Fifty Years on Pacific Avenue
New Life Baptist Church sits on Pacific Avenue SE in Lacey, Washington, where it has served Thurston County and Southwest Washington for five decades. Founded in 1975, the congregation identifies itself as the oldest and largest predominantly African American church in the region, and members often speak of it simply as "the Forward Church." A documentary called "Voices of Legacy," executive produced by Reverend David L. Reaves, captures the testimonies, memories, sacrifices, and praise that have carried the congregation through fifty years of worship and service, marking the journey "from vision into ministry, ministry into family, and family into legacy."
The story began at the YWCA's Friendship Hall in Olympia, where a small group of believers first gathered. The congregation later moved into Lacey, and throughout the construction of the present facility it held services at several different locations. Today the church is firmly rooted on Pacific Avenue, continuing to grow with what leaders describe as dynamic momentum.
"At NLBC, we express our faith unapologetically through worship, community engagement, and service to both God and humanity," the church writes. "We strive to be a church that is simple yet profound, serious yet joyful, soul-winning yet sincere, spirit-led yet servant-hearted."
Worship on Sunday Mornings
Sunday School begins at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Sunday Worship Experience at 10:00 a.m. The Music and Worship Arts Ministry shapes each service through a musicians core, worship leaders, liturgical dancers, and a drama team, an artistic expression the church calls "the outpouring expression of our relationship with Christ."
Preaching is described as dynamic, with a focus on engaging the whole congregation. Visitors are welcomed at the door by an active team of ushers and greeters, and the diaconate ministry supports the service through practical care and hospitality. Services are livestreamed through NLBC TV, with recent Sunday morning worship services available to watch online.
A Midweek Bible Study
On Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., the church gathers for Bible study. The midweek gathering is a steady rhythm for members who want to go deeper between Sundays, and visitors are warmly invited to join the conversation.
Becoming a Member
Those who want to make New Life their church home are invited to New Members Orientation, held on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., both on campus and online. The orientation introduces newcomers to the church's values and direction, after which they can complete a simple form to formally join the congregation. The church also maintains an online community called "My New Life," where members can access announcements, sign up for groups, and stay connected throughout the week.
Senior Pastor David L. Reaves
Reverend David L. Reaves, M.Div., leads New Life as Senior Pastor. A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Pastor Reaves is a graduate of James Benson Dudley High School and a former United States Army artilleryman stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he trained shortly after high school. His calling to ministry came through Shiloh Baptist Church in Tacoma, where he served under the mentorship of Rev. Dr. Gregory Christopher and began to hone his spiritual gifts as a servant leader.
From there, his ministry path took him through a series of roles: Youth Minister and Youth Outreach Worker at Eastside Baptist Church in Tacoma beginning in 2004; Children and Youth Pastor at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Renton, Washington; service at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Fairfield, California, under Dr. Claybon Lea Jr.; Director of Ministries and Youth and Family Life Pastor at Ebenezer United Church of Christ in North Carolina, where Dr. Larry Covington helped initiate his pastoral work; and Senior Pastor of Sweet Gum Grove Missionary Baptist Church, a tenure that spanned the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. After that season, he stepped back into the corporate world with executive roles at Lenovo while continuing to minister at Reeder Memorial Baptist Church, before ultimately accepting the call to New Life.
A distinguished academic, Pastor Reaves holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and a Master of Divinity from The Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary and College, with aspirations of pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. He is also the lead and Principal Consultant of TIG, the Invictus Group, a consultancy firm that works with ministries and organizations. Within the broader Baptist family, he has previously served as Young Adult President of the California State Baptist Convention, Inc., and he is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
He and his wife, Tammica G. Reaves, have three children: Sarai, Naomi, and David II (Deuce).
Values: Simple, Serious, Soul-Winning
New Life describes itself around six values that shape every area of its ministry.
- Simple Church - Following the model of Jesus, who expresses supernatural ideals in straightforward ways.
- Serious Church - Treating the Lord's church as a serious matter, with careful attention to every aspect of faith.
