A 130-Year Journey Building Believers in Temple Hills
St. Phillips Baptist Church sits on Brinkley Road in Temple Hills, Maryland, where since 2018 it has anchored a congregation that has been gathering for worship for more than a century. Known by its motto "Building Believers and Letting the Light Shine", the church traces its roots to 1892, when a small group of Christian-hearted members began holding house-to-house prayer meetings in Washington, DC. The long arc from those early gatherings to the present-day building on Brinkley Road is the through-line that shapes the congregation's identity, its deeply scriptural teaching, and its commitment to Spirit-led worship, intentional discipleship, and outreach beyond the sanctuary walls.
A Heritage Crossing from the Hill to the Capitol and Beyond
The story of St. Phillips began in 1892 with a handful of believers gathering for prayer in one another's homes. As the group grew, the meetings moved to an old community school, then to a purpose-built church on what was then called St. Phillips Hill, a neighborhood in Northwest Washington, DC now known as Spring Valley. In 1941 the original building was lost to the urban renewal movement; the congregation quickly regrouped at a property on Florida Avenue NW, and in 1948 purchased what would be its home for the next seven decades: the sanctuary at 1001 North Capitol Street, NE.
Decades later, the membership prayerfully discerned that the time had come to relocate. In 2017, with the support of the senior pastor, Rev. Dr. André H. Owens (who had been installed as the fourteenth pastor in 1978), the church sold the North Capitol Street building. A temporary church home was established at a property on Ritchie Road in Capitol Heights, Maryland, before the congregation purchased its present building at 3415 Brinkley Road in Temple Hills in 2018. The first service in the new sanctuary was held on November 4, 2018, with the Trustees Ministry credited for the diligent search that led the church to its current home.
The congregation's gratitude for its history is preserved not only in narrative but in the formal honors given to its long-serving leader. After Reverend Owens' retirement announcement, he was given the title of Senior Pastor Emeritus of St. Phillips Baptist Church, an enduring recognition of forty-three years of faithful preaching, teaching, counseling, mentoring, and pastoral care.
The Fifteenth Pastor and the Ministerial Team
On the recommendation of the retiring Senior Pastor Emeritus, the church unanimously approved Rev. Alfred Wright, Jr. - formerly its Assistant Pastor - as the new Senior Pastor, effective in 2021. The formal installation of the fifteenth pastor of St. Phillips Baptist Church was held on Saturday, July 31, 2021.
Pastor Wright grew up in Washington, DC and graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School. He served with the DC Fire and EMS Department for more than thirty years before retiring at the rank of Captain. He answered the call to preach in 2008, was licensed in 2009, and was ordained in 2016. He holds a Bachelor of Theology degree and a Master of Theology degree from Washington Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves as President of the National Capital Congress of Christian Education and on the Board of Trustees of Washington Baptist Theological Seminary.
Rev. Wright's wife, Minister Beatrice S. Wright, serves as Assistant Minister at St. Phillips and leads the Evangelism Ministry and the Crusader 4 Christ Prayer Walks. The pastoral team also includes Associate Minister Rev. Christopher Thorne, who serves as Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School, President of the Men's Ministry, and Assistant Director of the Evangelism Ministry; Associate Minister Rev. James K. Saunders III, who oversees the Media Ministry, the Married Couples Ministry, and the audio/visual team that livestreams all services; and Assistant Ministers Janine M. Puller and Anthony Trogdon. The church's lay leadership is organized into three fellowship bodies: the Deacon Ministry (chaired by Deacon Carroll M. King), the Deaconess Ministry (chaired by Deaconess J. Mae Davis), and the Trustee Ministry (chaired by Trustee Henrietta Rollins).
A Weekly Rhythm of Worship, Study, and Prayer
The congregation's calendar centers on three recurring gatherings each week.
- Sunday School at 9:00 AM opens the morning and gathers every age group around the Word before the principal service.
- Worship Service at 10:30 AM is described by the church as the cornerstone of community life - a Spirit-filled service of praise, prayer, exposition of scripture, and Spirit-led response. On the third Sunday of each month the HYPE Ministry (Holy Youth Praise Empowerment) leads the service, an arrangement established by Pastor Wright in response to a desire the young adults expressed to take ownership of a Sunday.
- Tuesday Bible Study at 6:30 PM is held by teleconference. Pastor Wright revived the long-running Tuesday Bible Study after his installation, opening the study to members and regular attenders no matter where they live.
- Wednesday "Morning Glory" Prayer Service at 5:00 AM is held by teleconference and grew out of an idea Minister Beatrice Wright received during her devotional time, giving working members a way to gather in prayer before the day begins.
Office hours run from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, when the church can be reached at 301-894-3773.
Music, Choirs, and the Sound of Sunday
Music is woven into nearly everything that happens at St. Phillips. The Music Ministry is led by a team of vocalists, instrumentalists, and directors committed to musical excellence and spiritual preparation, and the Music Ministry page puts it plainly: "worship is not just about singing songs but about encountering the living God."
Within the broader Music Ministry, several distinct groups serve the congregation. The Praise and Worship Team leads congregational singing each Sunday, balancing contemporary praise songs with traditional hymns. The Mighty Men of Valor Choir is the men's chorus. The Sounds of Youth is the youth choir, giving younger members a real place in the music life of the church. A bassist anchors the band. The team rehearses weekly and gathers for prayer before each service, treating the musical offering as both a craft and a ministry.
The Music Ministry extends beyond the sanctuary as well. Members of the music team take part in outreach concerts and community events and collaborate with other ministries to use music as a bridge between the church and its neighbors.
