Newton County welcomes new pastors to area

from VISIONS 2023 | A New Newton

Take the Natural Path to Health & Wellness

By Phillip B. Hubbard phubbard@covnews.com

While newness and growth have taken hold in Newton County’s business sector, the local faith community is also welcoming in fresh vision that comes with new leadership.

In recent months, a wave of new pastors has swept across the Newton County area throughout multiple denominations. Rev. Mark Burgess and Rev. Quintodd Bryant are among that group who have recently moved to the county.

Meanwhile, pastors like the Rev. Willie Davis of Murray CME Church is glad to see new ministerial energy coming into the area as Newton County continues to experience unprecedented growth.

Burgess became the senior pastor of Covington First United Methodist Church in July 2022 while Bryant took the pastorship of Sims Chapel Baptist Church in February 2023. Davis serves at Murray Memorial CME Church, the church he grew up in as a native of Covington. He’s also the president of the Newton County Ministers Union (NCMU) – a non-denominational group of local pastors and ministers who provide encouragement and cooperation to each other.

For Burgess, moving to Covington in the midst of an economic and industrial boom has been exciting.

prior to his arrival, Bryant has slowly been growing accustomed to the burgeoning Southeast Metro Atlanta suburb.

“Covington is much bigger than where I come from, and being new to the area, it is somewhat hard acclimating to the community because at this point, I am going back and forth to Albany for work,” Bryant said. “But I do feel once I am fully set into town that it wouldn’t be a problem acclimating.”

All three pastors lead churches with rich histories.

Covington First United Methodist Church has been a staple in the community since the early 1820s. Most recently, the church and its members have been known for its food pantry and community service.

Sims Chapel is a more-than 150year old fixture in Covington that, for the past 22 years, was led by Rev. Cecil Rozier — Rozier is now Pastor Emeritus.

Bryant explained his plan for continuing his church’s mission forward.

Meanwhile, Bryant comes from East Albany, Georgia, where he grew up. And he said that, though he had never heard of Covington

“I can do nothing without God on my side. I plan to love the people as Christ loved the church, and I also plan to draw and reach those who are lost and also reach the young.”

Murray Memorial CME Church was founded in 1923. But, in addition to being senior pastor for the past four years, Davis finds energy in his work with NCMU — a union that formed in 1986 and was chartered in 1987.

Davis has been serving over the organization since June 2022.

According to its website, the mission for the NCMU is to “reach, build and strengthen the bond of unity and fellowship among the clergy, churches and other community organizations.”

Davis believes the outreach through his church and the NCMU has been phenomenal.

“It’s a ministry where we all come together as different denominations,” said Davis, a retired officer and former captain of the Covington Police Department.

Davis feels connection with a group like NCMU is vital for any pastor looking to find ways to serve Newton County’s fast-growing, diverse community.

“It allows us to be a spiritual leader and give spiritual guidance to the entire community,” he said.

All three pastors expressed their love for the Newton County area and are eager to continue growing their respective churches in Covington.

Davis has been around the city long enough to see the vast growth, and with it, he knows there will come challenges for Newton County’s faith community. But Davis also says he has full faith that, despite recognizing the different position church has fallen into in current society, Newton County area churches can still remain effective in the area’s bright and booming future.

“Our message is the same, but our methodology and relaying the message to the millennial age and other emerging generations has to be different,” Davis said. “We have to meet people where they are. I believe churches have to do more outreach ministry and still provide that spiritual guidance.”