JANS – Dr. Jerry Young, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, was officially installed as president of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. The historic event took place at 7:00 p.m. at the Jackson Convention Complex in downtown Jackson. Dr. Young is the first president of the nation’s largest African American organization, 7.5 million members, to hail from Mississippi while serving as pastor.
Dr. Young is a native of Scott, Mississippi. He is one of ten children of Rev. E.L. and Elizabeth Young. He fondly recalls his life as a “preacher’s son”. Add growing up in the Mississippi Delta in the heart of the Civil Rights Era, enduring the pains and struggles of several disappointments, and beating the odds of his predetermined failures, and it becomes increasingly clear why God called him to the ministry at the young age of 17.
His service began at Mt. Tennia Baptist Church in Lamont, MS and extended to him serving as pastor of St. John and Pilgrim Rest Baptist Churches, both in Greenville, MS. Dr. Young has faithfully led the vibrant congregation of New Hope Baptist Church since 1980. He is the founder and headmaster of New Hope Christian Pre-School and New Hope Christian Elementary School, together serving 300+ students, from infants to 6th grade.
An avid scholar and life-long learner, Dr. Young attended Nugent Center High School in Bolivar County and went on to attain an Associate of Arts in Social Science from Coahoma Junior College in Clarksdale, MS. He received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Social Welfare from Rust College in Holly Springs, MS, where he met and married the love of his life, Helen Akins Young.
With her support and encouragement, Dr. Young has earned a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. Instilling the values of faith, education, and love, they are the proud parents of two daughters, Jerlen (Matthew) Canada and Kelli Elizabeth (Benjamin) Hart; and five grandchildren: Linzee, Lauryn, Benjamin, Harper Elizabeth and Braxton.
Dr. Young has led his congregation to embrace a vision for ministry and missions. “Our vision is to touch our community with the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ in order that a Christian-world and life view may permeate our communities,” he said.
With this global perspective in mind, Dr. Young’s major objective for the church is “…to glorify God through our commitment to help Christ fulfill His mission in the world.” Under his watchful care, he has led New Hope to experience explosive growth physically, spiritually, and influentially for the cause of Christ. To date, the ministry is comprised of over 3,000 members and 44 ministries.
As a mission-driven institution, New Hope excels in ministries and missions, from as close as the church’s backyard all the way to Honduras and Africa, with the visionary leadership of Dr. Young, coupled with the various talents and sacrifices of the church staff, administrative staff, and members of the body.
He credits the “quality people who help me do ministry” with the effectiveness of the church’s call to answer. During his tenure as national president, he remained committed to lead New Hope’s capital campaign to erect a state of the art facility on the 24-acre property purchased around the corner from its former campus that is still in full use. Since then, Dr. Young provided inspiration for New Hope to adopt a new motto: “It takes teamwork to make the dream work!” “They make it happen,” he says. And indeed, from the young children to the seasoned adults, they are all on the team, making it happen.
Active in the community, Dr. Young has served on several local, state, and national boards and has been awarded numerous prestigious honors and awards. In addition, he is a regularly invited guest to speak/lecture at the various schools, colleges, and school districts throughout Mississippi and across the nation. A highly-skilled and sought-after minister, Dr. Young has had the opportunity to preach in pulpits across the country and has breached several racial and denominational lines, touching them with the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Prior to being elected national president, Dr. Young served on the Board of Trustees at Belhaven College in Jackson, MS, as well as his alma mater, Rust College in Holly Springs. He is a past president of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi, Incorporated, and former Vice President At-Large of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
