Our Story
The roots of New Life Seventh-day Adventist Church are woven into a story of visionary leadership, courageous innovation, and unwavering faith. It begins not in Nashville—but in New York—with Elder Henry Holt, a pastor and media evangelist leading two churches and broadcasting the gospel over the airwaves. While in New York, he launched Youth for Better Living, an organization that used drama, music, and media to bring Christ-centered transformation to young people and urban communities.
Burdened with a calling to do more, Elder Holt brought his initiative to the South during the 1970s. South Central Conference President Charles Dudley saw potential in Holt’s evangelistic methods and offered financial support. With the conference’s investment, Elder Holt designed a custom van with a built-in stage—a portable gospel theater that could travel into underserved, underprivileged inner-city neighborhoods and set up in the streets.
This was no ordinary outreach. Holt trained youth to perform gospel-centered dramatic productions, like the intense and unforgettable play "Alcohol on Trial." These plays were powerful—raw, gripping, and deeply redemptive. Gospel music blasted from huge speakers to draw the crowd. Once people gathered, the play began, culminating in a call to accept Christ. It was street ministry with a theatrical soul—and it worked.
Holt eventually came to Nashville, where he connected with young people from Riverside and Hillcrest SDA Churches, training them to act and sing in his productions. Despite threats, noise disruptions, and even violence at events, the ministry persisted with boldness and prayer. These plays paved the way for something greater — a large-scale tent revival that would change everything.
As the tent meetings gained momentum, the crowds began to shrink. That’s when Elder Holt, full of faith, reached out to Little Richard, the rock and roll legend with a testimony of transformation. Little Richard agreed to come to Nashville, drawing massive crowds and giving the tent revival new life. Under the leadership of Holt and his friend, Eddie Williams, his music director, the team pressed on, and when the revival concluded, 80 souls were baptized—a monumental number then and now.
That group of 80 became the charter members of New Life SDA Church.
A Church is Born
Initially, the congregation worshiped in borrowed spaces—Progressive Baptist Church, local school gyms, and Grace Apostolic Church. But soon it became clear: New Life needed a permanent home. A local church affiliated with the Church of the Firstborn denomination, located at 208 Gatewood Avenue, was willing to sell their building, but New Life didn’t have the funds. When the South Central Conference was unable to assist due to other fiscal and administrative priorities, Elder Holt, Eddie Williams, and a savvy financial partner named Rhon Reid forged a plan.
Through persistent meetings and prayer, they negotiated a deal with the Church of the Firstborn to apply six months of $500 monthly payments as a down payment. Still needing to prove their financial credibility to Citizens Bank, the leaders launched a wave of fundraising campaigns—Victory Days, Buy-a-Brick drives, banquets, and radio marathons. The church was buzzing with energy, worship, and radical faith. Elder Holt’s motto was clear:
“There’s never enough money. But there can be enough faith.”
Victory Days and a Vision for Worship
New Life’s identity was revolutionary. It was built like a concert venue, with top-tier sound donated by Eddie Williams & Company, stage-quality lighting, and guest musicians. Elder Holt believed worship should be expressive, free, joyful, emotional, and Spirit-led—unlike anything else in Adventism at that time.
Victory Days, held monthly, became massive gatherings with standing-room-only crowds. These events raised funds and morale while featuring guest artists like Larnelle Harris, Sandi Patty, and the First Church Inspirational Choir. Even the Gospel Music Awards and Gospel Music Workshop of America had ties to New Life through Eddie Williams.
The church began to attract creatives—Little Richard, the Hamiltons (Duane & Gayle), members of Take 6, Brian McKnight, and even actors from A Different World. New Life became a safe space for artists, musicians, and anyone seeking both spiritual fire and freedom.
Faith Over Finances
Eventually, New Life decided to withhold tithe from the conference, believing that they needed to support themselves to successfully launch the church plant God was leading them to establish. This bold move made them "the black sheep," but within six months, the bank was convinced. Citizens Bank approved the mortgage, and New Life Church officially owned its building—a miracle of community determination and divine favor.
Official Church Status & Reconciliation
Though New Life Church had flourished independently through sheer faith and grassroots funding, it had also remained somewhat on the margins of official church structure for a time. After the conference initially declined to support the church plant financially, New Life leaders made the controversial decision to withhold tithe in order to fund the ministry’s establishment.
However, by the 1990s, under the leadership of South Central Conference President Joseph McCoy, there was a shift. Elder Henry Holt, ever guided by prayer and principle, made the decision to begin faithfully returning tithe to the conference, signaling reconciliation and a renewed partnership.
It was under President McCoy’s administration that New Life Church was formally recognized and reinstated as an official Seventh-day Adventist congregation within the South Central Conference. The ministry that had once been fueled by fierce independence and holy rebellion was now embraced as a fully sanctioned part of the Adventist body in South Central bringing with it a legacy of creativity, evangelism, and spiritual power that would continue to bless the broader church.
Legacy and Leadership
Over the decades, New Life has continued to grow, innovate, and influence ministries around the country. The founding choir was formed with help from Eddie Williams and Company, and eventually, artists like Cedric Dent and Mark Kibble served in music leadership. The church's media ministry was also ahead of its time, with professional TV equipment brought in under Holt’s leadership.
The Legacy Continues…
From its beginning, New Life SDA Church has been about boldness, creativity, and freedom in Christ. The founders—Henry Holt, Eddie Williams, Rhon Reid—dreamed of a church where praise was unshackled, worship was passionate, and the Spirit of God was welcome to move freely. To this day, New Life holds fast to these roots.
If there’s a message for the next generation, Eddie Williams says it’s this:
“Don’t shut up. Back people up. Be supportive.”
Keep the joy. Keep the fire. Keep the faith.
Over the years, New Life SDA Church in Nashville, Tennessee has grown into a Spirit-led, Spirit-filled, and gospel-centered community. Rooted in the love and grace of Jesus Christ, we seek to be a place of hope and healing for those who are hurting — a community where people can experience holistic transformation through God’s liberating presence.