Greater New Hope Baptist Church
1723 West 44th Street
North Little Rock, AR 72118
ph: 501-758-4651
greatern
Biography Of Our Pastor
Biography of Pastor E. D. Lairry
I was born in 1948 to the late Deacon Pearl and Josephine Lairry, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. I was the last born child of eight children. I was converted to Christianity at the age of twelve, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, North Little Rock, Arkansas, under the leadership of Rev. N. K. Curry, who is now 95 years old. I grew up faithfully attending Sunday School, prayer meetings, Bible class, and Baptist Training Union (BTU). I thank God for my parents, their teachings and spiritual beliefs, which they instilled into me as a child, and is still in me today and forever. I attended North Little Rock Public Schools. In 1966,1 graduated from S. A. Jones High School. I attended Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, Arkansas, and also GMC Bible Institute. I am a member of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Industry -Christian Education. In 1969, I was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Marva L. Johnson Lairry. To this thirty year union we were blessed with two sons, Demarkus and Randall, and daughter, Miranda. I consider myself very fortunate, and blessed to be able to say that my three children and family members consisting of brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces have become members of Greater New Hope Baptist Church under my leadership. Beginning at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, from my days as a youth, and on into adulthood, I have been a committed servant working for the Lord. I enjoyed being a song leader, and singing in the Junior and Young Adult Choirs, where I also held the office of Vice President for many years. I served as the church's clerk for several years. I was appointed as a deacon at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and served for seven years. At the age of thirty-eight, I was called by God into His Ministry. I was licensed as a minister on July 6, 1986. On February 22, 1987, 1 was ordained by Rev. N. K. Curry. I will always consider it as an honor, and a privilege to have served several years as an Associate Minister of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, under Rev. Curry, my father in the Gospel. I was called to serve as the pastor of Central Baptist Church, in Gethsemane, Arkansas. I resigned after serving at Central Baptist for two and a half years. Three weeks later, I received a phone call from the late Rev. Don A. Kelly, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church North Little Rock, Arkansas, asking me to assist him as pastor. Upon Pastor Kelly's death, I served as Interim Pastor of New Hope for nine months. In January 1993, from among many candidates for pastor of New Hope, I was selected as its Senior Pastor. I served six years as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. Under my leadership andadministration, a ground breaking ceremony was held for the building of a 1.2 million dollar church. Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, I resigned in January 1999.
In January 1999, just two weeks, after resigning from New Hope Baptist Church, again being lead by the Holy Spirit, I founded and organized Greater New Hope Baptist Church, which is located in the Levy Community, at 1723 West 44th Street, North Little Rock, Arkansas. The membership is currently five hundred and growing. The membership includes three Associate Ministers, six Deacons, a Mother Board with 10 members, a 45 member choir, and a 45 member Junior and Senior Usher Board. Under divine leadership, I am the overseer of the following ministries which serves the people of our area communities: Youth and Teen Ministry, Prison Outreach Ministry, Nursing Home Ministry, Radio Broadcast Ministry airing each Saturday, 11:00 a.m., KITA Radio Station, 1440 AM, Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Outreach Ministry, Clothing Ministry, Food Ministry, and Free Hair Cut Ministry. I learned long ago to wait for the divine leadership from the Holy Spirit before making any move and decision where Christ's church is concerned. Because of this obedience to God, we can worship, praise and glorify God for all of His goodness, and the many blessings He pours down from heaven on Greater New Hope. God has blessed us with a beautiful 850 seating capacity sanctuary, a Fellowship Hall with a seating capacity of 400, along with ten classrooms, three vans, and a 45 seat passenger bus used to transport those who have a desire to attend the worship services, Bible study and prayer meetings. In a connecting building to the sanctuary, we operates the GNH Daycare Center, with eight highly qualified staff members. As one of Jesus' under-shepherds, and a full-time pastor, my main focus is soul winning, and educating God's people in His Word. I give praise, glory and honor unto God for all that I have accomplished as a Christian, and as a minister of God. AND THROUGH IT ALL, MY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, I HAVE LEARNED TO LEAN AND DEPEND ON JESUS!
Pastor Edward D. Lairry
Youth Department
1723 West 44th Street
North Little Rock, AR 72118
ph: 501-758-4651
greatern
