About

Dr. Kelvin J. Washington is a pastor and theologian who is committed to seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ transform every area of life. Through his ministry, he desires to help believers apply the truths about Jesus to all of life.

Dr. Washington serves as the Lead Pastor of New Valley Church in Waynesboro, Virginia. In January 2020, alongside his wife and a core team of eight people, they planted the church to see Jesus transform them and their city. He and his wife, Sarah Beth, live in Waynesboro with their four sons - Malakai, Kylian, Elijah, and Jayden. 

In addition to his pastoral duties, Dr. Washington currently serves as a Visiting Professor at Memphis City Seminary, and an Adjunct Professor at Liberty University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he teaches courses on Christian Theology, Culture, Social Justice, and Race Relations. 

Dr. Washington has written a number of articles and reviews, such as “From Enslaved to Shepherd: The Remarkable Life of Gowan Pamphlet,” “20 Black Leaders Who Inspired the Church,” “First-Person: When Silence on Racism is Deafening,” “Pastors: Books Your Productivity by Slowing Down,” “Who Was the ‘Black Spurgeon?’,” “Not Dead Yet: Tony Evans Celebrates the Vitality of the Black Church,” “You’ve (Probably) Never Heard These Black Christians’ Stories,” and “Let Orthodoxy Fuel the Fight for Justice”. Dr. Washington’s articles and reviews engage themes of ecclesiology, anthropology,, pastoral theology, and historical recovery, with particular attention to the legacy and contributions of Black Christians within the broader christian tradition.

His various works focus on equipping the church to understand how the gospel shapes every life, culture, and public witness. His writing often reflects on the contributions of the African American theological tradition and the witness of black evangelicals. Along with his pastoral ministry and scholarship, Dr. Washington hosts the podcast Gospel Culture, which exists to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ transform us and the world.

Dr. Washington pursued theological and ministerial study, earning a Bachelor of Science in Religion with a concentration in Pastoral Leadership and Biblical Exposition, as well as a Master of Divinity from Liberty University. He later completed both a Master of Theology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His graduate research focused on the intersection of theology, history, and African American religious thought, including his master of theology thesis, Howard Thurman: A Historical and Methodological Analysis, and his doctoral dissertation, Beyond Black Radicalism: A Retrieval of The New Negro Theologians. His academic work reflects a deep commitment to theological scholarship, ethics, church history, and the faithful application of Christian thought to cultural and social issues.

Dr. Washington is deeply invested in serving and strengthening the local community through education, mentorship, and athletics. He currently serves as the Head of School at Trinity Classical Academy. He currently coaches at the local soccer club, and previously coached at the high school level. Passionate about developing the next generation, Dr. Washington is committed to helping young people grow holistically—academically, spiritually, physically, and personally—while instilling strong character, servant leadership, integrity, and a Christ-centered foundation for life.