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From the Pastors Desk
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Welcome to newfaithfmc.org. We hope that you, our cyberspace visitors, will enjoy your stay while fellowshipping with us via the web. We welcome you once, we welcome you twice, and we welcome you always, in the name of Jesus Christ. If you are ever in the St. Petersburg feel free to worship with us at any and all of our services. And as we state in all of our services, if you’re looking for a church home, please look first to New Faith!
As I look beyond New Faith, I am appalled at the cost of new houses and rentals. Included in this is my dismay over investors buying out apartment complexes and trailer home parks to build condominiums and townhouses. These prices are extremely outrageous, ranging from $150,000 to well over $300,000 in the middle and southern parts of St. Petersburg. These escalating prices have not only affected not only some of the members of New Faith, but many of the residents in the general St. Petersburg area. The rising value of homes and the higher taxes that are associated with those values along with the doubling of insurance rates that are being justified by the hurricanes of the past two years is very troubling. Just think. The rental rates in some of the most undesirable neighborhoods in St. Petersburg are running around $800-900/month. Lower income families are being forced to forgo basic necessities just to have a roof over there heads. It’s absolutely insane. There is no such thing as “affordable housing” in this city.
The death and funeral of Coretta Scott King highlights the passing of several Black heroes in the last 12 months. The celebration of her life and home-going was a befitting launch to Black History Month. Her passing drew the presence of three former presidents of this country and the sitting president, George W. Bush. All delivered there personal eulogies. The service was long but impressive. She lived out the dream of her husband, the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and truly stood strong behind the black cause.
The burning of the churches in Alabama is a very serious problem. You may not call it an act of terrorism, but to the African American community, it is just that. There is lots of evil in world today. The church is not only being attacked by arsonist, but it’s always being attacked spiritual wickedness in high places. There is a powerful force that is trying to eliminate Jesus Christ and God from everything. We as Christians have a battle ahead of us far more serious than paying bills and providing for our parishioners.
Rev. Curtiss L. Long
Meet the Pastor
Rev. Curtiss Leon Long was born the sixth of thirteen children to Lee and Leota Long of Chandler, Oklahoma. The sibling mixture was eight boys and five girls, with one girl stillborn. Rev. Long is the forth son, the oldest and the youngest are now deceased. His family lived on a 50 acre farm rented from a neighbor about half a mile away. Though they weren’t sharecroppers, the older children helped their father hoe chop various crops, pick cotton and harvest various other products like beans, peanuts, corn, pecans, and blackberries, so that the family could have additional money. The family’s major revenue stream was the picking of cotton in the fall. They raised the basic crops on their farm and always had productive gardens. In addition to the crops, they raised dairy and beef cattle, chickens and hogs.
In 1948, Long's father bought an old pickup truck with the purpose of providing additional income at a time when the federal government had reduced acreage to the point where it wasn’t very profitable for the small farmer. It was also an effort to continue working with his sons teaching them how to work and provide. This new adventure was an exciting and profitable career. With the family truck, the father-and-son business included hauling iron, top soil, tin, sod and cotton. The major money maker was the hauling of hogs during the summer. His father accomplished his purpose teaching his sons how to work together, be self sufficient and how to provide.
Long's family was a deeply religious family. He and his siblings were regulars in Sunday school, morning worship and other church functions. In 1955, Pastor Long graduated from high school. His class was the last segregated class in the school. In 1957, he married Alice Faye Watkins. Their first child, Terri, was born shortly thereafter in 1958.
Upon instruction from God, Pastor Long gave his first trial sermon in January 1959, and gave his first assignment as Church Pastor later that September. Coincidently that same month he enrolled at Oklahoma City University, a recently integrated Methodist University. Working full-time as a case worker for Oklahoma County in Oklahoma City, part-time as an assistant teacher with Opportunities Industrialization Center, Pastoring and raising a family, Rev. Long attended classes as best he could. After seven very demanding years, he received his Bachelor's degree in religion with a minor in psychology. Feeling the need to grow spiritually, he decided to enroll in Seminary School in Atlanta, Georgia, leaving behind nine wonderful years of pastoring both St. John CME and Stella Mission CME churches.
