Family and Friends, you are all invited to join us for our annual Community Harvest Fest and Health Fair. Join us for a time of fellowship which includes live music, food, a petting zoo, face painting, fun games and more all for free.
Also we are conducting a Health Faith with a panel of experts in mental, spiritual and physical health. you can ask all the questions you want to get educated and equipped on the things you need and want to know for you and your family
Going into our 37th year of ministry here at New Berean, we are reminded of the eternal grace and favor of the Lord our God to has allowed us to have impacted, challenged and changed lives of people who have both come and gone through the work.
Because of his hand, God has guided, led and fed this flock with sound teaching from men and women of godly integrity, stabled them with his direction and sheltered them with his hope and we say, “Amen”.
Because of his faithfulness to his work and his people, we are the more excited to, “Believe God for the Impossible” as we, “Adventure with God” through the unpredictable, while he, “Educates and Equips” us for the work of the ministry. “The BereanWay” is God’s vision for New Berean on the next leg of the journey towards his glory
Watch and Pray for Great Things
Meet the First “First” Family of New Berean Baptist Church
37 years ago, God opened up the door for Leroy E. Ricks Sr, to establish a new local New Testament ministry. Founded on the principles of The Commission of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), Pastor Ricks followed the Lord’s call to “preach to the lost, baptize those would believe and disciple those who would follow”. Along with two other families, Howard & Reba Bernard and Harold & Mable Jackson, New Berean held its first service in his living room.
Our Founder, Pastor Leroy E. Ricks, Sr, had lived his life as strong independent family man until the Lord called his name for this great work. Continue to keep Sister Ricks in your prayers and the Ricks family in caring for one charter members of this ministry.
First family Lance, Leroy Jr, Miss Destiny, Pastor Ricks and Vanessa
Founder Leroy E Ricks, Sr
Lance, Sis Ricks, Pastor Ricks and Leroy Jr
Original Building 1992-2008
Leroy Jr, Lance, Pastor Ricks and Lamont
Original Sanctuary 1992-2008
Tidbit of Berean Trivia
Statement
Answer
1. The first deacon at New Berean
Howard Bernard & Reba Bernard
2. The city New Berean began
Chesapeake
3. The charter members of New Berean
The Ricks, the Bernards, the Jacksons
4. New Berean was established in 1989, but what year did we relocate to our current location
1992
5. The worship facility was completed
2011
6. Pastor Tony served in what capacity previously at New Berean
Youth Pastor
7. Founder Pastor Ricks was a member of what church before New Berean was established
Calvary Evangelical Baptist Church
8. How many locations has New Berean served out of?
1) Pastor Ricks Home Chesapeake, original meeting place 2) Holiday Inn – Portsmouth, temporary 3) 3709 Winchester Dr, Portsmouth, temporary 4) 3600 Bamboo Rd Portsmouth, current location
The history and memories are also etched in the hearts and minds of the many lives touched and impacted over the years through the ministry and we are grateful for the gracious hand of the Lord. Through all the hard times, triumphs, the pauses (COVID), Pastor Ricks passing, many have come and gone, some have chosen to stay, but through it all God has been faithful.
As we embark in our third year under the godly leadership of Pastor Tony Harris, we expect to “Adventure with God” by “Believing God for the Impossible” as the lives of those here are “Educated and Equipped for the Work of the Ministry” with our “Youth Focused” while “Evangelizing with the Gospel“. We are expecting more people to “Adore God“, “Reach Up and Reach Out” for divine direction and service, by “Welcoming All Who Come” and as we are like the Bereans of Acts 17:11, will “Nobly Search and Study the Scriptures” by faith to the glory of God… It’s The BereanWay.
Meet the “First” Family of New Berean Baptist Church
This month we Celebrate our 37th Victory in the person of Antonio B Harris, God’s gift to The BereanWay.God used Moses to lead the Hebrews from bondage to blessing. God chose Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel to feed the Israelites his word, his provisions and promises. Paul wrote how God gave gifts to the believers in the form of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Pastor Tony has been given to us by God to lead, oversee and feed the flock assembly here at New Berean. Prior to being called here, he served as Pastor of Highland Avenue served here at New Berean as the Youth Pastor.
