In December 2002, Elder Martin Johnson accepted the call of God to pastor. God began to give Pastor Johnson the vision for New Beginning’s Ministries of Peoria. A ministry that would point souls to Christ. As Pastor Johnson began to seek God for guidance, God gave him the name “New Beginnings Ministries of Peoria”, a ministry designed “to equip and empower the people of God in winning the world to Christ”. After several prospective locations, God led New Beginnings Ministries of Peoria to 8900 N. Industrial Road. The people of God pulled together using their God-given gifts to transform this place into a place of worship and on February 9, 2003. New Beginnings Ministries of Peoria opened its doors to walk into God’s divine will.
Pastor Johnson began to fulfill the vision of the ministry through the holistic teaching of the Word of God to a handful of believers. As God graced the ministry, lives were transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the ministry began to grow.
In February 2006, the ministry purchased the former Rent-A-Center building located in the heart of the East Bluff Neighborhood. The building required a complete make-over to accommodate the ministry. While the building was being remodeled, we temporarily located to the Carver Community Center until the remodel was completed. God continued to manifest his glory by transforming and renewing many lives through the worship services conducted at the Carver Community Center.
On July 9, 2006, after many long hours of labor and prayer, the family of New Beginnings Ministries of Peoria marched into its new home, 1917 Wisconsin Avenue giving God the praise! It was during this time that God began to transform our ministry into a ministry focused on outreach. A food pantry ministry was birthed along with the “Community Fest”, an annual outreach that ministers to over 500 people.
The church membership began to grow and also the need for a youth community center within the community. There were five bar establishment located across the street from the church. The church began to pray to God on closing the bars down and posturing the church in a financial position to purchase the property to build a community center. Prayers were answered and half of the bar establishments closed down and in October 2011 the church was able to purchase the property.
In pursuit of a safe facility for the young people, God extended our reach in July 2014 and favored us to purchase the former Kingman School located in the Averyville Neighborhood. The ministry immediately went to work again and making the necessary repairs to convert the school into the Nannie M. Johnson Community Center. The community center has been a beacon of hope within its community by providing youth programs such as Robotics Class, Math Academy, Cosmetology Class, Dance Class, Dress For Success, Teens Speaking Out, Youth Basketball League, Community Garden and Expungement/Case sealing services.
While we were busy serving our additional new neighbors in the Averyville Neighborhood, God did it again! He favored us to acquire additional property in the Averyville Neighborhood by purchasing the former Madison Avenue United Methodist Church located directly across the street from the Nannie M. Johnson Community Center. Through partnering and serving alongside that ministry, their leaders agreed to sell us the church for $1!
God continues to shower his favor on the ministry as we strive to Connect people to Christ, His Church, and the Community.