Our Pastor

Rev. Dr. Sherman L. Helton Sr.

Born the eldest of Jesse and Juanita Helton, January 23rd 1947, Sherman is a born leader and has proven this from an early age in his tenacity to take on challenges and accomplish feats despite his having to live with a speech impediment most of his early life into adulthood.

As a young boy, Sherman was athletic and played on various neighborhood football, basketball, and baseball teams. Always as captain or team leader. Sherman was educated in the Memphis City School System at Hamilton High, Tennessee State University (TSU), Mid-South Bible College, International Seminary, and Memphis Theological Seminary. Sherman was called into the ministry at the age of 29, and subsequently called one year later at New Hope Baptist Church as its pastor. Pastor Helton is a renowned preacher, teacher, and evangelist. Some of his greatest accomplishments as Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church are noted: Four Pastors were called under his ministry; a total of ten ministers currently serve as associates, leading church from a two Sunday worship to a full time service six months after being Pastor; a new worship center, building membership from 50 active members to over 600 active members; expanding ministries from 3 to 28; a multi purpose Family Life Center, just to name a few.

Dr. Helton is an accomplished musician and has trained choirs for many years prior to his call to be a preacher. He has accompanied on numerous gospel recordings and has in the past been a part of the "WDIA's" Star Light Review.

Dr. Helton is a loving, caring, and thoughtful husband, father, and grandfather. He is married to his childhood friend, Pamela Baker Helton. God has graciously blessed them to have three beautiful children, Min. Sherman L. Jr., Rachel Diane Graham (Frank), Roderick Jerald. Two precious grandchildren, Jahdiel and Joell.

Additionally, Pastor Helton is the First Vice President of the North Ms State Convention, Moderator of the Pleasant Hill-Bethlehem District Association, and serves on the faculty of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education.

Among Dr. Helton’s accomplishments, he was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degrees from the Tennessee School of Religion and Arkansas Baptist College. In January 2003, the Magnolia Bar Association, Inc. awarded Dr. Helton the Distinguished “Harriet Tubman Award for his work in the field of religion.

Pastor's Helton favorite scripture is the 90th Psalms and his favorite song is, "Without God, I can Do Nothing", and his favorite motto is: "Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

"Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world,
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."