St. Matthew's Unison Freewill Baptist Church sits on Dixwell Avenue in the Dixwell neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut, where it has gathered worshipers for more than a century. Pastored by Kevin C. Hardy and joined by First Lady Valerie L. Hardy, the congregation carries the motto Reaching Out, Reflecting Christ, Renewing Lives and lives out a call the pastor describes as being "Love on Display." Worship is rooted in the Free Will Baptist tradition, and the church family is closely tied to the surrounding community through prayer, music, education, and hands-on service.
Sunday Morning on Dixwell Avenue
Sunday is the centerpiece of the week at St. Matthew's. A New Members Class gathers at 9:00 a.m. and is held in person only, offering an intentional step for newcomers and those preparing to join the church. Morning Worship begins at 10:00 a.m. and runs until noon. It is offered both in the sanctuary at 400 Dixwell Avenue and online through Zoom, so members who are traveling, homebound, or living away from New Haven can still take part. The Zoom meeting ID is 779 777 579, with password 260588, and the same login is used for most of the church's online gatherings during the week.
A Week of Bible Study and Prayer
The rhythm of the week extends well past Sunday. On Tuesdays, a Prayer Service is held over Zoom at 6:45 p.m., followed at 7:00 p.m. by the Church School Bible Study, also online. Wednesdays bring a Mid-Week Service at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. The Noonday Bible Study meets in person at the church on the second and fourth Thursdays at 12:00 p.m. Friday mornings begin early with a Prayer Service on Zoom at 5:00 a.m., and the Women's Bible Study meets online at 10:00 a.m. on the first and third Saturdays. Together these gatherings give the congregation multiple touchpoints for study and prayer, with options that suit working schedules, busy families, and seniors.
Music and Media at the Heart of Worship
Music has long been a hallmark of St. Matthew's, and the Music and Media Department is organized around several ensembles. The Youth Choir gathers children and young adults ages 5 to 18 for rehearsal on Thursdays from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. The Male Chorus, a growing group of men, rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Lloyd Taylor Fellowship Hall. The Katherine Pugh Fellowship Choir brings women of all ages together to sing, while Vessels of Praise is a smaller team that leads devotion and praise and worship at the start of both the 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services. The Unity Choir gathers all of these groups along with anyone else who enjoys singing. A Media team handles audio and visual recording of services and events. Minister Lawrence Washington serves as Minister of Music.
Education and Leadership Development
Bible teaching is woven through the life of the church in several settings. The Church School meets every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom and is led by Superintendent Bro. Michael Ellison, with Mother Inez Gibson serving as Treasurer and Sis. Sharon Forbes as Secretary. The Adult Class Teacher is Elder Seesa Harris-Ellison. The Wholeness University offers ongoing Christian education, while the Leadership Academy - chaired by Sis. Latrecia Bromell - plans two major retreats each year, one in January to set the pastor's vision and goals, and one in July to encourage leaders and check on the progress of ministry goals. The Church Scholarship Committee supports students as they pursue further education, and a New Members Class welcomes those exploring membership.
Women, Men, Young Adults, and Families
The Women's Bible Study, chaired by Lady Elder Valerie Hardy, is designed to draw women into a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ through personal study and small group discussion, meeting online on the first and third Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. The Sister to Sister ministry offers another layer of connection among women. The Men's Club, chaired by Brother Jay Davis, pursues men for connection with God, His Word, and other men, with Deacon Michael Ellison serving as Chaplain. The Young Adults ministry fosters personal and communal growth among members in their twenties and thirties, under Co-Chairs Elder Cynthia Patterson and Sister Shay Haywood. The Church Membership Engagement ministry, led by Sis. Rosa Dolberry, works to involve, invest, and mobilize members in the work of the church.
Pastoral Care and a Family Approach to Ministry
Pastoral Care at St. Matthew's is treated as shared work. The Pastor's Aid, led by President Sis. Annette Bell, meets on the second Wednesday of each month and supports Pastor Hardy and his family so he can focus on leading the congregation. The Home Mission Ministry, with Mother Inez Gibson as President, gathers on the second Saturday of each month at 12:00 p.m. and is devoted to visiting and praying for sick and shut-in members in and around the community. The Ruling Elder's Ministry, with Sis. Irma Davis, Sis. Amiee Smedly, and Bro. William Carter as contacts, mediates disputes and conflicts among members through prayerful, confidential processes. Concerns must be submitted in writing before action is taken.
Reaching Out Through the Blessing Boutique
Outreach is visible in a tangible way through the Blessing Boutique, a free clothing ministry that operates from the basement of the R.J. Gay Building at 388 Dixwell Avenue. The Boutique distributes clothing on the second and fourth Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Volunteers gather on the Wednesday before each distribution at 12:00 noon to prepare clothing, and donations of money are also used to purchase hygiene and feminine products. The Boutique partners with other churches and organizations as needed, and Sister Mahoghany Duiso and Trustee Juanita Mazyck are listed as contacts. The same R.J. Gay Building also hosts the church's physical fitness programs, including Physical Fitness Training Classes on Wednesday evenings and a Line Dancing Class on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
The Mother's Ministry, Trustees, and Senior Ushers
The Mother's Ministry, chaired by Mother Sara Wearing, meets on the third Thursday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Lloyd Taylor Fellowship Hall. Members set the communion table, assist with baptism, reach out to the sick and shut-in, support bereaved families, and stand behind Pastor Hardy's vision for the church. Candidates are recommended or appointed by the pastor and consecrated at Holy Convocation. The Trustee's Ministry, led by Chairman Trustee Myles Green, manages all financial matters of the church and meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Trustees are appointed by the pastor and are required to be at least 21 years old and in good standing in the Unison Freewill Baptist Conference. The Senior Usher's Ministry, under President Sis. Jan Lewis, gathers on the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Ushers wear distinctive uniforms - white uniforms with badges and gloves for women and black or navy suits with white shirts and gloves for men - and serve as doorkeepers at St. Matthew's and at other churches when called upon, including outside engagements when the pastor travels.
Joining the Life of St. Matthew's
Visitors and newcomers are welcomed warmly. Sunday worship at 10:00 a.m. is the easiest way to experience the congregation, either in the sanctuary at 400 Dixwell Avenue or by joining through Zoom with ID 779 777 579 and password 260588. Those considering membership can attend the New Members Class on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. Anyone interested in serving through a ministry - from the choirs and the usher board to the Blessing Boutique and the Home Mission - is encouraged to reach out through the church office at 203-777-0472 or by emailing smchurch1915@gmail.com. Pastor Hardy can be reached directly at 203-584-0579 or pastorhardy1206@icloud.com. Online giving is available, and the church maintains a presence on Facebook where updates are posted regularly. St. Matthew's continues to follow the call to reach out, reflect Christ, and renew lives from its long-standing place on Dixwell Avenue.