OUR FOUNDER
Bishop Bennie Griffin, Jr.
Bishop Bennie Griffin, Jr. was born August 13, 1942, in Sumter, South Carolina and was raised from very early childhood in Wilmington, NC. He is the founder of the New Jerusalem Community Church, Durham, NC. Upon preaching his initial sermon in 1972, he went on the next Sunday to become pastor of Moore’s Chapel AMEZ Church, LaGrange NC, and Saint Paul Dudley. Reverend Griffin resigned his AME Zion affiliation in November of 1979, and on the next Sunday he became pastor of McNeil Memorial Freewill Baptist Church of Dunn, North Carolina.
In November 1979, he became pastor of New Metropolitan Reformed Free Baptist Church, of Durham, NC where he remained until December of 1982. He founded The New Jerusalem Free Will (Community) Baptist Church of Durham in the same month of 1982, where he presently serves as Senior Pastor. Pastor Griffin was consecrated to the office of Bishop in April of 1993.
He is a graduate of Williston Senior High School of Wilmington, North Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, NC, Manna Bible College, Philadelphia, PA., Shaw Divinity School, Raleigh, North Carolina, Christian Bible College and Seminary of Independence, MO.
Pastor Griffin is a medically retired Army Captain who has served in the European Theater, Korea, and Viet Nam, along with other stateside duties in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Maryland.
His outreach ministry was carried out for over twenty-five (25) years on the community television station (Cable 8), The People’s Channel, and WSRC Radio, Durham, NC.
He now resides in the city of Durham, NC. He is married to Sadie Newkirk-Griffin of Wilmington, NC. This union of over 60+ years has produced four (4) daughters, eleven (11) grandchildren, one of whom is deceased, and two (2) great grandsons.
