Church History
New Bethel Primitive Baptist Church was Organized in 1929.
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Rev. Robert Bulter, Pastor from 1945-2005 |
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Deacon F.L. Sherman, Mother E. Davis |
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Elder Soloman Byrd, Pastor from 2005-2008 |
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Argie Mae Covington, is the last Original Standing Member, from New Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, she is now 82 years old. |
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Elder Lonnie J. Lovett, Pastor from 2009-present |
Pastor Lonnie James Lovett Biography
On January 28, 1956 Lonnie James Lovett was born in Hunters, Georgia. The fifth child of eight siblings, he was raised in a family environment that shared love and each member had to carry their fair share of hard work. His parents, John L. Lovett, Sr. and Dorothy, a proud couple, believed their children could do anything that they set their mind to do. They instilled in all their children the mindset to help those in need. At a young age, Lonnie recalls always wanting to make a difference in the lives of others. God-fearing, ambitious, he possessed great drive to succeed.
After graduating from high school in 1975 and then completing technical school, he moved to Florida and settled in Rivera Beach. In 1977, he met Ben Connoway, who became like a brother, best friend, and mentor. Through the guidance and wisdom, he encouraged Lonnie to strive to be the best at everything life set before him. Ben believed in giving to the community, and he spent many years doing exactly what he believed. The friendship lasted over 20 years with the two men both living Riviera Beach, until Ben passed way. Thus, the shared vision “to rise up a village in which all can be proud of” was left to Lonnie to continue.
Lonnie Lovett’s deepest desire is raise strong children and families within the community of Riviera Beach. To “Train a child in the way that he way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it,” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV), as was practiced in his hometown of Hunters, Georgia. He believes that the people of Riviera Beach can pull values and morality back into society. In 2007, Lovett obtained his minister’s credential through the East Coast Primitive Baptist Church Association in Broward County and established the New “New Bethel” Primitive Baptist Church”. Membership at the church grew. Today, Lonnie seeks to his experience “to develop, coordinate and monitor a community plan to deter juvenile crime and delinquency in the City of Riviera Beach by reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors.”
Some of his objectives are to identify and apply appropriate services to populations that require prevention and early intervention services, to increase communication and information sharing among all participating agencies and services, to coordinate and enhance existing effective programs, and to institute new programs filling identified service gaps in the current prevention and graduated sanctions continuum.
His goal is to help children of Riviera Beach become responsible and productive members of society to aim for seamless continuum of juvenile and family programs in the City of Riviera Beach addressing gaps of services and coordination of resources.
As a Riviera Beach citizen, Lovett has been honored with many awards and recognitions for his dedication and commitment to the Riviera Beach community such as Mepco/Electra People’s Award 1983 & 1984, employee of the Month Recognition 1985, Mepco/Electra Special Recognition 1986, Bethune Elementary School Advisory Council 2001, Parenting Support Appreciation Award 2003, an one close to his heart, Chairman & Founder of The Riviera Beach Community Coalition (a network of over 70 social service agencies) 2003.