The History of New Life Presbyterian Church
The body now known as New Life Presbyterian Church has been active in the Bayshore Community since the late 1970s, and became an "official" mission of the Presbyterian Church in America in 1980. For the first five years we were without a church building. Our congregation met in homes, in a community center - even in a firehouse!
The Village School, on King's Highway in Middletown, was our meeting place for 12 years. In 1984, New Life came out of mission status and was formally organized as a particular church in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a denomination that originated in 1973.
In 1987, the Rev. John Light succeeded founding pastor Albert Spangler. Pastor Light served until 1995, and was succeeded by the Rev. Kenneth E. Klett. Pastor Klett had served previously as an associate pastor at the PCA's Calvary Presbyterian Church in Bricktown, NJ (now in Wall, NJ).
In 1996, we began leasing our current house of worship, on Ocean Avenue in North Middletown. While some of our people live close by, most of our congregation is drawn from neighborhoods throughout Monmouth County. No matter where we meet, we are a community of Christ, coming together in the presence of God.
In 2002, the Rev. Keith Graham was called as associate pastor. Pastor Graham had served previously as the pastor of the PCA's Locktown Presbyterian Church near Flemington, New Jersey, and as ruling elder at New Life prior to that.
On October 29, 2005, New Life observed the 25th Anniversary of its founding as a PCA mission.
In May of 2006, senior pastor Ken Klett accepted the challenge when a sister church in another state called him to be their pastor. Pastor Ken was greatly beloved by the New Life congregation. Pastor Stephen Tindall was then called to the serve congregation at a congregational meeting held on December 17, 2006. He preached his first sermon at New Life on March 4, 2007.
Meanwhile on February 18, 2007, the Lord provided for New Life Church in an extraordinary manner. The remaining members of Bayshore Community Church, owner of the building in which New Life had been meeting since 1996, voted to donate the building to New Life!
With a place to "call our own" we are seeking the glory of God and the building of His Kingdom. There is sense of anticipation at New Life that we are poised for great things with God.
Come join us!
