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OUR history

A Chronicling of Historical Events FOR
Spirit of Love and Deliverance (SOLAD) Baptist Church

 

 

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On January 7th, 2012, Dr. Louise (Lucy) Young called and informed Ms. Michelle Washington-Hughes that Reverend Raymond C. Bell after being lead by the Spirit and in consultation with his wife tendered his resignation as pastor of First Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church. Michelle Washington offered her home as place to have worship the next day. Meanwhile, a body of twenty-seven (27) believers in who were members of the church convened for a late meal with Dr. Bell and Sis. C. LaVerne Bell at the International House of Pancakes at Branch Avenue and Woodyard Road, Clinton, Maryland, 11:30 pm. The twenty-seven (27) commenced to discuss the resignation of Pastor Bell. During that discussion it was mentioned that we should start a new church that would be pastor-lead under Dr. Bell’s leadership. After eight and half years of dedicated, committed, and dutiful stewardship, Reverend Bell directed those in agreement at the meeting and others in the District, North Carolina, and Nevada to meet him at Michelle’s house at 9:00am to see what the Lord will say about a new church.


The next day, Sunday, January 8th, 2012, a body of forty-three (43) believers met for worship services at 9:00am, at the home of Michelle Washington-Hughes, 11102 Mount Lubentia Way, Upper Marlboro, Maryland with Reverend Bell preaching his inaugural sermon, Five New Things for the New Year: New Song, New Heart, New Spirit, New Covenant, New Name taken from Revelations 21:1-8. After the proclamation of the gospel, the 43 believers formally organized, Spirit of Love and Deliverance (SOLAD) Baptist Church of which the name was offered by Sisters Rebecca (Becky) Sorrels, Michelle Washington-Hughes and Kenneth Crandell, Jr. to be pastor-lead by Reverend Bell. It was decided that the newly formed church remain in fellowship with the Baptist denomination. During the organizing meeting, Reverend Bell, by unanimous acclamation was elected pastor of SOLAD. Concomitant with the election of Reverend Bell, Reverend Anthony J. Motley was elected Assistant Pastor, Deacon Keith Ball, Chairman of the Deacon Ministry, Patricia James, Interim Secretary, and Cynthia Blackmon was appointed interim Treasurer by the authority of the organizing committee, all the rights, privileges, and amenities thereunto appertaining to that committee were bestowed upon and by the 43 believers/organizers as chartered and founding members of Spirit of Love and Deliverance (SOLAD) Baptist Church.  The organizing committee retained founding members classification opened through the 18th of January 2012.  Charter membership would remain open until the signing in the document on the Recognition Day.

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Also at the first worship service on January 8th, historic pictures were taken of the first group of founders.  At this service there were Ushers; Octavia Johnson, Diane Watkins, and Mattie James and Parking and Security Ministry in the presence of Malcolm Van Hagen. It was determined at the first worship service that the choir would be formed and the first rehearsal would be held at Michelle’s home on Thursday, January 12th.  

On Monday, January 9th, 2012 the search for a place of worship, bible study, prayer meeting, and choir rehearsal commenced. Pastor Charles Mainor of Northwest Baptist Church contacted Pastor Bell offering the use of his church for SOLAD to hold their worship service at Northwest Baptist Church. Pastor Bell and Assistant Pastor Motley met with Pastor Mainor and the Trustees of Northwest Baptist and agreed and to hold the SOLAD Worship Experience, Bible Study and choir rehearsals at Northwest Baptist Church. Also on January 8th, a Facebook account was opened for SOLAD and the historic pictures were placed on the internet communication network. It was then that the name SOLAD was first coined by Maurice Shirley.  

