Mortgage Burning Service

Retire The Debt on the Historic First Baptist Church Building of Newport News

Friday, April 25, 2025, at 7:30PM

You are invited to attend!

Powered By EmbedPress

There are multiple giving tiers below that you can choose to help retire the debt on the historic First Baptist church building. Be sure to choose the drop-down button for your donation which is tax deductible.

Join the campaign to retire the debit for the next generation

Choose your tier of giving here to give on givelify
Click Here

Dominion Outreach Worship Center has been occupants of the Historic First Baptist Church of Newport News for the last 25 years. The Church (Newport News Baptist church) is the first of the "Anna"-Baptist churches on the peninsula as the settlers came from England. The church's first pastor, Rev L.R. Milbourne was sent to Newport News by the State Baptist Mission Board of Virginia to minister to local believers. As more spaces was needed, the worshippers moved to the Newman hotel and eventually in the summer of 1882, Old Dominion Land Company, a major real estate developer, built the Wooden Union chapel to serve all denominations. In 1888, a gift of five real estate lots were donated to the ministry by Reverend Issac Edwin Gates, brother-in-law to Collis P. Huntington and member of the board of Old Dominion Land Company. With great excitement, the planning of the construction of the Romanesque brick structure began. The pink granite used in the construction of the church originated from the state of Maine, however, it would be the architectural design and influence of catholic builders that would give the building its design features. The church was proud of the fact that as its members pledged allegiance to Christ during its organization on June 14,1883, history would have it that this would be the same day of the month the U.S. Congress adopted " Stars and Stripes" as its emblem.

The building is currently used for worship services and community outreach. Weekly for over 23 years the ministry has housed Nehemiah's Nook our weekend hospitality house. Nehemiah's Nook is a gathering of like-minded persons, churches, ministries, and non-profit organizations who believe in the power and love of grace in meeting the needs of the hurting, helpless, hopeless, and sometimes homeless in downtown Newport News. Nehemiah's Nook gathers every weekend on Saturdays from 8AM-11AM to serve and meet the needs of citizens with a helping hand. In partnership with the Virginia Food Back Nehemiah's Nook distributes fresh food, clothing, and toiletries in partnership with Dominion's Community Development Corporation that provides life skills, job readiness and housing education opportunities. The east wing of the building is currently unavailable for use due to the renovation efforts and work that must be done. After securing the debt on the property, this freedom will enable us to continue to renovate the east wing, which will launch the opening of our school and academy, K-5, as well as offer community counseling services to include mental health awareness and assessments, addiction recovery services, adult daycare, child daycare, homework clubs for students, health and wellness services for low to moderate income persons. In addition to these services, Dominion Outreach worship center houses Dominion CDC, which is a CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization, that serves low to moderate income persons. Our vision is vast and expansive, and we look forward to your help today!