Dr. John Allen Newman
Dr. John Allen Newman, Senior Pastor of the Sanctuary @ Mt. Calvary is a dynamic preacher, teacher, counselor and leader, whose focus is the integration of faith and life. Throughout his twenty-six year tenure at The Sanctuary, his has been a ministry different from others. It is his desire to empower those with whom he has the opportunity to share, through the importance of self examination on the path to becoming better.
Dr. Newman has been called upon to provide leadership to business organizations on a local and national scale. His communication skills and his ability to make listeners feel at ease in his presence have led others to seek him for direction and guidance. He has been the voice of experience for many local and national radio stations. He hosted “Gospel Vibrations”, a local video/talk show in Jacksonville, a frequent guest host for another talk show, “First Coast Sunrise” and a devotional speaker for television stations in the area.
The talk show, “Real Life, with John Allen Newman”, aired on Comcast channel 7 every Sunday morning @7AM. On this show, Dr. Newman dealt with ‘real life’ issues that face Christians and non-Christians every day. He has a particular concern that people of faith, many of whom suffer with incredible levels of pain, misuse their faith to camouflage their challenges, rather than to empower them to overcome their struggles.
Pastor Newman has traveled extensively in the United States and abroad. He has preached in the Caribbean, Mexico and in the European continent in Moscow. He also enjoys the Russian language as well as Russian culture.
Pastor Newman also has wide interests and experience in the music industry. In his younger years as a musician, he toured with gospel greats such as Danniebelle Hall and Larnelle Harris. In conjunction with Electric Factory Concerts and other promoters in the Philadelphia area, he helped produced major concerts with artists such as Andre Crouch, Walter Hawkins and the Imperials. As a music producer, he has produced projects under his own label and other labels as well.
He has appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Sister to Sister Magazine and Upscale Magazine, The Florida Times-Union, and Jacksonville Today. He has been interviewed for NPR (National Public Radio) by the nationally recognized journalist Juan Williams. In addition, he is the author of I Am The Rose, a book designed to encourage women to become queens through self-discovery.
Active in the community and a member of various organizations, Dr. Newman holds or has held memberships on the Education Board of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., the Social Justice Commission of The National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., Board of Directors of Jacksonville Urban League, Duval County School Board Issue Task Force, the Mayor’s Education Council, The Mayor’s Council On Community Reconciliation, the Sheriff’s Advisory Board, Board of Directors of Cornerstone Jacksonville, Advisory Board of McKnight Center of Excellence, Jacksonville Together, The First Tee, and The Board of Directors of the Help Center.
With a continuing interest in empowering people to take ownership of their own lives, Dr. Newman has begun to provide Inspirational Thoughts daily to all who request them. These thoughts continue the theme of empowerment and cover topics ranging from learning to love oneself to appreciation of the beauty within to building strong relationships. The number of individuals receiving these Inspirational Thoughts has grown exponentially as result of those who benefit actively sharing this resource with others.
He is married to Mary Kay National Sales Director Andrea Newman and is the father of Marcus Allen Newman. He received his undergraduate and graduate education from Eastern College (now known as Eastern University) and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now known as Palmer Theological Seminary). He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree from Virginia Seminary and College in Lynchburg, Virginia. He has also taken graduate courses in law at University of North Florida, and is a member of the National Association of Christian Counselors.
The future is bright and the plans aplenty to continue empowering the community through a custom radio show presently in negotiations. The plan for the show is talk-show oriented with topics designed to empower the listeners to become more able to deal with life circumstances rather than avoiding from them. Far too many Christians separate their world of faith from what happens in their everyday lives, when in reality what they must do in order to live with purpose and fulfillment requires the integration of faith and life.
EXCERPTS FROM “I Am The Rose” by Dr. John Allen Newman
“How many times have you heard someone say, or perhaps have said to yourself, what is wrong with me? This rhetorical question finds itself on the lips of many of our sisters when the next morning reveals a strange bed partner as the result of too many drinks at the club, yes, the club, the previous night. A sister hangs up the phone after telling the man on the other side of the line that the door will be open…again, so that the usual routine can start all over. She hates the fact that she wants him; she hates herself even more because she can’t lock the door. What is wrong with me?” page 14.
“When you reduce your value to a relationship, you are automatically in an inferior posture. You will do all you can to hand on to “your man” because he gives you your value. As surprising as it may be, some women put up with horrendous treatment from men; including physical and psychological abuse and yet will stay in the relationship because having a man is more important than how that man treats them. How tragic. This book exists to let you know that no woman needs to be mistreated by a man, no mater what …” page 27
“Holding on to unforgiveness empowers you in a damaging way. It gives you a sense of superiority and leverage that is unhealthy. Why? Because while you are seething in your anger and bitterness, the one who hurt you is moving on and leaving you where you are. They are sleeping soundly while you toss and turn. The most poignant way I can say this is that if you refuse to forgive, then you are allowing someone else to not only define you, but to control you as well. Do they deserve that much power? Do they deserve to have that much influence? No!!! I realize this is not an easy process, but also remember that nothing worth having or becoming is easy. You have a decision to make. You have to decide that you are worth fighting for….As much as you believe in God, remember an even more important truth, God believes in you.” Page 77