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The second worship service of SOLAD was held on January 15th, 2012 at the home of Pastor and First Lady Bell, 11130 Piscataway Rd. Clinton, Maryland were another thirty-three (35) believers became founding members of SOLAD. Pastor Bell agreed to prepare the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and Bylaws for review by the founders. It was decided that the founders would review and file their comments on the drafts. On Wednesday, January 18th, SOLAD held its first business meeting at Northwest Baptist Church. During the business meeting, eight believers joined as founders, and Pastor Bell was elected President of the corporation, Reverend Anthony Motley, Vice President, Cynthia Blackmon, Treasurer, Becky Sorrels, Assistant Treasurer, Patricia James, Secretary, and Felicia Thompson, Assistant Secretary. Also, Robert (Jeff) Barbour was appointed leader of Space and Building Team. Darrel Childs was appointed leader of Publishing Team, and Mildred Smith appointed leader of Beatification Team.

The third worship service was held at Northwest Baptist Church located at 408 Mentor Avenue, Capital Heights, Maryland, on January 22nd, 2012, and eight believers joined as charter members. At the conclusion of the service, the articles of incorporation was signed and notarized. The following day, January 23th, Pastor Bell registered the corporation in Baltimore, Maryland. Also on this day, SOLAD opened a bank account at PNC.

SOLAD held its first bible study and membership orientation class on January 25th at Northwest Baptist Church, of which fifty (50) worshipers were in attendance, and two (2) believers joined. During this service, Felecia Thompson and Melanie White presented a logo they designed for SOLAD to Pastor Bell. On Sunday, January 29th, SOLAD held its fourth worship service, and seventeen (17) believers joined as charter members, and the pastor’s aide ministry was established. During this worship service, the first published Sunday service bulletin was laid out and printed by Sister Barbara Jordan and Dr. Louise Young which was distributed to the congregation. 

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The first meeting of the Recognition and Installation Committee was held on February 2nd, and an organizational flow chart was developed as an instrument inspired by the Holy Spirit, governed by the body, lead by the pastor, and supported by the deacon-ate. The Recognition Committee determined that recognition of the church and the installation of the pastor and officers would occur on February 19th at 5:00pm at Central Baptist Church in Clinton, Maryland.

SOLAD held its first communion at Northwest Baptist Church on February 5th, and communion wares were donated by Sisters Barbara Jordan, Michelle Gorham and others. Ten (10) believers joined during the worship service.

On September 19, 2012 SOLAD Loss it first co-founder and member, Kenneth W. Crandell, Jr. Later he voted as Trustee Emeritus. 

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January 2013 SOLAD held its first Church conference at Ryland-Epworth United Methodist Church in Washington, DC.  Ten members were installed as Trustees, namely: Robert "Jeff" Barbour (Chairman), James Williams (First Vice-Chairman), Mildred Smith, Ransom Jordan (Second Vice-Chairman), Emorris Cook-Morris, Gregory Johnson, Octavia Johnson, Sharon Lowder, Saundra Woodard, and Bryan Jordan.  

On June 13th the Northwest Baptist Church caught on fire and we had to move our services to the Clarion Hotel located at 6400 Oxon Hill Rd. Oxon Hill, Md. Our first service was on June 17, 2012. We have been having services there until we moved.  On May 10, 2013 we signed our first lease to rent a building.

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On March 1, 2014 we moved into our new building at 5050 Beech Pl. Temple Hills, MD 20748.  

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The church has licensed five ministers Derrick Barbour (2012), C. Laverne Bell (2014), Alisha Jones (2014), and Tyler Jones (2014), Antoinette Barbour (2017) and has ordained one minister, Rev. Dr. Lucy Young (2013).

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The church conducted its first baptism in its own building on June 1, 2014.  Sis. Shareece Lowder was the first to be baptized. 

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In January of 2015 Pastor Bell recommended 6 members for training to be deacons, namely: Angela Orr, Darlene Shirley, Charlene Washington, Monica Robinson, and Doris White. They were ordained June 26, 2016. 

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our pastors:
raymondbell2019a.jpg
Raymond Bell

Senior Pastor/CEO

pastorbell@solad.org

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