By Robin S. Nash


SINNERS ARE WELCOME! That’s the sign you see upon approaching Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington, NJ. Ironically, the name of the church’s pastor is Rev. Ron Christian. It could not have been a more perfect match. Rev. Ron was called to pastor Christian Love in 2001 when there were 12 members and the church was in foreclosure. Five years, 6,000 members and 17 national and international churches later, the art of agape love is the foundation of Ron Christian’s ministry. “The Lord told me this is where I want you to be.”

Pastor Ron has been climbing up-hill and still battles demons from his past. His mother was an educator, his father a pastor and he was expected to take on roles he did not live up to. In 1996, he was homeless and living in Newark’s Weequahic Park, landing there after “smoking $2100 worth of cocaine and sniffing 17 bags of heroine per day.” There were 14 stints in rehab. He stole from his mother, sisters and brothers destroying his family. He finally landed in prison, which may have saved his life. Prison is where he turned back to God. “Arrogance led me down the wrong path, he begins. ‘Whether it was drugs or women, I led a nefarious lifestyle and when you get to a point where God is not included you’re headed for destruction.”

After finishing his jail term in Rahway State Prison, he joined Clear View Baptist Church in Newark. Two years later, under Pastor Eric M. Beckham’s tutelage, he was appointed youth pastor.

Visiting Christian Love on a Wednesday evening, we witnessed Rev. Ron preaching with a boundless, feverish energy- he literally jumped on top of the pulpit. Wearing his signature outfit, a stylish button down shirt, jeans and cowboy boots may not be conventional, but certainly reflects his come as you are policy. With room for 900, the church is filled to overflowing in each of the three Sunday services. The church stays open, offering assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The median age of the congregation is 25 and everyone is an eager participant. The atmosphere is charged with a palpable energy; when the band plays, you can feel the floor move, joy permeating throughout. Christian Love is about saving souls. Often as many as 40 souls come to Christ at a service.

“All kinds of people come here to worship: tall, short, white, black, senators, doctors, lawyers, Muslims, gang members, drug dealers, those living alternative lifestyles, baby-mammas, baby-daddies…Everything is here except judgment and criticism. I specifically make it that way,” Rev. Ron explained.

Why are so many different types of people attracted to Christian Love? “I have an insatiable desire to love people. My responsibility is to love people through their struggle and there is no age barrier. Because I’ve been so broken I have a different empathy,” he continued. “I know what it’s like to be homeless, to be hurt, to be in abusive relationships, to have your heart broken, to be a deadbeat dad, to want to commit suicide and if we can get in touch with those things that we’ve been through than there is a certain synergy, something that you don’t have to say but people just know that you understand.”

Pastor Ron conducts prayer fasts numerous times throughout the year. He will not leave the church until he hears from God. A fast is mandated for the congregation from January 1st – January 12th, representing the 12 months of the year, to sacrifice and humble themselves to the Lord. Some fast all day, others fast from 6am-6pm. Some people will sleep in the church, go home to shower, go to work and then come back.

Pastor Ron recognizes that a number of young people in his church may not have a mother or a father to guide and discipline them. In an effort to socialize them, there is an unconventional dress down, come as you are policy. “I have a policy that no one can tell anybody how to dress unless you want to buy them clothes.” For instance, some cannot afford dress clothes and wear Timberlands because they can be worn throughout the seasons. For others, reverse peer pressure gets them to change into appropriate attire. Young people interact with the more mature members they can look up to. They soon begin to emulate them with the understanding that they too can change their lives for the better. Pastor Ron concludes, “They need to be socialized and abilitated not re, so they get it by coming into an environment and seeing what is correct.”

Today, Christian Love is a mainstay in the community. Through his philosophy of love, the church is involved in a movement to take back the streets of Irvington and rid the community of violence. Fearful of being intimidated, young people often seek refuge in the church rather than face gang members at school. Many dealing with problems-molestation, substance abuse, domestic violence or previous incarceration-are yearning for love and direction. When there is a need, it becomes a ministry. Within the past five months Christian Love has sent over 150 people to rehab and detox. Other ministries offered include bereavement, marriage and singles, audio-video and a ministry just for men to discuss their issues. There is also childcare, a tutorial program, a computer lab, a program to feed the homeless and gang intervention to name a few.

Prior to joining Christian Love, Mike Irvin was anti-religion. He delved in different religions, but had not found one best suited for his needs. In 2004, he was downsized from his corporate job and began drinking heavily. His then fiancé, Aviva, visited the church a few times and suggested he join her. Mike began, “I would sit in the back pew, and wouldn’t want anyone to touch me. Pastor Ron hugs everyone that walks out of the church. He gave me a hug like we were friends and I had never formally met him. That hug went a long way. I needed that hug.

“One night around 11:30, I was feeling really bad and emailed Pastor Ron. At 2:30 a.m., I was surprised to see he responded with a scripture that gave me encouragement. Aviva and I went to a Wednesday service and we finally met him. I introduced myself and he said ‘You emailed me the other day, come with me to my office.’ He asked if we needed money, anything. I responded by saying ‘I just need your prayers.’ He prayed with us and those prayers helped me get to the next day. From that point on I knew I was home. The more I went to church, the more I prayed and doors started to open. On January 5th, 2005 I was employed again. Pastor enabled me to say to myself ‘You can get through this.’ Now I have a testimony to share with others. Pastor says, ‘I’m not here to judge you, I’m just here to love you through this.’ And that’s what he did with my wife and me. He loved us through our problems, baptized us and married us this past June. I have a love for Pastor; he will give you the shirt off his back and I’ve seen it happen. He will get blessed with an offering and give it away to someone in need right on the spot.”

“I believe one of the reasons God has blessed this ministry,” Pastor Ron says, “is because God wants to show he can take an ex-convict, an ex-heroin user, and an ex-deadbeat dad born and raised in Newark, and send him to the White House and travel to try help people around the world. That’s something only God can do. I just want to help one soul at a time. People don’t care about how much you know till they know how much you care.”