Grant AME Church, Toronto, Receives New Pastor
By Rev. Adrian Johnson, 4thEpiscopal District
The 4thEpiscopal District, under the dynamic leadership and wisdom of Bishop John F. White, is pleased to welcome the Rev. Kenesha Blake-Newell as the new pastor of Grant AME Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Rev. Blake-Newell is both honored and excited to accept this appointment as she becomes the first female pastor in the church’s 186-year history.
TheRev. Blake-Newell hails from the Jamaica Annual Conference in the 16thEpiscopal District. She has served the following congregations: Wright’s Temple AME Church, St. Patrick’s AME Church, and Greater Selby’s Temple AME Church, under the leadership of Bishops Sarah Frances Davis, John F. White, and E. Anne Henning Byfield.
The Rev. Blake-Newell is passionate about spiritual growth and transformation. An educator for the past 11 years, she has a strong desire to see growth in youth development andempowerment. She also has a keen interest in church administration. She has planned and conducted workshops and seminars on women empowerment, stewardship, youth leadership, and church administration. She states, “I am first a child of God who loves the Lord with all my heart and desires to live for Him in every way possible.”
Having arrived in Toronto in January 2019, the Rev. Blake-Newell is still adjusting to the different cuisines and of course, the cold weather. Nevertheless, she stands in great anticipation of what God is going to do in the lives of the people of Grant AME Church!
The Rev. Blake-Newell is married to Lenford Newell, Jr. They are the proud guardians of Shericka Powell.