Pastor Tony and Samantha are the parents of three young adult children, Darius, Jair & Destini.
As we pray for God’s wisdom and stamina in the work of the ministry for him, let us continue to serve him in our respective roles as he serves us, encourage him and encourages us and follow Christ as he follows the Lord.
We welcome you to join us on the special and divinely appointed adventure of God
Sunday mornings for every believer in Christ is a time of fellowship, praying together, encouraging, refreshing, serving and being a blessing to someone. Its a special time the Lord encourages and admonishes his people who are called by his name, NOT to neglect or forsake assembling as others have done (Heb. 10:24-25). Be encouraged in the Lord and be our special guest this week.
Join us this Sunday for Sunday School L.I.V.E! We have a place for you to be taught, “Educated and Equipped for the Work of the Ministry”. Every week presents a lesson designed to bring us to a “crossroad” in our life to either follow Christ unto salvation or follow Christ in discipleship unto sanctification.
Students, we have a place for you every Sunday for you to learn and be equipped with other students the precious things God, Deut. 4:10, Dan. 1:8
Men and Women alike, join us every Sunday for a special time in the word to be educated and equipped with sound biblical teaching and practical applications for us to use in our everyday experiences at home, school and on the job
Guests and Visitors, plan your visit and get to know some things about our ministry, check out the Guest Connect Portal and then come on out to allow us to make your acquaintance
Follow us, Like us and Subscribe our Social media sites
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Victory is being celebrated here at The BereanWay the Lord as we “Adventure with the Lord”, “Belive God for the Impossible
Weekly Reading Blessing
Audio Reading
Revealing Reveling – the current series for our Mid-Week Discipleship training session with Pastor Antonio B Harris.
Casting live on our YouTube channel every Wednesday beginning at 7:00 pm
Educate & Equip – Opportunities of Growth
Virtual Small Group Meet Up Every Tuesday at 7:00 pm via ZOOM
Join Our Mid-Week Noon Day Prayer and Bible Study
Mid-Week Discipleship Training, Revealing Revelation, In-person and on-line
Community Harvest Fest 2026 & Health Fair
October 3, New Berean will host its annual Community Harvest Fest and Health Fair. “Welcoming All Who Come“, FREE
We are “Welcoming All Who Come” for a time family fellowship, fun, games, food, live music and a petting zoo. We also will be hosting our Annual Health Fair to get a better understanding and more information about mental, physical and spiritual health
Victory Celebration
Check out our other upcoming Opportunities for Growth, Service and Fellowship
“Educating and Equipping the Saints for the work of the ministry” is The BereanWay. As we find ourself at Mid-Week, we encourage you gather and assemble at one of our Wednesday Bible Study and Prayer sessions. Consider the words of Revelation 1:3,
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” and go get your blessing. Our Wednesday night session is in the series “Revealing Revelation” Read Revelation 9 for our weekly reading
Join us for Mid-Week Noon Day Prayer & Bible Study
12 noon In-person
Mid-Week Discipleship Training – Revealing Revelation
“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.” Psalm 98:1
There is more to a celebration than meets the eye when we come to this point in the year, It is the remembrance of God’s eternal grace and favor. God has done some marvelous things in the sight of his children and we are obligated to recognize him. From beginning through the present, He’s been faithful.
Victory – Work of the Ministry
Victory – Appointing Elders, Pastors
Victory – Work of the Ministry
The BereanWay Sunday, the pulpit preaching ministry of Antonio B. Harris. His current series, “Revealing Revelation: Beginning with the End in Mind” has been collected on our library archive.
From the beginning, 1:3, it has been a blessing to hear, read and obey the words of this prophecy. Pastor Tony has and is being used by the Lord to clarify, educate and equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
Check out the past messages and be blessed as the Lord speaks on Revealing Revelation
October is the time for our Community Annual Harvest Fest. A time to connect and fellowship with the neighborhood. Join us for a day of feasting, live music, yard games, fun food and live music – all free. Join and meet the New Berean ministry family
During our Community Harvest Fest, consider being educated of health care for you and those around you. We will having a FREE Community Health Fair to help us learn more and better about maintaining the vessel with a panel of medical experts to address your concerns.