- Soul-Winning Church - Believing that grace fuels the mission to win souls for Christ, the ultimate purpose of believers.
- Sincere Church - Being genuine about the present condition without making excuses to remain there.
- Spirit-Led Church - Valuing the Holy Spirit and the work He does in, through, and for the congregation.
- Servant-Led Church - Choosing intentional selflessness and welcoming the difficult for the sake of divinity.
The church's mission is summarized in one sentence: "The New Life Baptist Church exists to cultivate a Christ-centered community of believers inspired by God's love and transformed by His truth."
Ministries for Every Season of Life
The church organizes its ministry work into three broad streams, each led by a Servant Leader.
Worship and Arts
The Music and Worship Arts Ministry, directed by Bro. Derek "DC" Clark, brings together musicians, the worship team, choir, liturgical dancers, and drama. Two related teams, Audio and Visual, run the soundboard, microphones, and multimedia presentations for services and events; Minister Daniel Johnson serves both.
Fellowship
The Brothers Ministry, led by Jarvis Harris, fosters spiritual growth, fellowship, and service projects among men of the congregation. The Sisters Ministry, led by Reverend Antoinette Ellis, nurtures women through studies, service projects, and gatherings designed to build deeper bonds of sisterhood. The Student Ministry, led by Quentesa Garraway, engages K-12 students with age-appropriate teaching during worship and follow-up programming throughout the week. The Senior Ministry, led by Karen Witt, offers social activities, spiritual care, and resources tailored to the needs and interests of older members.
The Word
The Prayer Ministry, led by Reverend Antoinette Ellis, organizes prayer meetings and maintains a prayer roster of requests from inside and outside the congregation. Members and friends may submit prayer requests online, and the prayer team lifts each request up on a regular schedule.
Serving the Lacey Community
Community Engagement, led by Dr. Thelma Jackson, builds connections between the church and the surrounding area through volunteer opportunities, partnerships with local organizations, and service projects that promote social justice and support neighbors in need. Among the church's regular outreach efforts is a food pantry, which volunteers can serve through the church's online sign-up form. Members are also encouraged to bring their broader gifts to bear: a skills survey invites volunteers to share their occupational, educational, and hobby talents beyond the ministry teams, helping the church connect people's abilities with the work that needs doing.
The Diaconate and the Pastoral Team
The Diaconate Ministry provides practical care for the congregation, including meal provision, visitation, and outreach. The shared leadership team includes Deacon Gary Downs, Deacon Mischelle Downs, Deacon Chris Ellis, Deacon Carmen Reams, and Deacon Ronald Reams.
A wider team of associate ministers supports the Senior Pastor in preaching, teaching, funerals, weddings, revivals, dedications, and ordinances. They include Reverend Antoinette Ellis, Minister Quincy Atkins, Minister Daniel Johnson, Reverend Keith Smith, Reverend Clarence Taylor, Reverend Gary Hatter, MIT Mischelle Downs, MIT Quentesa Garraway, and MIT Adelaina Kheri.
What to Expect When You Visit
The church is located at 7838 Pacific Avenue SE in Lacey, with a mailing address of PO Box 3730, Lacey, WA 98509. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the phone number is (360) 456-5815. Sunday morning worship begins at 10:00 a.m., preceded by Sunday School at 9:00 a.m., and the Wednesday Bible Study meets at 6:30 p.m. Ushers and greeters, led by Carolyn Brown, make first impressions a priority, while the volunteer ministry, led by Altavia Jones, helps match newcomers with a place to serve once they are ready.
Online giving is available, and the livestream lets those who cannot attend in person worship along with the congregation. New Life is active on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube, and the church's calendar of upcoming events is posted online.
"Our church is a place where people can immerse themselves in the teachings of the Holy Scriptures through dynamic preaching," the church says. "We gladly welcome anyone who desires to engage in spiritual enlightenment and a fulfilling worship experience. We believe in creating a space where people can have authentic encounters with Christ, discover their gifts, and use them for God's glory."