ABOUT OUR CHURCH
THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH
Our History
PETERSBURG — The black churches, as a distinguishable group during the 18th and 19th centuries, represented the enslaved people who were trying to come to terms with their existence as slaves in the acclaimed land of “freedom and equality." Before the Emancipation Proclamation, blacks were not allowed to conduct services without the supervision of a white minister. However, black preachers were in high demand as funeral preachers. Like Moses, the black preacher planted himself into the bright new dawn of freedom, where, for the enslaved people, he planted hope where despair flourished.
Pastor Cherry has nurtured and developed associate ministers and built a strong Deacon Board to assist him
with the spiritual needs of the congregation. Under his leadership, Third Baptist ordained its first female
minister Rev. Linda Drummond in June 2012. Since that time, other ministers have been licensed including
Rev. Brenda Cherry (former First Lady), Rev. Joseph Ford, Rev. Kassandra Bullock, Rev. Karesha Williams,
Rev. Pamela Graham, Rev. Raven Mason-Stevenson, and Rev. Dr. Elsie Jarmon.
John Jasper was one of those black preachers. He was the son of a well-respected funeral preacher and the youngest of 24 children. Before the Civil War, John Jasper was called to preach at Third Baptist Church in Petersburg, on the third and fourth Sunday of each month.
After the death of Pastor Leroy Cherry on October 5, 2020, Third Baptist Church elected the first female pastor
on August 13, 2023. The historic installation of Rev. Kassandra Bullock took place on November 26, 2023.
Although called to lead the church, he was not permitted to conduct those services without the supervision of a white minister. One day, a white minister and his friends who attended were so moved by the message from John Jasper that permission was given to this man of God to preach alone. Within a year under the leadership of John Jasper, the church paid off a $800 debt and added a new pulpit and a new fence. John Jasper is most remembered for his prolific sermon, “De Sun Do Move.”
As Third Baptist Church embarks on this new chapter together for this Old Ship of Zion, I beseech you to allow
God to be your compass and your guide. I pray none of us ever lose sight of our first love, Jesus Christ, and His
will for His church. Therefore, let us press forward; one mind and body through love, unity, and faith that “The
Best is Yet to Come”.
Following the departure of John Jasper from Third Baptist Church, this Old Ship of Zion was pastored by several men of God, such as Rev. Luther Anderson Greene, Rev. E.T. Jackson, Rev. Riggins, Rev. Goodwyn, Rev. Kiser, Rev. Earl Redford Knox, Rev. George L. Williams, and Rev. Willie Edward Dickerson.
By Faith then...By Faith Now
To God Be the Glory!
On Sept. 1, 1996, Rev. Leroy A. Cherry became pastor of this Old Ship of Zion. When Pastor Cherry took over Third Baptist Church at 630 Halifax Street, the church was in a transitional stage. He immediately began to organize the members to begin the process of renovating and upgrading the building. Pastor Cherry’s vision for Third Baptist Church was to have a new edifice built in the same area where the
original church had been. On Saturday, April 8, 2006, Pastor Cherry and the members of Third Baptist Church began the march to the
new edifice, located at 550 Farmer St.