities. New Covenant is thankful to God for her challenges as well as her blessings and accomplishments. On July 13, 1982, New Covenant reached three major milestones. Firstly, New Covenant’s mortgage was paid and burned; secondly, the membership had grown to nearly 1000; and thirdly, New Covenant became a tithing church and placed major emphasis on winning souls to Christ, which is the paramount function of the New Covenant Baptist Church. During our 25-year history, New Covenant has become a progressive, working church and a beacon of hope to its membership and community. To address various needs of the congregation and the community, a number of corporations, programs and ministries have been established under the leadership of Pastor Crouther. They include: New Covenant Housing Corporation, New Covenant Development Corporation, New Covenant Holistic Corporation, New Covenant AODA Corporation, and New Covenant Credit Union; our Hot Meal program, Food Pantry, Clothing Bank, Tutorial program and Boy and Girl Scouts, Evangelistic Ministry, Prison, Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Mission Ministry, Health ministry, Ushers and Nurses Ministry, Music Ministry, Deacon Ministry, Deaconess Ministry, Trustee Ministry, Mothers Ministry, Church School Ministry, Family Life Ministry, and many others. New Covenant has been blessed to answer the call and the needs of the church community and families spiritually, economically, socially and educationally. Our vision continues. Proverbs 29:15 states: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Our vision is to expand our commitment to sponsor more outreach programs in the community, focusing on economic development and family life skills. Our vision also includes building a new church structure to accommodate the growing ministries and church membership. New Covenant is blessed to have a leader such as Dr. F. L. Crouther, a pastor who has a vision, unwavering faith and a prayerful, committed congregation. Pastor Crouther has preached more than 1500 sermons, baptized more than 1200, counseled with hundreds, dedicated countless babies and conducted numerous funerals. Under the leadership of Pastor Crouther, 22 men and women have answered the Master’s call into the gospel ministry, more than 35 Deacons have been crowned and 30 trustees have been chosen to assist the pastor. We thank God for our history and the leadership of our Pastor, Dr. F. L. Crouther. We give God all the praises and honor for the journey. Our steps will be ordered and our future determined by the same God who has successfully directed our past.
Our Pastor
Dr. F.L. Crouther
Pastor
Rev. Dr. F. L. Crouther is the founding and current Pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church. Dr. Crouther’s roots can be traced back to Greater Galilee Baptist Church as Associate Minister and then Interim Pastor before being installed as the Pastor on January 30th, 1972. Dr Crouther pastured Greater Galilee faithfully for 8 years. On June 9th, 1979 under direction from the Holy Spirit, with 156 faithful followers in attendance Dr. Crouther shared his plan to organize New Covenant Baptist Church. On October 28th, 1979 Dr. Crouther was officially installed as the first Pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church. That same year New Covenant was able to purchase the building at the present location. Under his leadership the Deacon Board, Deaconess Board, General Mission, Mother’s Board, Music Ministry, Laymen’s Brotherhood, Usher Board, Nurses Unit, Senior Citizens Unit, Girl and Boy Scouts and the New Covenant Housing Corp. Dr. Crouther completed his undergraduate studies at Alcorn A&M University (formerly Alcorn A&M College) in Lorman, Mississippi and the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee. He earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Strategic Leadership from Faith Seminary in Tacoma, Washington. Commissioner Crouther has served as President of the Wisconsin General Baptist State Convention, Inc., 2nd Vice-President of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., Treasurer of the Board of Directors for OIC-GM, and Chairman of the Community Safety Coalition among other board and leadership appointments. He is a life member of the NAACP and has received a number of awards for his community involvement and leadership both locally and nationally. Dr. Crouther is currently a member of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission. New Covenant is blessed to have a dedicated committed and exemplary leader in Dr. Crouther. He has followed his vision given to him by God; and continues to work steadfastly in the kingdom building business. He has preached more than 1500 sermons, baptized more than 1200 adults and children, counseled with hundreds and conducted scores of weddings and funerals. Under his leadership, he has been a mentor many Pastors; over 22 men and women have answered the called to the Gospel Ministry, more than 35 deacons crowned and 30 trustees appointed to assist the Pastor. We give all the praise and glory to God for directing our path and providing us with the dignified and esteemed leadership of our founder, Dr. FL Crouther
Our Church Vision, Mission, Goal and Worship
Vision
Equipping believers for the work of Ministry, touching the world with the Love of Christ.
Mission
Our Mission is to evangelize with the purpose of reaching all mankind, the lost and the un-churched and minister the glorious message of Jesus Christ.
Goal
To develop a holistic ministry that empowers believers to fulfill all their potential God created them to be.
Worship
To create and facilitate an authentic-spirit-filled worship that promotes the Christ, The Son of the Living God.
Worship
To meet the total need of man’s physical, social and spiritual being- and seek to empower the believer to fulfill all their God given potential.
Our Covenant
Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
We do now, in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore; by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love: to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge and holiness; to give it a place in our affections, prayers and services above every organization of human origin;
to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly as God has prospered us, towards its expenses for the support of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel throughout the world.
In case of difference of opinion in the church, we will strive to avoid a contentious spirit, and if we cannot unanimously agree, we will cheerfully recognize the right of the majority to govern.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to study diligently the word of God; to religiously educate our children;
to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintance; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be kind and just to those in our employ, and faithful in the service we promise others; endeavoring in the purity of heart and good will toward all men to exemplify and commend our holy faith.
We further engage to watch over, to pray for, to exhort and stir up each other unto every good word and work. to guard each other’s reputation, not needlessly exposing the infirmities of others; to participate in each other’s joys, and with tender sympathy bear one another’s burdens and sorrows;
to cultivate Christian courtesy; to be slow to give or take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, to secure it without delay;
and through life, amid evil report, and good report, to seek to live to the glory of God, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. when we remove from this place we engage as soon as possible, to unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
And now unto Him, who brought again from the dead, our Lord Jesus, Be power and glory forever, Amen.
Our Ordinances
We believe that Christian Baptism
is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Saviour with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a church relation
We Hold Communion
as a symbolic ordinance instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper, as a command from Christ to be observed regularly in remembrance of His sacrifice. The bread symbolizes Jesus’ broken body, and the wine symbolizes His shed blood, representing the new covenant in His blood