Our
Pastor
Reverend Frank L. Aikens, Sr., the third child of Andrew and Curley Aikens, was born in Terrell, Arkansas. At the age of five, he and his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he was educated in the Cleveland Public School System. After graduating from high school, he entered into the United States Air Force. After four years of service, Rev. Aikens received an honorable discharge from the 20th Air Division of Fort Lee, VA. It was then that he became employed with the Petersburg Broadcasting Co. (WSSV and WPLZ-FM).
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Rev. Aikens has served as the Executive Director and Chaplin of the Southside Jail and Prison Ministry and on the Board of Directors for the Tri-Cities Brothers in Christ. He is currently serving as the President of the United Fellowship of Churches.
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In 1986, Rev. Aikens was ordained as Pastor of New Branch Baptist Church and has been faithful to the call. God has given Rev. Aikens a vision for a great church. He firmly believes in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” As he continues to move to the next level, his vision is to further unify the church. Pastor Aikens’ vision includes empowering leaders and implementing the church to become a 100% tithing church. He believes that the church ministry should extend to the community and has often said that, “A nation’s, a state’s, a city’s and even a church’s greatest assets are its men and women of vision.”
Our
First Lady
First Lady LaVern Aikens, the third of five children born to Alvin and Mattie Chester in Long Beach, Mississippi. She received her education in Mississippi and was a faithful member of Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church. Later, First Lady relocated to Virginia where she attended college at ECPI and Virginia State University where she studied Business Administration. After 45 years of dedication as an executive administrator, First Lady Aikens retired from one of the oldest HBCUs located in Virginia.
She is a mighty woman of God who loves the Lord and truly believes in the power of prayer. She often says “You can have what you say. What you do from day to day will determine your future. Be determined, be consistent, most of all, always pray and trust God.” She truly believes in having faith and being a doer of God’s word. Her favorite scriptures of the Bible include Hebrews 11:6 which states, “ …without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” and Romans 2:13 that says, “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”
Our Associate Ministers
Rev. J. Ricks​
Evangelist J. Boykins
Evangelist E. Holloway