Rev. Long was enrolled in the Interdenominational Theological Center from September 1968 to May 1971, and received a Master of Divinity degree. In his first year in seminary, while helping to raise three children, he pastored two churches south of Ft. Valley, Georgia. In the fall of 1969, he was called to pastor Holsey Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Rev. & Mrs. Long welcomed their last bundle of joy, Kim, into the world in 1970. Serving the city of Atlanta, Fulton County, and his church congregation, Rev. Long proved himself to be a strong, fervent leader communitywide! He won numerous awards for leadership and activism while based in Atlanta. Holsey Temple adored their pastor. After Annual Conference in 1987, Rev. Long was installed as the new pastor of Stewart-Isom Memorial CME Church in St. Petersburg, Florida; leaving behind Holsey Temple and scores of friends and loved ones after almost 18 years in the area.
Adjusting to a new city, a new climate and new personalities were a challenge at first, but being the people-person that he is, Rev. Long & Co. made the transition seamlessly. Rev. Long was the pastor of Stewart-Isom from August 1987 until July 1990. On the first Sunday in August 1990, along with 38 charter members, New Faith Free Methodist Church was organized in the home of our beloved matriarch, the late Mattie Lee Cooksey Gardner. The charter list was expanded to include all members who joined before December 31st of that same year.
New Faith worshipped for the first 2 ½ years at Elim Seventh Day Adventist Church. In February 1993, the church purchased its present sanctuary. Within the next four years, the church was able to purchase two additional lots and a building next to the sanctuary.
Pastor Long is very involved in the local community. He has served as a co-chairman of Congregations United for Community Action, and as a mentor, along with the many other hats that he wears in the church. Rev. Long has helped to position New Faith for growth in the new millennium by placing a strong emphasis on family togetherness and education. New Faith’s membership continues to grow under his pastorate. From our humble beginnings in 1990 where we had 38 original members, New Faith now has upwards of 250 members including children. He and his wife, Alice, have four children, Terri L., Gregory L., Basil W., and Kimberly; four grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. To God be the glory!
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
| Want to learn more about our Pastor? Read his bio here. |
As I look beyond New Faith, I am appalled at the cost of new houses and rentals. Included in this is my dismay over investors buying out apartment complexes and trailer home parks to build condominiums and townhouses. These prices are extremely outrageous, ranging from $150,000 to well over $300,000 in the middle and southern parts of St. Petersburg. These escalating prices have not only affected not only some of the members of New Faith, but many of the residents in the general St. Petersburg area. The rising value of homes and the higher taxes that are associated with those values along with the doubling of insurance rates that are being justified by the hurricanes of the past two years is very troubling. Just think. The rental rates in some of the most undesirable neighborhoods in St. Petersburg are running around $800-900/month. Lower income families are being forced to forgo basic necessities just to have a roof over there heads. It’s absolutely insane. There is no such thing as “affordable housing” in this city.
The death and funeral of Coretta Scott King highlights the passing of several Black heroes in the last 12 months. The celebration of her life and home-going was a befitting launch to Black History Month. Her passing drew the presence of three former presidents of this country and the sitting president, George W. Bush. All delivered there personal eulogies. The service was long but impressive. She lived out the dream of her husband, the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and truly stood strong behind the black cause.
The burning of the churches in Alabama is a very serious problem. You may not call it an act of terrorism, but to the African American community, it is just that. There is lots of evil in world today. The church is not only being attacked by arsonist, but it’s always being attacked spiritual wickedness in high places. There is a powerful force that is trying to eliminate Jesus Christ and God from everything. We as Christians have a battle ahead of us far more serious than paying bills and providing for our parishioners.
