Ronald Sparks FREEHOLD — Ronald Sparks, the new pastor of the Bethel A.M.E. Church, Waterworks Road, has a mission: to have his church and its congregants establish a more visible presence in the community.
Sparks, who was born in Toledo, Ohio, said the church should no longer stay within its walls. He attended a recent meeting of the Borough Council to introduce himself to the town’s elected officials.
Freehold Borough Mayor Nolan Higgins and the council members welcomed him to the community.
Sparks said he looks forward to working with borough officials and to establishing a close relationship with the community.
Sparks assumed the pastorship of the 120-member Freehold congregation on April 7. He previously served the congregants of the Monumental A.M.E. Church in Steelton, Pa. In addition to his duties at the church, Sparks served as president of the Steelton Borough Economic Development Foundation.
He is graduate of the University of Maryland University College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business. He earned a Master of Divinity degree at the Drew University Theological School.
Sparks has served in the ministry for 16 years, working in Harrisburg, Pa., and in South Bound Brook in addition to Steelton. The reverend is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Sparks said he is getting to know his congregation at Bethel A.M.E. and the congregation is getting to know him.
“I want to find out their goals and aspirations,” he said. “Once I learn those goals and understand them, then I can move forward. We can then work together toward a common goal.”
He said his goal will be to meet the needs of his congregants and to provide spiritual direction and guidance, as well as other needs, including educational needs.
“If there is a need for training in certain areas, I want to provide avenues to education and training for them,” he said. “We want to make the church as comfortable and as accessible as we can so that people will be willing to come and worship.
“We want to find out what the community needs from us and what the Freehold area needs from us. We want to find our niche in the community and find out what our role should be in the community, and then work to create opportunities, find the right programs and provide community outreach,” he said.
Sparks said he is planning a Welcoming Day program at Bethel A.M.E. so the community’s residents and leaders can drop by and get to know him and the church’s congregants.
“I am truly looking forward to working with the mayor and council and with other community leaders,” Sparks said.
The pastor is married to his wife of 20 years, Candace M. Sparks. The couple has three children, Cameron, 18, Symone, 14, and Braedon, 6.