A Thanksgiving Word from Rev. Johnny N. Golden, Sr.

Beloved Family, Friend & Community

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting—not just on the blessings we name, but on the grace that carries us when we can’t find the words. Gratitude has never been a single moment on the calendar; it is a rhythm, a posture, a quiet turning of the heart toward God’s steady hand in our lives.

Many of us will gather around tables this week. Some tables will be full,  some smaller than usual, like my own, some touched b

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People Need People: A Sacred Truth in a Splintered World

There is a quiet, often unheralded truth pulsing beneath the long story of human faith: religion—at its best—has always been a midwife to community. Before the creeds calcified, before the councils convened, before somebody built a steeple and declared it holy ground, faith served as the gathering place where fragile souls learned how to belong to one another.

Today, many reject organized religion outright. And let the record show: their critique is not without merit.

The ru

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New Unity in Hamilton: Sharing the Blessings of the Harvest

Since moving into our new home in the Hamilton community two years ago, New Unity has remained committed to being more than a building on a corner—we are called to be a blessing in the life of this neighborhood.

From the beginning, we have sought out partnerships with the anchors, advocates, and community organizations that shape Hamilton’s heartbeat. One of our most cherished relationships is with Hamilton Elementary–Middle School, a school we have proudly adopted as our o

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Restoring the Sacred Estate: When the Church Reclaims Her Moral Voice

Restoring the Sacred Estate

Somewhere along the way, America rewrote its own story. In the name of progress, what was once sacred has been recast as merely symbolic. What we call “modernization” might better be understood as revisionist history—the twisting of our moral estates to suit a secular, self-centered age.

But it wasn’t always so. The Church once stood as the moral compass of the nation—a vital force in shaping statutes, forming values, and guiding the conscience of

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Statement of Solidarity and Sacred Action Concerning Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica

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When the East Wing Falls: On Ruins, Rebuildings, and the Sound of Blue

Written in loving memory and honor of my mother, Mrs. Rosa B. Porter— whose faith taught me that every ruin still hides a root of resurrection.

To the chagrin of a nation, the East Wing of the White House—the People’s House—is being razed to the ground. A grand ballroom was once promised, a space meant for gatherings, dignity, and the dance of democracy. But now, it stands as a dinosaur to history. Poof! Whisk! Gone! All for the pomposity and pride of one man’s outsized ego

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“A Golden Celebration: Honoring Rev. Johnny N. Golden, Sr.’s 74th Revolution Around the Sun.”

On Sunday, October 19th, 2025, the family of New Unity Baptist Church gathered in radiant joy to celebrate the 74th birthday of their beloved pastor-servant-leader, Rev. Johnny N. Golden, Sr. — a man whose ministry, heart, and humor have blessed generations.

It was an afternoon of love, laughter, and legacy, a living portrait of the sacred bond between shepherd and flock. And, of course, Pastor Golden was all decked out in his super duper gold shoes!

The dinner was a culinar

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Eleanor Rigby: A Lesson on Leadership

In 1966, the Beatles, the best record-selling band of all-time, did something startling. They released Eleanor Rigby—a song that sounded like nothing they had done before. No jangly guitars. No drum kit. Not even a single Beatle playing an instrument. Instead, an austere string octet (8 pc.), close-mic’d and raw. A haunting lyric about loneliness. A lament for people the world never sees.

“Ah, look at all the lonely people. Where do they all come from? Where do they all bel

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Songs in the Valley

“Son of man, can these bones live? … Then he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” — Ezekiel 37:3–4

“How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” — Psalm 137:4

Introduction: The Question of Exile

In my car today, charioting from one appointment to the next, a familiar voice came across the radio—a voice calling the city of Baltimore to the church's annual “End of the Summer Revival.”

It was the voice of

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East Africa Is Starving: The Church Must Respond

Right now, children in East Africa are crying for bread. Mothers watch their little ones waste away, and fathers stand helpless as drought, flood, and war strip their families of food and hope. This is not tomorrow’s famine—it is today’s crisis.

Failed rains, violent conflicts, rising food prices, and the fallout of COVID-19 have left millions displaced and hungry. Pastoralist communities have lost their livestock, children are malnourished, and whole nations hover on the e

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Pastoral Statement on Artificial Intelligence

The Human Person at the Center of All Development

“So God created humankind in His own image…” — Genesis 1:27

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I. The Sacred Worth of the Human Person

From the Garden of Eden to the city of the New Jerusalem, the biblical witness affirms that humanity’s worth is not derived from productivity, data, or output, but from the Creator’s breath (Genesis 2:7). No code can contain the imago Dei. No machine can bear the mystery of a soul.

As human i

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5 Ways to Experience Spirit-Led Worship in Baltimore

Where faith meets freedom, and the Spirit still speaks.

Baltimore is a city with a rhythm — a heartbeat that carries both the history of struggle and the sound of redemption. Here, Spirit-led worship is more than just music or preaching; it’s a living encounter with God that changes the worshiper from the inside out. Whether you’re a long-time believer, a newcomer to the faith, or simply searching for something real, here are five ways to step into that sacred flow.

1. Seek

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Women as Deacons in the Church

🕊️ I. Biblical Defense: Women as Deacons in the Early Church

📖 Phoebe, the Deacon — Romans 16:1–2 (NRSV)

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.”

Greek term used: διάκονον (diakonon) — the same word used for male deacons like Stephen and Philip in Acts 6.

Paul does

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🔔0 Days Out: The Sacred Countdown Has Arrived!

🌍 Faith Year 2025–2026: A Holy Nation Rises

Theme: Heaven Has Spoken: A Holy Nation—Rising in Faith, Building with Purpose, Declaring the Word of God!

Scriptures: Isaiah 55:11 | Habakkuk 2:2–3 | Galatians 5:22–23 | Revelation 21:5

As we step into the 2025–2026 Faith Year, we do so not merely as members, but as builders. We stand on sacred ground—ground soaked in struggle, seeded with vision, and ready for harvest.

Our theme this year is more than a motto. It is a summons. Heav

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Latria or Idolatria? Reclaiming the Church’s Purpose in a Fractured Age

Across the centuries, scholars, saints, skeptics, and seekers alike have debated the many purposes of the Church. Some argue for a multiplicity of aims, others for a more concentrated distillation. I stand with the latter—not to dilute the power of her witness, but to clarify it. I believe we can identify five foundational purposes for the Church, each deeply rooted in Grecian thought and biblical tradition.

These five purposes—when faithfully pursued—form the sacred conste

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