Reverend A. Ayana Newton

Pastor

Rev. A. Ayana Newton is the daughter of Gerri and Jesse Newton and the sister of Christopher P. Newton. Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, she is a proud graduate of Morgan State University with a B.S. in Computer Science, and a minor in Mathematics. Rev. Newton is also a graduate of Payne Theological Seminary (Wilberforce, OH) with a Master of Divinity degree and is currently working on her Doctor of Ministry degree at Payne.

Joining in 1994, Rev. Ayana served in numerous leadership capacities at First AME Church (Gaithersburg, MD), eventually becoming the youth minister in 2003 at the appointment of Rev. Barbara Y. Glenn, serving in that capacity over 13 years. Other ministries that showcased her gifts and passions were the music ministry, discipleship ministry, YPD, and the Women’s Missionary Society. She preached her initial sermon “Actions speak louder than words” in July 2001, under the pastorate of Rev. Charles D. Smithat First AME.

In April 2016, Rev. Newton was appointed the 2^ndPastor of Living Water AME Church in Stafford, VA, where she served with gladness. She was recently appointed pastor of Jerusalem AME in Clinton, Maryland. Rev. Newton has a passion for ministry and equipping God’s people to live out the purpose and potential that God has placed within. For her, Ephesians 3:7 (NLT) says it best,^“by God’s special favor and mighty power, I have been given the wonderful privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.”

Reverend Ranae Stradford

Associate Minister

Rev. Stradford was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in April of 2007 and an Itinerant Elder in the A.M.E church on April 17, 2009. Rev. Stradford graduated from Towson University in May 2001, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. She graduated from the Howard University School of Divinity in May 2006, where she received a Master of Divinity degree. She also completed her Master of Adult Education degree in May 2009 from Coppin State University.

Rev. Stradford serves on the Ministerial Staff as the Minister to Women as well as the Minister to Young Adults. She serves as the Artistic Director of the Karah Dance Ministry. She also conducts Discipleship/New Member’s classes. Rev. Stradford serves on the Potomac District Church School Council. Previously, she served as the Minister to Youth, Y.P.D director, Class Leader, and a Sunday School Teacher.

Rev. Stradford feels like the Apostle Paul, when he wrote Ephesians 3: 7, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power. Although I am less than the least of God’s people, this grace was given to me to preach…”

Reverend Karen Brown

Associate Minister

Reverend Brown was ordained an Itinerant Elder in April of 2017. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in May 2017. She currently leads the Youth Ministry as well as the Intercessory Prayer Ministry of Jerusalem AME Church. As the Minister to Youth it is her desire to establish innovative methods that excite, inspire, capture and ignite the youth for Jesus. Her major goal is to empower young people to understand and recognize who Jesus is and what it is to totally commit their lives to Him.

As the leader of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry, she has upheld the ministry’s mission to encourage and inspire the members, families, and church ministries to pursue a deeper prayer life, for the overall edification of the body, and glorification of the Lord. Her main focus is to stand in the gap for those who are not able or willing to pray.

Reverend Brown’s favorite scripture is Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Whenever she is asked to describe her passion for ministry she states that it is her desire to do nothing less than to spread the word of God for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. To do this she believes that she has to incorporate the divine attributes of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in her Christian walk. Thus she has devoted her life to loving the Lord deeply, and learning how to express this love in her day to day living. Moreover, she believes that when as a committed Christian, we walk, talk, and breathe our deepest belief in God; we are a kinder and more compassionate disciple for the Lord.

Reverend Brown is married to Brother Kenneth Brown Sr.; she has two adult children, a wonderful daughter in-law, and two beautiful granddaughters. She is currently a dedicated employee of the Federal Government, where she has served for 33 years.