New Northside Missionary Baptist Church celebrated Rev. Rodrick K. Burton’s fifth year of pastoral ministry the weekend of March 2-4.
The celebration began on Friday, March 2 with a Youth Explosion at New Northside, 8645 Goodfellow Blvd., with guest speaker Rev. Carlos Smith, pastor of First Baptist of Chesterfield. It continued on Saturday, March 3 with First Lady Carlotta Burton’s Appreciation Luncheon at New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow Blvd. with guest speaker Shirley Washington of Fox2 KTVI. It concluded on Sunday, March 4 with “Celebration Begins” at New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow Blvd. with guest speaker Rev. Zachary Lee, senior pastor of Mt. Paran MB Church in East St Louis.
During the five years that Rev. Burton has been the senior pastor at New Northside MB, he has led the church through a transition following the death of the former pastor, Bishop Willie Jr. Ellis Jr.; worked closely with his wife, Carlotta and community partners to reduce infant mortality in the 27th Ward. He also advocated for use of renewable energy and the environment in partnering with the Sierra Club; worked to reduce violence by working with Better Family Life and other community organization; and worked with law enforcement to bridge the relationship with the community.
He has served as vice president of the Ecumenical Leadership Council, member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, and board member of the St. Louis Initiative to Reduce Violence.
Burton said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve the church and community by partnering with other churches, social service organizations, schools, businesses, elected officials, and all who are working to improve the lives of those in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Burton has written for The American several times. In April 2017, we published his open letter to the next St. Louis mayor on crime that reflected on a the Department of Justice report on the region.
“Our city leader’s reactions to the consistent reporting of America’s most dangerous city is to whine or deny. Now it is time to say to the nation, ‘Yes, we have a problem, and here’s what we are doing about it,’” he wrote.
“If the city does not address the crime problem in a holistic way, as laid out by the Department of Justice, potential investors will pick other cities and the businesses we have will leave. Lost investment means lost jobs, lost taxes, lost status and decline for everyone.
“St. Louis is the economic engine for our state, a regional giant, but an injured behemoth. Our injuries like most large cities are a combination of globalism, long-standing racial divisions and crime. The fallout of Ferguson put a spotlight on our city and metropolitan area and the perception that our crime problem is growing out of control.
“For too long, stable, thriving neighborhoods have felt comfortable in ignoring and thereby enabling other neighbors to become failed states. Current history has clearly demonstrated in Somali, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq and now Syria that failed states affect the security and economy of a region.
“As the DOJ’s report pointed out, the elements to reduce our violent crime are present. We need strong, honest leadership that utilizes smart strategic policing; coordinated surges of social services to underserved communities with a focus on being trauma-informed; intentional aesthetic improvements; intentional smart reintegration of ex-offenders to the communities; and presence in those communities.
“What I mean by ‘presence’ is if the mayor shows up in distressed communities, as well as thriving neighborhoods, it shows the residents they care. Many youths interviewed for the DOJ analysis expressed that no one cares. It is time to prove to all citizens that St. Louis cares that all should do well.”
For more information on the church, visit http://www.newnorthsidebaptist.org.
