Meet
Our Leadership
Pastor
Patrick H. Gillis
Reverend
Paul R. Buck Sr.
Reverend
Richard Shelton
Reverend
Walter L. Turner Jr.
Pastor
Patrick H. Gillis
July 6, 1980, began what has proven to be one of the wisest decisions for Pastor Gillis. He humbly accepted his calling into the ministry of the gospel of Christ. In an effort to deepen his knowledge of the God’s calling on his life, he enrolled in the American Baptist College’s extension campus in East Chicago, Indiana for one year. Rev. Gillis then journeyed to Nashville, Tennessee where he attended (A.B.T.S.) American Baptist College. After four years of study and reflection, Rev. Gillis graduated on May 5, 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Theology with a minor in Sociology.
Pastor Gillis has humbly served God’s people as an Associate Minister at First Baptist Church in East Chicago, Indiana; Peace Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana; Jefferson Street Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee; and Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana.
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God’s blessing reached New Community on March 17, 1991 when Rev. Gillis preached his first sermon as Pastor.
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Reverend
Paul R. Buck Sr.
Rev. Paul R. Buck Sr. was born and raised in Hammond Indiana. Rev. Buck gave his life to Jesus Christ at an earlier age at the St. John AME Church.
Rev. Buck preached his first sermon at New Community Baptist Church on April 22, 2007 entitled “Don’t Let the Devil Steal Your Mansion”. On April 7, 2008 he was licensed as a minister. He began ministerial training with American Baptist College and continued with his training through the Evangelical Training Association where he completed a certificate in Foundational Church Ministries
Rev. Paul R. Buck Sr. is active in his community; he volunteers at the Hammond Boys and Girls Club, he serves as a precinct committeeman, and coaches’ basketball. He has his own mentoring program entitled “Men Making Men" that is utilized in Maywood, Eggers and Hammond High School. Because of his mentoring program he was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major award in 2013.
Rev. Buck is married to Delia (Dee) Buck and together they run an Event Décor business named Buck’s Balloon in Hammond Indiana. Together they are blessed with six children and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Reverend
Richard Shelton
Rev. Richard W. Shelton was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and was brought to Chicago, Illinois when he was five years old.
He is a product of the Chicago Public Schools, and a graduate of Dunbar Vocational High School.
As a child, he spent a lot of time with Rev. John Scott and his wife Teresa Scott who paid him to perform chores. After the chores were done, they fed him and taught him about the Bible and its teachings. At the age of 12, he decided he wanted to be baptized and join the church. Rev. Shelton joined Vernon Park Church and was baptized and became an Usher for a year. At the age of 13, he was asked to join the choir. He became a choir member and sung with the bass although he couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. He sung in the choir until he sensed a call to ministry. He discussed his calling with his pastor and followed his advise which ultimately lead to Rev. Shelton pastoring several United Methodist Churches.
Education
An Associate of Applied Science Degree in Child Development Pre-School Education from Olive-Harvey College, City colleges of Chicago.
A Bachelor of Music Education, with a minor in Voice from Roosevelt University. Chicago, Illinois
A Master of Divinity Degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary,
Evanston, Illinois
A Master of Science in Human Services Administration from Spertus University, Chicago, Illinois
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEGREE from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois
Reverend
Walter L. Turner Jr.
As a young child I always believed there was a higher being that was truly in control of everything. As an adult I loved and found it very easy to talk about how good God is. I ran from the calling and told people that constantly asked me why I was waiting for to answer the obvious calling I had. My answer was always God will make it absolutely clear in his time. When I found out I was walking around with multiple blood clots in my lungs and a large clot directly behind my heart, my heart rate hit zero 2 times within a few minutes and yet I survived to tell my story. That was the turning point when I knew there was no more running. My favorite scriptures are Psalms 46:10 and Ephesians 3:20