WHY ABYSSINIAN IS A PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH

Calling our church purpose driven does not mean that we do not recognize that it would be equally valid to call ourselves Gospel driven, or Spirit driven, or Christ driven, or a number of other similar statements.

Some have been critical of the purpose driven model, and seek to find fault with it. But this is usually because they either like to find fault with anything that does not agree with their way of doing things, or because they have misunderstood, or taken out of context, the principles on which it is founded.

Being purpose driven, simply put, it being committed to developing the five Biblical purposes for which every New Testament church should exist, both in the lives of all our people, and in the life of the church corporately.

As authentic Christians, under the Lordship of Christ, and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the five purposes that guide our lives and church are Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, and Evangelism. We believe that as we live our lives on purpose for God, keeping these five purposes in balance, we will build both healthy, mature Christians and a healthy, Christ exalting Church that glorifies God and faithfully proclaims His Gospel to all.

OUR PURPOSES

OUTREACH: TO COMMUNICATE CHRIST’S MESSAGE THROUGH EVANGELISM IS OUR MISSION.


FELLOWSHIP: TO INCORPORATE CHRIST’S FAMILY INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE LOCAL CHURCH THROUGH MEMBERSHIP.


WORSHIP: TO CELEBRATE CHRIST’S PRESENCE AS WE MAGNIFY HIS NAME THROUGH GENUINE WORSHIP.


DISCIPLESHIP: TO EDUCATE CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS TO CHRIST-LIKE MATURITY THROUGH BIBLE TEACHING AND TRAINING FOR MINISTRY.


SERVICE: TO DEMONSTRATE CHRIST’S LOVE THROUGH CARING MINISTRY TO ALL PEOPLE.


OUR GOAL
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE BE MORE LIKE JESUS

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OUR PASTOR

Dr. Simmons was born in Cairo, Georgia to the late Rev. Perry Simmons, Sr. and Mrs. Pinkie Simmons. He attended elementary school in Cairo and graduated with honors from Washington High School in 1965. He continued his education at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia where he excelled in athletics, later being inducted into the College Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1969, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morris Brown College. He did further graduate work at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and at Valdosta State College in Valdosta, Georgia. He prepared himself for ministry by attending the International Bible Institute and Seminary, where he received a Masters in Theology and a Doctorate of Divinity from Faith College and Seminary formerly in Birmingham, Alabama. Rev. Simmons is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ with a Masters of Arts Degree in Pastoral Ministry and Counseling-2003, and Newburgh Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana with a Doctorate of Ministry-2006.

He came to Christ in May 1953 and joined the Bethel Baptist Church in Grady County Georgia. In August 1966, he was called to the Gospel Ministry and was licensed. He was ordained August 29, 1973 and became the pastor of the Union Baptist Church in Moultrie, Georgia, he also served as pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Waycross, Mt. Olive Baptist Church and Mt. Hope Baptist Church, all in the State of Georgia.

In 1982, he came to the City of Newark, New Jersey, where he became the Pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church. He has proudly served there for the 27 years. He has more than 21 ministries doing kingdom work.

He is a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

He is the Founder and President of the Simmons Scholarship and Community Service Corporation, providing scholarships in excess of $400,000. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Newark Adult Youth Drug Prevention Partnership Program. In 1984, he received the “Religious Achievement Award” from Morris Brown College National Alumni. He was voted “Who's Who in Religion in America” in 1992. He received the Religious Leader of the Year Award from the Newark Camp of the National Council of Negro Women.

Dr. Simmons is active member of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Newark and Vicinity. He is the immediate past President of The General Baptist State Convention of New Jersey and Moderator of Christian Fellowship Association-2003-2008. In 1990, he was elected to the Newark Board of Education and in April of the same year, he became Board President, where he served until April 1993. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Commission of New Jersey for seven years.

He is the author of three books, “Have You Got Good Religion?” “The Importance of Establishing a Black Christian Family,” and “Black Man, Where Art Thou?” along with over two thousand sermons and papers.

He is married to the former Emma Pinckney. He is a father and grandfather.

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Ministerial Staff & Assistants
Perry Simmons, Jr, BA, MTh, DD, Pastor
Rev. George Mitchell, Jr.	Staff Minister
Rev. Bobby Williams	Commissioner of Evangelistic Outreach
Rev. Lillian Green
Rev. Rahmin Wynn	Youth Minister
Min. Ileathern McLeod	Commissioner of Music Ministry
Evang. Christine Smith	Commissioner of Sick Visitation
Min. Michael Emanuel Min. Charles Johnson Min. Dr. Mario Goods
Patricia Harris	Pastor's Administrative Assistant
Theadora Banks	Church Administrator
Barbara Dawkins	Church Clerk
Classie Hutchinson	Assistant Church Clerk
Earl Williams	Pastor's Assistant
Pamela Hilliard	Pastor's Steward
Hollis Ford	Treasurer

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