New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church 

New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church of Motts

   The Jerusalem Baptist Church was organized under the leadership of Rev. T.J. Yarbrough in the late 1800s. A recent discovery revealed that the Baptist church at Motts was a member of the Brownville Association in 1883. This information was found in “The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their Leaders and Their Works” written by Dr. Charles O. Boothe, D.D. in 1895. Since this discovery, 1883 has been established as the founding date for the church although it is probably much older.

     The Church has called 11 men of God to serve as pastor, namely Rev. T.J. Yarbrough, Rev. E.E. Ellis, Rev. Lynn Boyd, Rev. A.C. Daniels, Rev. R.T. Lewis, Rev. G.H. Henry (1943-1953), Rev. O.L. Holston (1953-1973), Rev. R.M. Murphy (1973-1976), Rev. W.H. Dawson (1977-1978), Rev. Jesse Lee Hall (1979-2000), and Pastor Tommy L. Davis (2001-present).    

     In recent history, Pastor Jessie Lee Hall led the congregation as major renovations of the church building were performed, including installation of an indoor baptismal pool, central heat and air conditioning, and a spacious, paved parking lot. It was at this time that the name of the church was changed from Jerusalem Baptist Church to “New” Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church.

     Pastor Tommy L. Davis, was called to serve in February 2001. Highlights have included the purchase of two 15 passenger buses to start the church’s Bus Ministry; winning the Atlanta Region of the national 2005 Kellogg's Youth Choir Sing-off; and the building of the NJMBC Community Education Center.  As a part of the building project, the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church was incorporated as the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church of Motts, Alabama to distinguish it from other churches of the same name. 

Today, NJMBC continues to hold memberships in the National Baptist Convention, USA, the Alabama Missionary Baptist State Convention, and the East Alabama Missionary Baptist Progressive Association.   But most importantly, NJMBC has been a beacon light for many souls who have been saved and added to the body of Christ.