OMAHA, NE / ACCESS Newswire / March 18, 2026 / Salem Baptist Church marked a defining moment in its more than 100-year history March 6-8 as members, clergy, civic leaders and community guests gathered for a three-day installation weekend welcoming the Rev. Dr. Jarvis A. Ellis Sr. as the church's new senior pastor.
Framed as a weekend of worship, vision and new beginnings, the installation combined public celebration with sacred ceremony and offered a vivid picture of where one of Omaha's most historic Black congregations believes it is headed next. Across three events: a formal banquet, an official installation service and a closing celebration service. Salem presented the arrival of Ellis not simply as a pastoral transition, but as the beginning of a new era.
The three-day weekend began with a formal installation banquet at the Scott Conference Center featuring worship, welcoming the introduction of the Ellis family, incorporating civic greetings and a featured appearance by comedian Christianee Porter. Saturday's formal installation service featured music from national gospel recording artist Tonya Baker. Ellis was formally installed through prayer, worship, the entrance of the first family, charges to the church and pastor, the laying on of hands and an installation sermon delivered by Pastor Dr. Tolan Morgan of Fellowship Bible Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia.
The weekend concluded with a celebration service filled with praise, preaching and congregational unity, with out-of-state church leaders including Pastor Joshua D. Ward of Omega Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio helping mark the occasion as both sacred and historic.
Taken together, the three days moved with clear purpose: from welcome, to installation, to forward motion.
For Salem, that progression homed in on the impact of a church, founded in 1922, that has long stood as a pillar of faith, hope and justice in North Omaha. The installation weekend underscored that legacy while also casting a fresh vision for the future. Church leaders described Ellis as arriving at a time of significant opportunity, with Salem positioned to deepen its impact in Omaha while expanding its reach beyond the city.
A native of Georgia, Ellis brings more than two decades of ministry experience as a pastor, preacher and advocate for transformative ministry. He was introduced throughout the weekend as a nationally recognized voice in faith leadership, known for his commitment to the Gospel, community engagement and bold, spirit-led leadership.
That combination of pastoral experience and public witness helped make the installation notable beyond Salem's membership. The church opened the weekend to media and the broader community, signaling that the occasion was both ecclesiastical and civic. In that sense, the event reflected Salem's long-standing role not only as a house of worship, but as a visible institution in the life of Omaha.
One message resonated throughout the weekend: Salem sees this moment as both rooted in tradition and charged with new possibility.
"Salem has a rich history, and I thank God for every prayer, every sacrifice and every person who helped build this church. Now we step into a new season together, with faith, with unity and with a heart to serve this community in an even greater way," said Ellis.
That sense of anticipation was especially visible in the structure of the weekend itself. Friday's banquet highlighted legacy and leadership in a formal setting. Saturday's service placed the spiritual weight of the moment before the congregation. Sunday's celebration then brought the church together in a joyful act of unity, allowing members and guests alike to experience not just the significance of the installation, but the spirit surrounding it.
The emotional arc of the weekend also gave the event its journalistic weight. This was not simply a ceremonial handoff. It was a communal declaration that Salem intends to move boldly into its next season.
Church leaders made that clear in describing Ellis as a shepherd for such a time. They pointed to his record of ministry, his voice in the pulpit and his commitment to transformative leadership as signs that Salem is preparing for a season shaped by both spiritual depth and broader community impact.
In an on camera interview with Omaha's KMTV3, Church trustee Roger Sayers said Ellis brings qualities that will serve the congregation well. "He's got a tremendous amount of energy. He's a people person and he's going to demonstrate that going forward."
Just as importantly, the installation centered the congregation's shared sense of identity. Salem's stated mission includes spreading the Gospel, making disciples in Jesus' name, retiring debt, renovating facilities and raising a new generation of Christian leaders. Against that backdrop, the weekend was not only about who Ellis is. It was about what the church believes it can become under his leadership.
That feeling of forward vision gave the weekend its deeper meaning. Each event, while distinct in tone, reinforced the same central idea: the installation of Ellis marks a threshold moment for a congregation with deep roots and broad hopes. By the close of the weekend, the message was unmistakable: Salem Baptist Church welcomed a new senior pastor, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the life of one of Omaha's most historic congregations.
About Salem Baptist Church
Salem Baptist Church has a history dating back to 1922. It is the most prominent African-American congregation in Nebraska and is dedicated to transforming lives. Salem Baptist Church aims to spread the gospel and make disciples in Jesus' name. Their mission is to retire debts, renovate facilities and raise a new generation of Christian leaders. For more information about Salem Baptist Church and its mission, please visit salembc.org.
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SOURCE: Salem Baptist Church
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:
https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/installation-weekend-at-omahas-salem-baptist-church-signals-new-1148844
