PASTOR MATTHEW SINGH
A Servant Leader at New Haven Ministries
For 27 years, Pastor Matthew Singh has stood at the helm of New Haven Ministries, a congregation of 200 deeply rooted in community service. Known for his compassionate spirit and gift for bringing people together, Pastor Matthew embodies the heart of the ministry – whether he is hosting local events, sharing thoughtful sermons, or offering a supportive ear. A native of Trinidad & Tobago, he carries forward a legacy of faith and service that has spanned nearly three decades.
In pursuit of its outreach mission, New Haven Ministries has forged a close partnership with the Local 102 Precinct, where Pastor Matthew himself completed the Citizen Police Academy Course. His civic commitment extends further as Economic Development Chair of Community Board 9, ensuring the church’s voice is heard in shaping the neighborhood’s future.
Together with his wife Kathy, Pastor Matthew founded the church in 1998 with just six people. Their first worship space was a real estate office – humble beginnings where congregants walked past men smoking in the hallway to reach their “sanctuary.”
“By God’s grace, after two years we were able to purchase a banquet hall for $2.3 million – far beyond our reach,” Pastor Matthew recalls. “It was a leap of faith, but one God handsomely rewarded.” Through renovations and creative use of the property as an event rental space, the congregation was able to pay off its 20-year mortgage in June of this year.
Community outreach remains the heartbeat of New Haven Ministries. The church operates a senior center, a food truck distribution program, and hosts its annual Summerfest Community Fair in partnership with LOVE NY, serving all five boroughs. Each year, Jesus Week focuses on engaging young people, and from these programs more than a dozen families have joined the congregation, many now leading ministries themselves.
For Pastor Matthew, titles mean little compared to service. “The biggest title anyone has in the church is that of servant,” he says. “Service is at the heart of our ministry. Every day, our members are reminded to live by our mantra: ‘Find a hurt and heal it; find a need and fill it.’ That’s what God wants us to do more than anything else.”
