New Life Hampton Celebrates 25 Years

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

Earlier this year, members of the New Life church in Hampton, Va., celebrated its 25th anniversary. Members, friends, community guests and public servants from the local and state levels testified how God has used New Life to make a difference in the community. Among those present, Vice Mayor Steven L. Brown, City Council members and Virgil Thornton Sr. of the Virginia House of Delegates District 86 affirmed New Life’s ministry and legacy.

At the event, Geston Pierre, New Life pastor, shared the church’s three-part vision of its legacy plan: to establish a legacy wall to honor the past and promote the future; to repurpose the facility into a multipurpose center to facilitate greater impact and ministry; and to acquire property or a facility to leverage their community impact.

In honor of its 25th anniversary, the church committed to raise $25,000 to begin the initial phases of the legacy plan. Maurice Byrd, the son of founding member Marie T. Byrd, gave a $2,500 donation in honor of her legacy and to the legacy plans of New Life. Following praise and worship, Claudia Allen, then-volunteer pastor of the Dupont Park church in Washington, D.C., delivered a message titled, “The Gospel According to Disney,” encouraging the congregation to acknowledge its history and embrace childlike faith and creativity.

“The future is bright for New Life,” says Pierre.