“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Organized: June 30, 1900 Location: Avenue C between 11th and 12th Streets, South, Birmingham, Alabama

During this time period, seven pastors led the congregation: Reverend Jerry Austin, Reverend Smith, Rever-end Johnson, Reverend F. S. Miller, Reverend J. B. Gardner. Reverend Brown accepted the call in 1909. In October 1914, Reverend W. M. Love accepted the call and served until his death.

From 1900 – 1914, worship services were held in rented houses. The first rented for $5.00 per month. In 1909, a house was converted into a church building at a cost of $2,000.00. During this 14 year period, the name was changed from 11th Street Baptist Church to St. Luke Baptist Church.

A time of trials and tribulations, there were great financial difficulties when Reverend W. H. Thomas accepted the call in 1929. The congregation moved to a new location and purchased a church building at a cost of $5,500.00 and St. Luke Baptist Church was changed to Pilgrim Baptist Church.

On September 9, 2007, Rev. Dr. James H. Brooks, a preacher/pastor from Ypsilanti, Michigan, assumed the pulpit of New Pilgrim Baptist Church as its Senior Pastor. He was installed on November 11, 2007. His ministry among the Pilgrims was one of ministerial integrity and accountability, founded and fueled by transparency, integrity, honesty rooted in a love for God and God’s people. He inspired, instructed, and instilled in New Pilgrim a sense of renewal, reconnection, and revival as we embarked upon “A Season of New Beginnings.” In turbulent and trying economic times, Pastor Brooks led New Pilgrim to see that its best days were not in its past but in its future. He continued and strengthened the long history of New Pilgrim in helping those who in need. Hence, New Pilgrim continued to do more for the last, the least, and the lost of the greater Birmingham area.

Under Pastor Brooks’ leadership, New Pilgrim continued to grow, as evidenced in attendance in her worship services weekly, and in the generosity of the parishioners who gave to a level of making New Pilgrim a $1,000,000 congregation annually.

June 30, 2013
During Pastor Brooks’ time among us, New Pilgrim firmly planted the fertile roots for building a “campus for Christ” on the hallowed ground upon which the church now sits. Under the pastorate of Rev. James H. Brooks, we embarked on our move “From Grace to Glory as we broke ground for a new, state of the New Pilgrim Pavilion: a state-of-the-art family life facility for the wholeness of God’s people and to the glory of God. This day was the day that saw the New Pilgrim break ground on the journey to building this campus for Christ. The Pilgrims rallied around the vision for the future of this great church, understanding by faith that only God in heaven knows what this church would yet be. As we marched into this great destiny, the people pledged to give of self and service to climb to yet higher ground for Christ.

In 2014, under Pastor Brooks’ leadership, New Pilgrim completed the $4.2 million expansion of its Titusville campus. The New Pilgrim Pavilion was built to be a 21st-century worship, fellowship center with multiple state-of-the-art classrooms, a gymnasium, and other amenities suited to being a gospel outreach center to the glory of God. The Pilgrim Pavilion was built with a long-term vision to house the New Pilgrim Day-care (in existence since 1953) and a New Pilgrim Café and Bookstore. Plans were also made to renovate the current 1200 seat sanctuary for the enjoyment of God’s people praising God.

Pastor Brooks was an outstanding preacher who could best be described as the “Man in the Middle” a title from his initial sermon to New Pilgrim. The title was used to bring focus on Jesus as the “Man in the Middle” at Calvary. Pastor Brooks was a par excellent teacher who utilized his zeal, enthusiasm and love for God’s Word to bring “Bible Alive” teachings to his bible study sessions. Those sessions were filled with great wisdom, humor and insight that could be easily comprehended by the common person.

Pastor Brooks served faithfully until his death on September 14, 2022.

Dr. Marcus S. Jerkins accepted the call as the 13th Senior Pastor of New Pilgrim in October 2023. He preached his first sermon on December 3, 2023. He was installed on March 16, 2024. Pastor Jerkins is a pastor, scholar, educator, author, and national speaker who loves God and the people of God. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Jerkins has marked 2024 as the Year of Restoration for New Pilgrim. This year, we have seen the church continue to grow. Pastor Jerkins has led the church to begin updates and renovations in the building, and he has increased our online presence through live-streaming and added social media platforms. The future is bright for New Pilgrim, a church on the M.O.V.E.