Check out our Church Calendar for additional events and opportunities of fellowship and growth
The Lord our God is pleased when his children are walking love, encouraging and building up one another (I Peter 4:8, John 13:35). As he is in the light so we too ought to walk (I John 1:7).
We thank our Lord for how you have demonstrated his love for the saints by your gifts, prayers and acts of kindness. When we meet, it is a time of exhortation and edification. We have sisters and brothers who are experiencing challenging events and times and it’s a blessing when we come together to be refreshed and blessed by our common faith and grace we share in the Lord. Continue lifting up one another, calling, texting and communicating, it’s The BereanWay!
Happy 37th Anniversary to the New Berean Baptist Church ministry
This month marks 37 years of service ministry by the New Berean Baptist Church ministry. We not only have been blessed with consistent and steadfastness diet to the teachings of the word of God, but we have been blessed by the people who have served here. True the “church” is not the building, but God gave us a building, a facility to train, educate and equip the people of God the things of his word just as Christ commanded (Matt. 28:18-20) and we celebrate God’s favor.
So, in this celebration we commit to following through and executing the “Commission” as laid out by the Lord to his disciples to 1) evangelize with the Gospel those who will hear 2) baptize those who believe, and 3) disciple those who follow: it’s The BereanWay
You Are Invited to Join Us
Join us as we “Adventure with God” in “Believing Him for the Impossible”. God wants us to embrace the vision he’s given to our Pastor Tony by “Evangelizing with the Gospel”, “Nobly Searching and Studying the Scriptures” and “Adoring Him”. This vision is active and alive and so beneficial to bringing people into a personal and growing relationship.
We encourage you to join us and invite a family member, friend, coworker or neighbor to walk with us
Sunday
8:30 am Morning Prayer
9:00 am Sunday School LIVE
10:00 am Sunday Morning Worship
10:00 am Student Youth Ministry
10:30 am The BereanWay Sunday on YouTube
The BereanWay Endowment Fund
The Endowment Fund, as part of The BereanWay vision is our way to invest and help provide long-term sustainability.
As part of the vision of New Berean, The BereanWay seeks to “Educate and Equip” every believer and to “Evangelize” every unbeliever with the good new of God’s eternal love, the Gospel (Matt. 18:18-20, Acts 1:8, I Cor. 15:1-6)
Consider being a part of this great vision God has for this ministry by engaging and interacting in one of our training sessions as well grow together.
This month’s class lessons focus on the wisdom, the practical application of knowledge. Wisdom is valued higher than possessions (Pro. 3:14). So, join us this month as examine the scriptures and explore how to “Live in Victory Everyday!” It’s Sunday School L.I.V.E!
Tuesday Small Cell Group (Virtual)
Women of the Word, join our Ladies group to learn and continue to grow as the women, chosen vessels of honor. Every Tuesday beginning at 7:00 pm via ZOOM
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (Pro. 27:17). Men, as we have been gifted of God to be the leaders of our homes, communities and churches we are often challenged by the weight of this role and the respective responsibilities. Let us as iron sharpen one another and keep us ready for the call to duty of the Lord.
Mid-Week Discipleship Training
Join our Mid-Week Group Study, Discipleship Training where we get to interact and engage with others growing in their faith and understanding of God’s word just as we are. Our in-person session begin at 7:00 pm here on campus. If you are unable to attend in person, the image and check out YouTube playlist for Mid-Week Discipleship training
Celebrating 37 years of service ministry to a faithful God. Thank you for sharing in with as September usher in our 37th Victory Celebration
Our Victory Celebration is a moment to reflect, renew and refocus our minds (Rom. 12:1-2) and share in the things God had demonstrated himself mighty before the people within and without as he did with Moses (Ex 32:17-19)
Our celebration is because of God’s faithfulness, his grace, his favor and patience with us over the last 37 years. Here we share with you some of the faces of people who have come, gone, stayed and returned in the ministry. We selected 37 images to timeline from where we were to where God has brought us, some you may recognize and some you may not
