Brother Mike Hall Recognized for Fifty Years of Service at New Salem Baptist Church

BY DONNA BAIN

Staff Writer

Fifty years ago, on June 22, 1975, Brother Mike Hall became the Senior Pastor at New Salem Baptist Church in Reform, Alabama. Hall has spent fifty years shepherding the congregation there and was recognized for his service on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Brother Mike remembers when he first came to New Salem. He said he began preaching to about fifteen people there, and it was a sweet little church. He felt he would use it as a stepping stone to a bigger church one day or to attend seminary. He had the opportunity to go to other churches and to a seminary, but felt God wanted him to stay at New Salem. Today, New Salem has about 70 people in Sunday School and close to 100 for their worship service. “When I first started out, I was 24 years old when I came to New Salem,” said Brother Mike. “They invited me to come and preach. I was preaching at another church down below Gordo as well. Both churches called me to be their pastor on the same Sunday. They sent their deacons to see me on the same Sunday afternoon. I just felt led by God to go to New Salem. The church building was small. It was about 30 feet wide and 50 feet deep. It was a good-spirited church and good folks. As time went on, God kept building it up. I was talking to God not long ago about it. He said to me, ‘Well, when you first started, you thought you were going to a big church, but instead, I built you one.’ On the 22nd of June 2025, at 11:00 a.m. New Salem Baptist Church held a service for the congregation to remember and celebrate Brother Mike. People shared stories and memories they had through the years with Brother Mike as their pastor and friend. Brother Mike spoke to the congregation about his commitment to God, explained in Psalm 125, which is what he has lived his life as a pastor. After the time of sharing, the congregation gathered in the Fellowship Hall for a southern meal, where families gathered to celebrate with Brother Mike. At 2:00 p.m., Brother Lyle Dease from the Pickens Baptist Association presented Brother Mike with a plaque. The President of the Alabama Baptist Association called Brother Mike and congratulated him. Members of the church rolled a 1940s-style Coca-Cola machine into the Fellowship Hall full of little, small cokes and presented it to Brother Mike. Everyone enjoyed getting a Coke from the machine. Brother Mike has enjoyed being the pastor of New Salem for fifty years. “It has made my life worth living,” said Brother Mike. “My commitment to the Lord has been fulfilled. I’ve always been bi-vocational. I spread the gospel on the radio as well as in the church. The first fifty years serving at New Salem has been a great beginning to my life.” As well as being pastor of New Salem Baptist Church, Brother Mike worked for Roth Hook at the radio station in Carrollton, and eventually, Brother Mike bought the station from him. He kept those stations from 1989 to 1996. In 1996, he sold those stations and went to work with American Family Radio. For 13 years, he managed two stations for them. After 13 years, he became a full-time pastor at New Salem. It is very rare for a pastor to stay in the same church for fifty years. It says a lot about the pastor for the congregation to be shepherded by one man for that long. It also says a lot about the congrega- tion who listens and supports the ministry of one man for so many years. Brother Mike looks forward to what God still has in store for him at New Salem.