Rev. Curtiss L. Long
Meet the Pastor
Rev. Curtiss Leon Long was born the sixth of thirteen children to Lee and Leota Long of Chandler, Oklahoma. The sibling mixture was eight boys and five girls, with one girl stillborn. Rev. Long is the forth son, the oldest and the youngest are now deceased. His family lived on a 50 acre farm rented from a neighbor about half a mile away. Though they weren’t sharecroppers, the older children helped their father hoe chop various crops, pick cotton and harvest various other products like beans, peanuts, corn, pecans, and blackberries, so that the family could have additional money. The family’s major revenue stream was the picking of cotton in the fall. They raised the basic crops on their farm and always had productive gardens. In addition to the crops, they raised dairy and beef cattle, chickens and hogs.
In 1948, Long's father bought an old pickup truck with the purpose of providing additional income at a time when the federal government had reduced acreage to the point where it wasn’t very profitable for the small farmer. It was also an effort to continue working with his sons teaching them how to work and provide. This new adventure was an exciting and profitable career. With the family truck, the father-and-son business included hauling iron, top soil, tin, sod and cotton. The major money maker was the hauling of hogs during the summer. His father accomplished his purpose teaching his sons how to work together, be self sufficient and how to provide.
Long's family was a deeply religious family. He and his siblings were regulars in Sunday school, morning worship and other church functions. In 1955, Pastor Long graduated from high school. His class was the last segregated class in the school. In 1957, he married Alice Faye Watkins. Their first child, Terri, was born shortly thereafter in 1958.
Upon instruction from God, Pastor Long gave his first trial sermon in January 1959, and gave his first assignment as Church Pastor later that September. Coincidently that same month he enrolled at Oklahoma City University, a recently integrated Methodist University. Working full-time as a case worker for Oklahoma County in Oklahoma City, part-time as an assistant teacher with Opportunities Industrialization Center, Pastoring and raising a family, Rev. Long attended classes as best he could. After seven very demanding years, he received his Bachelor's degree in religion with a minor in psychology. Feeling the need to grow spiritually, he decided to enroll in Seminary School in Atlanta, Georgia, leaving behind nine wonderful years of pastoring both St. John CME and Stella Mission CME churches.
Rev. Long was enrolled in the Interdenominational Theological Center from September 1968 to May 1971, and received a Master of Divinity degree. In his first year in seminary, while helping to raise three children, he pastored two churches south of Ft. Valley, Georgia. In the fall of 1969, he was called to pastor Holsey Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Rev. & Mrs. Long welcomed their last bundle of joy, Kim, into the world in 1970. Serving the city of Atlanta, Fulton County, and his church congregation, Rev. Long proved himself to be a strong, fervent leader communitywide! He won numerous awards for leadership and activism while based in Atlanta. Holsey Temple adored their pastor. After Annual Conference in 1987, Rev. Long was installed as the new pastor of Stewart-Isom Memorial CME Church in St. Petersburg, Florida; leaving behind Holsey Temple and scores of friends and loved ones after almost 18 years in the area.
Adjusting to a new city, a new climate and new personalities were a challenge at first, but being the people-person that he is, Rev. Long & Co. made the transition seamlessly. Rev. Long was the pastor of Stewart-Isom from August 1987 until July 1990. On the first Sunday in August 1990, along with 38 charter members, New Faith Free Methodist Church was organized in the home of our beloved matriarch, the late Mattie Lee Cooksey Gardner. The charter list was expanded to include all members who joined before December 31st of that same year.
New Faith worshipped for the first 2 ½ years at Elim Seventh Day Adventist Church. In February 1993, the church purchased its present sanctuary. Within the next four years, the church was able to purchase two additional lots and a building next to the sanctuary.
Pastor Long is very involved in the local community. He has served as a co-chairman of Congregations United for Community Action, and as a mentor, along with the many other hats that he wears in the church. Rev. Long has helped to position New Faith for growth in the new millennium by placing a strong emphasis on family togetherness and education. New Faith’s membership continues to grow under his pastorate. From our humble beginnings in 1990 where we had 38 original members, New Faith now has upwards of 250 members including children. He and his wife, Alice, have four children, Terri L., Gregory L., Basil W., and Kimberly; four grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. To God be the glory!