Shiloh Baptist Church (New Site) — Church Directory

Quick Facts

Pastor — the shepherd God holds accountable Rev. Keenan Thomas (Lead Pastor, installed October 2022)

Founded Split from Shiloh Baptist (Old Site) in the late 1800s; New Site is a sister congregation sharing the same historic roots (common Shiloh Cemetery, common history through 1854)

Denomination Baptist

Service Times Sundays (in-person worship, times on website); Wednesday Bible Study 6:30-7:00 PM hybrid

Men's Ministry No

Kids Ministry Yes

Website www.shilohnewsite.com

Pastor Credentials BA Telecommunications Management, Howard University (2008); MDiv, Drew Theological Seminary, Madison NJ (2015); staff pastor First Baptist Lincoln Gardens, Somerset NJ (2015-2019) under Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr.; ministry ops Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria VA (2019-2022)

10-Point Theological Scorecard

Christology

Is Jesus the only way? (John 14:6)

1 Peter 4:11 ('speaking the very words of God') is Rev. Keenan's foundational scripture — a high Christology and Word-of-God foundation.

Strong

Scripture

Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?

Drew Theological Seminary is a Methodist-affiliated seminary in NJ with a progressive academic orientation — a concern for inerrancy conviction. Rev. Keenan's practical ministry background (Alfred Street Baptist, First Baptist Lincoln Gardens under DeForest Soaries) suggests a more conservative evangelical praxis than Drew's academic culture would imply. Evaluate from sermons.

Caution

Men's Discipleship

Intentional formation for men?

15+ ministries listed but no standalone men's discipleship ministry found.

Caution

Soteriology

Faith alone? How is salvation presented?

No explicit faith-alone statement; mission is 'glorifying God, making disciples, and serving humanity' — solid Great Commission language but soteriology not explicitly stated.

Caution

Gender / Biblical Design

Biblical manhood and womanhood by God's design — patriarchal, complementarian, egalitarian, or affirming gender ideology?

Male pastor with traditional Baptist background. Exact denominational affiliation unclear (likely local Black Baptist association). No explicit complementarian statement found; Drew Seminary background is a mild concern. Default yellow.

Male pastor (Rev. Keenan Thomas); traditional Baptist structure — explicit gender stance unconfirmed

Caution

Leadership Structure

Male elders/pastors? Accountability?

Deacon board structure confirmed (Diaconate Chair, Trustee Chair, Secretary listed on Facebook). Elder structure unclear.

Caution

Preaching Style

Expository or topical/therapeutic?

Rev. Keenan's background (Word-focused, verse-based foundation scripture) suggests strong biblical preaching, but style unknown. Wednesday hybrid Bible study indicates Word-focused ministry.

Caution

Mission Clarity

Great Commission central?

Explicit Great Commission language: 'making disciples.' Combined with 'serving humanity' — a healthy balance of evangelism and service.

Strong

Cultural Alignment

DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?

No DEI/CRT language found on website or social media. Mission language is clean: disciples + serving humanity. No 'inclusive' or 'all are welcome' progressive framing.

Strong

Accountability Structure

Denominational home, elder plurality, or external network — is the pastor answerable to anyone?

Exact affiliation unknown; likely local Black Baptist association. Not SBC, BGAV, or NBCA confirmed.

Caution

Assessment

Shiloh Baptist Church (New Site) and Shiloh Baptist (Old Site) are sister congregations sharing common roots stretching back to the pre-Civil War African Baptist Church of Fredericksburg. Where Old Site (801 Sophia St) has drifted toward social-gospel framing, New Site presents a cleaner mission statement: 'Glorifying God, making disciples, and serving humanity' — with 'making disciples' as the explicit Great Commission anchor. Rev. Keenan Thomas arrived in October 2022 with a Howard University / Drew Seminary education and a practical ministry background at Alfred Street Baptist (one of the largest and most Word-focused Black Baptist churches in the country). His foundational scripture — 1 Peter 4:11, speaking 'the very words of God' — reflects a high view of Scripture in praxis. The honest concern is Drew Theological Seminary, which is a theologically progressive Methodist institution — not the formation environment that produces expository complementarians. However, a man's seminary doesn't always define his ministry convictions. The 15+ ministries and Wednesday Bible study suggest an active, Word-engaged congregation. Worth visiting and hearing Rev. Keenan preach before drawing conclusions.

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