C. Levi Martin Ministries

After serving as Associate Pastor at The Alpha Baptist Church in Willingboro, NJ for two years, it became vividly clear that the time to step-out on faith and launch the ministry God had planted in his spirit had come. It was time to utilize the Afro-centric experience, culture, gifts, and preaching style in an environment where there will be no compromise or hesitation due to threats or reprisal.

Through much prayer and agonizing before God, Pastor Martin, and first lady Jurudoe Ann Martin under the leading of the Holy Spirit submitted themselves to the call of establishing a church in the Willingboro community. This call of God to establish a church in the area received confirmation from spirit filled believers who encouraged him “To Go Make Disciples.”

In November 2001, The confirmation was solidified when a call was made to Pastor Martin by his adopted mother Alice Edwards, asking him to serve Communion on the first Sunday in December. On Sunday, December 2, 2001 a fellowship of believers came together for a Communion Service at the Best Western Hotel in Westampton, New Jersey. Although the day was cold and gray, it was a bright beginning for this new fellowship.

Pastor Martin continued to hold weekly services at the Best Western throughout December 2001, and the word got out and attendance increased week after week. The candle had been lit, and the spark for a vibrant ministry had been ignited. Pastor Charles Levi Martin & First Lady Jurudoe would forge ahead and not look back. Worship services were held at the Best Western Hotel each Sunday for the month of January 2002, and the name Unity Fellowship was suggested by Barbara Hooks, depicting the unity of Africans and African Americans in worship and union with Christ Jesus, our Lord.

In February Unity Fellowship moved from Best Western Hotel to the Holiday Inn Hotel in Westampton but as the membership increased so did the need to relocate to a larger and more stabilized facility, thus the search began.

We give God all the praise as he made it possible for us to relocate to the John F. Kennedy Center on JFK Way in Willingboro, New Jersey.  Pastor Martin’s sermon subject for February 10, 2002, one day after his 47th birthday was “Now is the Time”.  After that powerful message, Pastor Martin opened the doors of Unity Fellowship Baptist Church and twenty-two (22) members joined to provide the foundation for this new church.

In August of 2002, through the auspices of then Director of Missions of Progressive National Baptist Convention, Justus Reeves, Unity became a member and partner in ministry With the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

In the same year The Unity Fellowship Baptist Church received its tax exempt status as a 501c3 non profit organization, established its constitution and bi-laws, received its Tax EIN, and established its officers.

The initial Trustees were Alice Edwards-Interim Chair, Barbara Hooks-Administrative Secretary, Jim Vann-Trustee, Michael Sawyer-Trustee, Peter Jallah-Treasurer, Jurudoe Martin-Trustee, Marva Boone – Trustee.

Initial Deacons included Bob Adighibe-Interim Chair, Dalton Moore, Connie Fleming, and Fred Edwards as Deacon Emeritus.
Miss Doris Johnson served as initial choir director of the embryo choir started in the Midst  of this people of faith.

On May 13, 2004 Pastor Martin’s ordination in 1978 at the Fellowship Baptist Church of Staten Island, an American Baptist Church of New York  was officially recognized by the Committee of Professional Ministry and Church Relations of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey. That same year Unity became a member of The American Baptist Churches of New Jersey as well.
The Unity Fellowship Baptist Church is a congregation of a multiplicity of people from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigerian, West Indies, Caribbean, and African Americans.

Unity Fellowship Baptist Church holds a community outreach annually called “UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY” that provides activities for the entire family, through health screening, and health referrals, job fair, Unity Gospel Concert,  Sports Activities & a Community Worship Recognition and Award Service.
Every year the Unity Fellowship Baptist Church has held her traditional Watch Night Service at the Willingboro Community Complex, where the court house has been filled to capacity each year.

The Unity Fellowship Baptist Church is focused on evangelism, and desires to have her membership up to 300 in the next year. In the summer of 2008 this congregation with the help of Almighty God, its membership, friends and well wishers hope to embark upon the ground breaking for its worship center.

Your prayers and financial support is needed in helping UNITY FELLOWSHIP become a tabernacle of prayer for all people.