A Brief bio-history of New Life
In April 1939, missionary Marie Marietta invited a small group to the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Brazel to organize Baptist witness in the Highland and Pleasant Hill School Districts . On October 15, 1939, the McKinley Park Baptist Church was dedicated after two lots at 28th and Drexel Street and Pleasant hills School building at 28th and Chandler Road were purchased.
In 1967, McKinley Park and Trinity Baptist Churchat 25th & H streets merged as one congregation with a two building ministry. This new body was named Judson Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Pence as pastor.
The McKinley Park property was sold and the congregation began meeting at Bellevue College (now University) while a new church building was being constructed in (our current sanctuary). The building was dedicated May 3, 1970. Pastor Pence served at both locations until January 1976, when the Rev. Arnold Erickson was called.
Rapid growth prompted a decision to end the one-church/two-location concept, with each location becoming independent in August 1979. Judson Memorial Baptist church in south Omaha became Judson Baptist Church. The Bellevue congregation, with 115 charter members, became New Life Baptist Church and proceeded to call a full-time pastor, the Rev. Kenneth Swenson.
The growing congregation added classrooms, a nursery and a ‘fellowship hall’ (dedicated November 1982) and purchased 4 acres to allow for future expansion.
Dr. Delino M. Eslinger (Pastor Del) became pastor of New Life Baptist Church on October 1, 1989. His 16-year leadership assisted the congregation to discover its calling self- understanding and purpose. In 1993 the governing body of the church changed from a council of boards and programs to one of ministries and teams. Leadership development, spiritual gifts discovery, the equipping of servants and a general increase in ministry and mission prevailed in these years. By Pastor Del’s retirement in 2005, the mortgage for the additional buildings and land four acres was paid off.
The Rev. Dr. Michael Friday became New Life’s 3rd pastor August 15, 2006. Since his arrival, the considerable musical talent with which God has blessed New Life has been harnessed to make some adjustments to worship. The church is readying itself to identify a dual “signature” ministry – one at home and one abroad – in addition to those it already undertakes. It remains committed to discipleship, ministry and numerical growth, and is bent on remaining relevant to Bellevue and the world.