Our Pastor

PASTOR
THURSELLE C. WILLIAMS, M.DIV

The Reverend Thurselle C. Williams was installed as the 5th Senior Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in East Orange, New Jersey, on Sunday, September 29, 2024.

In the heart of Rev. Williams are many desires, the greatest of these is her calling fulfilled in the Ministry of teaching and preaching. Rev. Williams was licensed and ordained as an Associate Minister of The New Hope Baptist Church, of Newark, New Jersey, where she faithfully served in leadership since the age of II years-old. In that service, her leadership roles included Junior Trustee, Christian Educator, Youth Explosion Advisory Board, Assistant Director of New Members Ministry, Director of Evangelism, Weekend-Worship Director, Executive Board Member, and Pastor of College Ministries.

Rev. Williams' commitment to Ministry and encouraging youth to begin their servitude at an early age led her to serve as Youth Pastor at the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Englewood, New Jersey, and subsequently the Director of Calvary Cares after-school program where she initiated several National programs including the "Keep the Lights On" campaign and a STEM program which focused on strengthening the Math and Science skills of elementary and middle school girls. In December of 2017, the Joint Board and Membership of the New Hope Baptist Church of East Orange unanimously elected Rev. Williams to serve as the Church's first Executive Pastor.

She holds a Bachelor’s of Sociology and African American Studies from Rutgers University, a Certificate of Christian Ministry from New York Theological Seminary, and a Chaplain’s license. In the Spring of 2023, she earned a Master's of Divinity with a focus on Social Justice at Drew Theological Seminary, where she served as the Treasurer of the Black Ministerial Caucus. Her clergy and civic commitment to community led her to become one of the Pillar members of the Interfaith Action Movement, and she serves as the Interfaith Caucus Chair of the Democratic Convention of the State of New Jersey. On June 8, 2024, Rev. Williams was elected as the fifth Pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church, in East Orange, New Jersey, and the first woman to hold the Senior Pastor position.

Over the past twenty years, Rev. Williams has been blessed to speak at national and local Christian conferences, retreats, and churches. She is an advocate of holistic Christian living and through this advocacy, she also serves as a domestic violence educator and Certified Anger Management Specialist (CAMS) to the church and community. Through the grass roots work of "Zipporah" a faith based non-profit organization she is committed to "Restoration through Education", with a major focus on breaking the cycle of violence and addiction through one's faith walk. In the early days of the pandemic, Rev. Williams began the daily work of "Strength for the Day" (SFTD). SFTD is a daily online devotional that serves as a paraministry of strength.

Out of all of the servitude, Rev. Williams has been Godly inspired to give back; her most precious service is to her family and most especially her husband Robert, daughter Yasmine, and sons Gregory, Robert, Rakeim, and Rahzear. She is truly delighted to be in the LORD.

2024
Pastoral installation