Berean Baptist Church Celebrates 175 Years with Documentary Series

On August 10, 2023, the Berean Baptist Church in Brooklyn celebrated its 175th anniversary with the premiere of a six-part documentary series titled “The Audacity of Faith: Freedom From Freedom To.” The series, created to preserve the church’s rich history, showcases its journey from its founding in 1850 through pivotal moments that shaped its legacy.

The congregation, adorned in white attire, gathered for the special occasion where the first installment of the docuseries was unveiled on large screens flanking the altar. The film features archival photographs and animated visuals that recount the vision of the church’s founders, who established a sanctuary for both free Black Americans and white abolitionists amid a challenging societal landscape.

Jahleel Hills, a filmmaker and member of Berean, directed the project through his production company, Hype Man Hills Productions. Hills, who has a background in creating comedy specials and live performances, described his involvement as deeply personal. “It didn’t feel like a gig at all,” he said. “It really just feels like I’m a part of this history.”

Hills’ connection to Berean runs deep; he is a sixth-generation member on his father’s side and a fourth-generation member on his mother’s. His upbringing in the church included participation in youth groups and ministries, where he learned to worship and serve.

The initiative for the documentary was sparked by Antionette Nelson, a seasoned member and deacon at Berean, who envisioned a means to honor the church’s history. Alongside the church historian, Nelson spent months sifting through archives to construct a narrative that would resonate with both current and future generations. Recognizing the need for someone to bring vibrancy to the project, she reached out to Hills, knowing his industry connections and creative talents would enhance the storytelling.

“It’s essential to keep telling and retelling these stories,” Hills remarked, emphasizing the importance of connecting young people with their roots. The documentary highlights key events such as Berean’s role as a station on the Underground Railroad, establishing a credit union in 1950, and developing a senior living center and affordable housing in the 2010s, initiatives that still benefit the Brooklyn community today.

Each episode of the docuseries will run between two to five minutes and will be released monthly over the next six months. Nelson aims to distribute the series through the church’s social media platforms and local cultural institutions to reach a broader audience. She expressed the necessity of adapting to modern communication methods, citing national literacy statistics that reveal 54% of adults aged 16 to 74 read below a sixth-grade level.

“To be relevant and capture people’s attention, we have to do something a little bit different,” Nelson stated. “For those who might not be able to sit and read a book, you have to find other ways to share information.”

This project is seen as an intergenerational collaboration, blending the wisdom of the church’s elders with the technical expertise of its younger members. Nelson highlighted the importance of creating spaces for youth to engage with the church. “All the youth want is permission. They just want to figure out how they can fit in,” she noted.

The membership of Berean has steadily declined since the 1960s, when the church was filled with hundreds of attendees weekly. Today, Sunday attendance averages between 100 to 150 congregants. Rev. Arlee Arkofa, who has been the church’s pastor for 36 years, expressed hope that the docuseries could inspire a revival of interest among younger generations.

“Especially in a time when so many of our young adults are leaving New York City, persons like Jahleel are bringing their talents back to Brooklyn,” Arkofa said. “We are excited about being able to support him and his dreams.”

Hills shares a sense of responsibility to uplift his community through his artistic endeavors. During his research for the documentary, he uncovered that his great-great-uncle, Coyal McMahon, was a Broadway performer in the 1950s. “Learning history gives you a sense that I could do anything,” Hills reflected. “It shows me that my ancestors were doing amazing things before I was even a thought.”

For Nelson, the ultimate goal of “The Audacity of Faith: Freedom From, Freedom To” is to instill excitement, respect, and passion for Berean’s history among younger people. “If I can leave anything to the next generation, it’s that legacy, that this is who you are,” she concluded, underscoring the importance of connecting the church’s past with the identities of its future members.