Pastor Marion H. Newton

Senior Pastor

Marion H. Newton is the seventh child born to Mr. John & Mrs. Annie Newton in Ridgeland, South Carolina. He was reared in a close and loving family and was taught by his parents that you get out of life what you put into it.

He attended the public schools of Jasper County, South Carolina. After graduating from high school, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and resided there for thirteen years. While living in Boston, he was called into the ministry. Minister Newton was licensed by Bethel Baptist Church of Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1970 and ordained by Rock Spring Baptist Church of Grays, South Carolina in 1971. Heeding the call, he returned to Sumter, South Carolina to attend Morris College. He felt a need to prepare himself to be able to render better service to God and his people.

He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor Divinity Degree from Morris College School of Religion. He also completed additional studies at the University of South Carolina in Sumter. On May 11, 1997, he was honored by Morris College with the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree in Recognition of Meritorious Christian Service and Inspiring Leadership.

The Brick Baptist Church family in Frogmore, South Carolina gave Marion H. Newton the opportunity for his first Pastorate. Later, he went to Meadow Prong Baptist Church of Effingham, South Carolina. In 1982, the Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church Selection Committee in Sumter, South Carolina approved and requested that he come to assume the Pastorate at their church. He accepted this blessing and opportunity to become their Pastor. He is still the Pastor of Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church. Often, the Jehovah church family and the Newton family consider themselves as having been married for the past 26 years.

In addition to his church duties, Pastor Newton was employed at Morris College as Coordinator of Student Activities, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Acting Dean of Student Affairs. He served in the capacity of Church Relations and Alumni Affairs Officer from 1987 until June of 1996. At this time, he relinquished his duties at Morris College to provide full time service to his constantly growing congregation at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church.

Pastor Newton is a man of vision, an inspiring teacher and a revivalist. Under his leadership, the Jehovah family has completed two facilities, the Jehovah Child Development Center and the M.H. Newton Family Life Enrichment Center. After six years of their opening date, the Mortgage Burning for the two facilities of 1.5 million dollars was finalized on July 8, 2005.

Currently plans are underway for the third and fourth phases of the initial vision. The third phase will be a Senior Citizen's Care Facility. The fourth phase will be to build a Sanctuary with classrooms and Administrative offices. He preaches extensively throughout the country and is often heard by citizens of local and surrounding areas through sermons, lectures, addresses and newspaper editorials.

Pastor Newton understands and accepts his responsibilities to assume leadership roles where he can give assistance to other churches and the community. He often quotes Christ's teaching about accountability found in Luke 12:48 "…For unto whomever much is given of him, shall much be required…"

Some of his many accomplishments include membership and serving with:

  • Progressive National Baptist Convention,
  • Old Ashley Baptist Associations
  • Lifetime membership with the NAACP
  • Unity Sumter Board
  • Delta Kappa Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
  • Tri-County Needs Assessment Board for Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties
  • Health Ed. Advisory Committee for Sumter County School District #17
  • Sumter County Ecumenical Committee
  • Sumter County Ministerial Alliance
  • Former member of the Sumter Family Health Center Board
  • Former Sumter Family Health Center Treasurer
  • The Sumter County Literacy Council Board
  • Chairman of the Sumter Empowerment Zone,
  • Co-Chairman of the Sumter-Columbia Empowerment Zone
  • Chairperson for the Sumter Community Vision (Visioning in Progress)
  • Executive Board Member of Central Carolina Technical College
  • Executive Board Member of the Tuomey Fellow Class III of Sumter
  • Campaign Manager for a successful candidate to City Council
  • Chairperson for Habitat for Humanity Board
  • City of Sumter Police Advisory Board
  • Revitalization Committee
  • Concerned Citizens Coalition
  • Co-chairperson for funds disbursements during Hurricane Hugo
  • Infant Mortality Task Force
  • United Way of Sumter, Clarendon & Lee Counties Board
  • Vision for Youths Cooperative Extension Services of Sumter
  • Former President of the Black Concerned Clergy of Sumter County
  • He serves in the capacity of Moderator Emeritus of the Sumter Baptist Missionary and Educational Association

In recognition of many years of outstanding service to the Sumter community, he became the recipient of the Sumter Rotary Club Centennial Service Award on June 27, 2005. He was also listed in Personalities of the South , on June 22, 2007, he was inducted into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame, and on July 19, 2009 he was the recipient of the "2009 Men of Distinction" award.

Dr. Newton is married to the former Corine Shaw, also of Ridgeland, South Carolina. They were blessed with two daughters: Vanessa and Eyvetta "Maria", and are the proud Grandparents of Steven, Jelissa and Sterling.