Rev. Lamon L. Atkins, Sr., MDiv., a native of Bastrop, Louisiana, became the fourteenth pastor of the Progressive New Hope Baptist Church on October 10, 1993. A man of great vision, tremendous enthusiasm towards advancing the Kingdom of God, and astounding compassion for people, he works faithfully equipping and empowering the people of God for the work of ministry. He has led this great congregation in overcoming many obstacles, defining its mission and vision for ministry, as well as empowering the lay-leadership to successfully lead church ministries towards accomplishing our mission. Throughout his tenure, he has continued to challenge the congregation to remain faithful stewards unto the Lord. He is a prolific voice in the pulpit, and an advocate for education, professional development, and social services within the community. Under his leadership, PNHBC has experienced great renewal and growth; and the Third Ward community has been greatly enhanced.
After Hurricane Ike severely damaged our 70 year old historical church building in September 2008, Pastor Atkins courageously led our congregation of less than 100 partners in building a new state of the arts worship and ministry facility to the glory of God in September 2010. Our new church facility was successfully completed in April 2011. Our membership indeed had a mind to work.
Rev. Atkins holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Grambling State University (1978); and has furthered his studies while residing in Houston at the University of Houston, College of Biblical Studies, and earn his Master of Divinity Degree from Houston Graduate School of Theology (2015). He is actively involved with various local ministerial alliances, Third Ward Fellowship of Churches, the Douglas L. Williams Alumni Chapter of Grambling State University, Grambling Friends of Football, Inc., and the DLW Charitable Foundation. He is also a life member of the Grambling State University National Alumni Association.
For thirty-seven years, he was married to his college sweetheart, Livia Porter Atkins, whom the Lord called to eternal rest and reward on August 16, 2016. He is the proud father of two dynamic children, Lamon Jr. (Tania) and Allison, and the over-joyed Paw-Paw of two angelic granddaughters, Alivia Joyce and Layla Lyric, and a brisk grandson, Lorenzo Lamar. Praise God for our great Servant-Leader!
