HISTORY OF ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
The Alfred Street Baptist Church has been in existence for over 215 years, it was started in year 1803; a community of colored people started it. During that period, the Baptists in northern Virginia worshiped at the Backlick Baptist Church on Little River Turnpike. In April, from Baptists Alexandria, Virginia separated from them to form the Alexandria Baptist Society. In May, 1803 the first black slave was baptized and her name was Susan Black eventually other colored people joined the community, they later officially started the Colored Baptist Society of Alexandria as a part of the Alexandria Baptist Society. As time went by their numbers grew and they were able to start renting a property for worship, after 18 years of renting, the Colored Baptist purchased the site they had been renting in September 1842, which was at 313 South Alfred Street. Today, the Alfred street church has about 10,000 members.
LIST OF ALL THE PREVIOUS HEAD PASTORS OF ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
- William Evans Was the first pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He was pastor from 1806 to 1859, which was for 53 years.
- Sampson White was the second pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He was pastor from 1859 to1863, which was for 4 years.
- Rev, Samuel Madden was the third pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He was pastor from 1863 to 1896, which was for 33 years.
- Alexander Truatt was the fourth pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He was pastor from 1896 to 1913, which was for 17 years.
- William HR. Powell was the fifth pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He was pastor from 1914 to 1920, which was for 6 years.
- Andrew warren Adkins was the sixth pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He was pastor from 1920-1963, which was for 43 years.
- John O. Peterson was the seventh pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He was pastor from 1964 to 2007, which was for 43 years.
- Dr. Faye S. Gunn she was the eighth pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. She was pastor from 2007-2008, which was for 1 year.
- Dr. Howard-John Wesley is the ninth pastor of pastor of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He has been pastor since 2008 till date, which has been 13 years so far.
CURRENT PASTOR OF ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
Howard-John Wesley was born to his parents, late Rev. Dr. Alvin J. Wesley his father and Dr. Helene J. Wesley on the 19th day of April 1972, Howard-John Wesley is the proud father of two wonderful boys, Rev. Howard-John Wesley is the senior pastor of Alfred Street Baptist church. He is also an author of several books.
BELIEFS OF ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God incarnate, the Living Word (John 1:1-14), virgin born through the miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35). He lived a sinless life on earth (Hebrews 7:26, I Peter 2:22), and performed many undeniable miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:22; 10:38). He voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice, reconciling men back unto God, and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone (Romans 5:8-11; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21). He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; I Corinthians 15:4). He was exalted and ascended bodily into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, where He, and He alone, is the only mediator between God and man, continually making intercession for those who believe in Him (Acts 1:9, 11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3). Jesus Christ will come again to the earth, personally, visibly, and bodily to establish His Kingdom. At this time, the dead in Christ shall be resurrected, the believer to eternal joy with the Lord, and the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal suffering (Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 15:51; Hebrews 9:28; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 22:6-16; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48).
Articles of Faith
The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This statement of fundamental truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e. that we all speak the same things, I Cor. 1:10; Acts 2:42). The phraseology employed in this statement is not inspired or contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential for Gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all Biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.
THE ONE TRUE GOD
There is one true and living God, the Creator of heaven and earth, eternally self existent as three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and characteristics of personality (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 11; Matthew 28:19, 20; Luke 3:22).
THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE
The sole basis of all our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible inerrant written revelation of His Word. We believe that the scriptures, both the Old and the New Testament, are uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and serves as the supreme and final authority in all matters in which it speaks (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:21).
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Jesus Christ and to apply the saving work Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life unto them, seals them until the day of redemption, leads and aides them in a life of holiness unto God not fulfilling the lust of the flesh, and equips them for service and work in God’s Kingdom bearing spiritual fruit unto the glory of God. Every believer is called to live under the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; I Corinthians 12:1-31). With the baptism of the Holy Spirit comes an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His works (Acts 2:42), a manifestation of the fruit and gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26; Romans 12:3-9; I Corinthians 12:1-31).
The Ordinances of the Church
There are two ordinances of the church – Baptism and Holy Communion. The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized as they are physically able and have opportunity. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 8:26-38). Baptism is an outward sign of an inward spiritual renewal and rebirth. Thus they who are baptized declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4). Holy Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, consisting of broken bread, the body of Jesus Christ, and the fruit of the vine, the shed blood of our Lord and Savior, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (I Corinthians 11:26); our fellowship and communion with all believers (Ephesians 4:4-6); and our prophetic expectation of His second coming (I Corinthians 11:26). We accept these large areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. We desire to allow for freedom of conviction on doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based on the Bible alone, and that no such interpretation shall become an issue that hinders the ministry to which God has called us.
The Salvation of Man
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. It is wholly the work of God’s free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works, goodness or religious ceremony (Ephesians 2:4-10). Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ by the regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:1-21; Romans 10:13-15; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7). It is the privilege of all who are born again by the Holy Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment they trust in and confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This assurance is not based upon human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the assurance of their salvation according to the testimony of God’s Word (Romans 8:35-39). The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16) and the outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness unto God (Ephesians 4:24; Romans 6:1-18; 8:1-9).
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication to God (Romans 12:1, 2; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach that the goal of believers is to pursue a life of “holiness without which no one can see God” (Hebrews 12:14). Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to be obedient to God’s command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15, 16). Sanctification is the process whereby we are saved from the power of sin in our lives through a commitment to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, daily devotions and worship, the study of God’s Word, and the fellowship of believers (Romans 6:1-13; Romans 8:1, 2, 13; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12; I Peter 1:5).
THE FALL OF MAN
Man was originally created good and upright in the image of God. However, man by voluntary transgression, sinned by disobeying God. Thus he alienated himself from God and experienced not only physical death but also spiritual death. That historic fall brought all men under divine condemnation. Therefore, all men are born into a sin filled world with a sinful nature, totally unable to please God without regeneration, redemption, and renewal (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 3:23; 5:12-19).
THE CHURCH
The church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her mission to win the world for Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23). According to the Scriptures the church exists to magnify and exalt God in worship, to train and instruct believers in their discipleship, to minister to the needs of its members and the world, to encourage and develop the Christian fellowship of its members, and to equip its members to evangelize the world and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41-47).
LOCATION OF ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
The Alfred Street Baptist church is located at 301 St, Alfred St, Alexandria, VA 22314, United States America.
ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
Instagram: @alfredstreetbc
Twitter: @AlfredStreetBC
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlfredStreetBaptistChurch
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/AlfredStreetBC/?_rdc=1&_rdr