Pilgrim Church | Newark, DE | Pilgrim Baptist Church

OUR PASTOR

The Reverend Dr. Lonnie E. Rector is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina; he is married to Lady Virginia Rector, and they are the proud parents of Scott Rector (Stacey, daughter-in-law) and the proud grandparents to Sebastian and Shane.

At the age of fifteen, Pastor Rector realized his calling to the ministry. He began to accept a number of public speaking engagements at youth revivals and youth day services. In August of 1983, he acknowledged his call to the gospel ministry. On Sunday, January 22, 1984, Dr. Rector preached his initial sermon and was given his license to preach the Gospel at the Harrison Grove Baptist Church under the pastorate of his father, Dr. Leon C. Rector Jr. On Sunday, March 17, 1985, he was ordained under the Tyger River Association in Roebuck, South Carolina.

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Pastor Rector received his early education from the Florence Chapel High School. In 1969, he was among many of the first African Americans to be a part of the integration in the Spartanburg County School System. After graduating in 1971 from James F. Byrnes High School, he went on to further his education by earning an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Spartanburg Methodist College, Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Wofford College both located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He also received a Master of Divinity Degree from Erskine Theological Seminary in Dew West, South Carolina, a Doctrine of Theology from Andersonville Baptist Seminary in Camilla, Georgia, and received the Doctrine of Ministry from the Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, Georgia.

Pastor Rector is the past President of the United Baptist Convention of Delaware Inc. where he served faithfully for eight years. He currently serves as the Moderator of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Association of Delaware. On August 17, 2009, Pastor Rector received the certification as Dean of the New England Missionary Baptist Convention. Pastor Rector is also a ten year past instructor of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education U.S.A. Inc (National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.).

On October 23, 2004, the Pilgrim Baptist Church, after much prayer, voted Reverend Dr. Lonnie E. Rector to become its fifth Pastor and leader. Pastor Rector gave his acceptance Sermon on Sunday, November 21, 2004 and relocated to Newark, Delaware.

We are so very grateful for his leading, teaching, and guiding us on our quest for Heaven. He teaches and implements what God would have us to do. His purposeful work for the Lord is "Winning Souls for Christ!" We also thank Pastor for God’s vision of “Growing from Information to Application to Sanctification,” as this vision helps us in obtaining our P.H.D.s, the Power to Handle the Devil. The Pilgrim Baptist Church Family absolutely “Loves” our Pastor and Leading Lady. “Come and See” what the Lord is doing with the Pilgrim Baptist Church Family!

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The Pilgrim Baptist Church Family absolutely "Loves" our Pastor and Leading Lady.

"Come and See" what the Lord is doing with the Pilgrim Baptist Church Family!

A duty to reach out to the less fortunate.

An obligation to lead by example.

An all-inclusive approach: We help everyone regardless of their religious beliefs.

Acceptance of the fact that we, too, may someday require assistance in our time of need.

The path to salvation lies in volunteering.

About Us

Pilgrim Baptist Church is one of many African-American (black) churches in Newark, DE.

Pilgrim's history began in 1913 when the Reverend and Mrs. Ernest Twyman, Deacon and Mrs. John Giles, Deacon Lockman,George and Rosa Yancey, along with a few other dedicated Christians, were inspired to establish an African-American Baptistchurch in Newark, Delaware. Its first service was held in a tent on Church Street; sometime later, a building previously usedas a movie theater for people of color was purchased from Undertaker Jones to be used for services. The church was to becalled "The Pilgrim Baptist Church."

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In 1984, a parcel of land located on Barksdale Road, spanning nearly 2.5 acres, was purchased for the new facility. ReverendDaniel McDonald, Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, delivered a powerful encouraging message at the groundbreakingceremony on Palm Sunday in 1992. Construction on the new church began in the spring of 1993. Dedication services wereheld on Saturday, April 30, 1994, "To God Be the Glory." The members walked from the old Pilgrim to the new Pilgrim.