New Faith Baptist Church was organized in September of 1976. A small group of people gathered together in a funeral home. Reverend Thomas served as Pastor of this congregation. After much contention, the congregation called another pastor by the name of Reverend Paul Jones. The church then moved to another location uptown Lexington.
In 1980, the congregation, under the leadership of Reverend Paul Jones, moved to 424 Leonford Street, which was purchased from the Church of God of Prophecy. The church was then reorganized. Reverend Jones was also the pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Granite Quarry, NC where he alternated between both churches. Reverend John Cade assisted Reverend Jones preaching on the Sundays that he was at New Zion.
In 1986 Reverend Paul Jones left New Faith to become the full time Pastor of New Zion Baptist Church. Reverend John Cade became the third pastor of New Faith. In 1994,Reverend Cade left New Faith and went back to his home church Files Chapel Baptist Church to help his aging pastor, Reverend Dr. FD Betts. Then, in April of 1994 Reverend Derek Kelly was installed as fourth pastor of New Faith.
In 1995, the church refinanced the balance of a 10-year 16% interest mortgage. It was transformed into a 5-year 8% mortgage, which was paid off in 2 years. The church burned the mortgage in 1997. In 1998, New Faith purchased the old Wagner Music building directly behind the old sanctuary. This building would become the future sanctuary of New Faith after renovations.
In January of 2000, New Faith marched from 424 Leonford Street to the new location on 402 Oak Avenue. A dedication service was held as pastors from the surrounding area participated in the celebration. Along with the change of location, New Faith Baptist Church was changed to New Faith Full Gospel Baptist Church, Inc. and again to New Faith Full Gospel Fellowship Center, Inc.
In October of 2004 Bishop Kelly was led of God to begin bible study in Salisbury, NC after several people were traveling to Lexington for service. This expansion was preceded by a three night revival held at the Northside Community Center. After teaching and preaching at 9:30am in Salisbury each Sunday and bible study on Tuesday night, Bishop Kelly was led to install Pastor Shay Geter as the Campus Pastor as he remained Senior Pastor and Overseer.
In December 2008 New Faith purchased a two-bedroom house on Leonford Street along with a parcel of land next to the house, and a fifteen-passenger van. Then, in December of 2009 New Faith purchased an additional two-bedroom house on Leonford Street. The vision of Apostle Kelly is to provide affordable housing and build several one-bedroom apartment units serving the needs of the elderly and disabled. New Faith is tax exempt with the federal government holding its 501c3.
New Faith has been tremendously blessed during the many months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 we were able to put a new roof on the church and remodel our current location. In 2021 we purchased a 25 passenger minibus and completed a successful summer camp. In 2022 New Faith acquired a Community Development Corporation called New Faith CDC to house all of our programs for the community.
New Faith is a ministry of the community. We offer our sanctuary to bereaved families in need of a place to funeralize their loved ones. We have partnered with Dreamed Builders of Charlotte, NC to sponsor an afterschool program called T.A.G. (Together Achieving Greatness). This program worked with the Lexington City Schools to provide support to at-risk students through academics and recreation. We have partnered with other community agencies to provide job and interview training along with support for single mothers. We have provided free food to the community during the pandemic and have worked together with Davidson County voter registration transporting voters to the polls.