Sunday School for Every Stage of Life
The Sunday School Ministry meets each Sunday at 9:00 AM and is built on the conviction that lifelong learning in scripture is central to discipleship. Rev. Christopher Thorne serves as Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School, helping to oversee the teaching corps and the curriculum that ties the classrooms together.
- Children's classes introduce young ones to the stories and teachings of the Bible through age-appropriate lessons that lay a foundation of faith.
- Youth classes speak directly to the questions teenagers face and encourage them to take ownership of their faith.
- Adult classes range from topical studies to book-by-book explorations of scripture, designed for both newcomers and longtime members who want to go deeper.
HYPE: Holy Youth Praise Empowerment
The church's youth and young adult ministry is named HYPE - Holy Youth Praise Empowerment - and the name sums up its ambition: to empower young people to live out their faith boldly, treating them not as the church of tomorrow but as an integral part of God's kingdom today.
HYPE gathers for dynamic worship experiences, small groups, Bible studies, youth nights, outreach projects, and mission trips. Discipleship groups and one-on-one mentoring are at the heart of its spiritual formation work, and leadership development opportunities train teens and young adults to serve inside and outside the church. Once a month, on the third Sunday, HYPE carries the music and leadership of the 10:30 AM worship service from the front.
Men of Valor, Women of Transformation, and Couples at the Center
Three distinct fellowship ministries shape the adult life of the church.
The Men's Ministry, led by Rev. Christopher Thorne, gathers around the theme "Men of Valor, Walking in Faith" from Joshua 1:9. The ministry offers Bible studies and small groups, periodic men's retreats and conferences, fellowship events, and service projects designed to draw men into deeper relationships with one another and with God. The Mighty Men of Valor Choir shares its scriptural anchor and carries that name as a deliberate echo of the theme.
The Women's Ministry serves women of all ages and backgrounds, anchored by the theme "Women Living a Lifestyle of Transformation" from Romans 12:1-2. The ministry runs Bible studies, prayer groups, retreats, and workshops that walk alongside young women, mothers, and seasoned believers alike. It is built on the conviction that transformation is holistic - spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical - and that women of every age need a place to grow in all four.
The Couples Ministry (also called the Married Couples Ministry), led by Rev. James K. Saunders III, provides fellowship, teaching, and support for husbands and wives as they build Christ-centered homes and marriages.
Evangelism at Home and Mission Trips Around the World
Outreach has long been a central commitment at St. Phillips. The Evangelism Ministry, established by Pastor Wright shortly after his installation, organizes street evangelism, door-to-door outreach, community service projects, evangelistic events, and the Crusader 4 Christ Prayer Walks. To support members who feel called to share their faith, the ministry offers evangelism training through workshops, seminars, and one-on-one mentoring.
The Global Missions Ministry takes that commitment to the next stage through a full Missionary Training Program designed for adults and youth who sense a call to cross-cultural ministry. The curriculum is rooted in scripture, missiology, and practical skill-building, with intensive study of scripture, theological reflection, guest speakers from the mission field, and hands-on practice through mission trips, internships, and ministry practicums. Mentors walk participants through the discernment process; at the end of the program, graduates are commissioned and sent out as missionaries of St. Phillips.
Beyond the training program, the Global Missions Ministry organizes short-term mission trips open to all ages and skill levels, supports missionaries and partner ministries around the world through prayer, financial giving, and practical collaboration, and partners with local churches and organizations in the regions where it serves.
Welcoming the Newcomer
St. Phillips takes its first-time visitor experience seriously. A Visitor Information Form allows guests to indicate prayer needs, interest in joining, interest in learning more about Christianity or the church, or simply their desire to be welcomed back. The New Members Ministry, organized around the theme "Welcoming You to the Family" from Ephesians 2:19, follows up with newcomers through orientation, a welcome class series, a mentorship program pairing new members with established ones, and social events designed to help new faces build lasting friendships in the congregation.
For those ready to take a next step of faith, baptism is available on request (with a Baptism Service Request Form that opens the door for both adults and youth), and a Baby Dedication Form is offered for children between eight weeks and two years of age (and no later than two months past the second birthday).
Online Reach and the Media Ministry
Every service at St. Phillips is livestreamed on YouTube, with archived sermons available for later viewing. The Tuesday Bible Study and the Wednesday "Morning Glory" Prayer Service are held by teleconference, which means members who live at a distance or travel for work can still be part of the church's weekly rhythm. The Media Ministry, led by Rev. James K. Saunders III, manages the technology that makes all of this possible - video, sound, projection, and livestream - and serves the church's special events, mission trips, and outreach concerts.
Giving, Getting Involved, and Looking Forward
Giving supports the church's ministry through four accessible channels: in-person donations during services and office hours at the Brinkley Road building, online giving through the church's Givelify account, donations by phone through the church office, and donations arranged by email. The same leadership structures that guide the church internally also guide its growth: ministries requesting funds for events submit them through a unified SPBC Event Form, and ministry anniversary and annual day celebrations are coordinated through a dedicated itinerary form that goes directly to the Pastor.
Those who want to step into service can do so through the Ministry Contact Form, which routes an inquiry to the leader of any of the church's thirteen ministry areas. The form is also the way to volunteer for upcoming events, sign up for short-term mission trips, request a baptism, or be added to a ministry team.
Across more than a century and four buildings, one thread runs through the entire story of St. Phillips: a deep conviction that the people of God are called to worship together, study the Word together, and send one another out to share the good news of Jesus Christ beyond the sanctuary walls. That conviction, captured in the motto "Building Believers and Letting the Light Shine," is the inheritance today's congregation carries forward into its next chapter on Brinkley Road.