Reverend A. Ayana Newton, D.  Min.

Rev. Dr. A. Ayana Newton is the daughter of Gerri and Jesse Newton and the sister of Christopher P. Newton. Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, she is a proud graduate of Morgan State University with a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. Rev. Newton graduated from Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, OH, with a Master of Divinity degree. She was a member of the Inaugural Doctor of Ministry Class at Payne in the Liberation Theology Cohort, where she was mentored by Bishop John R. Bryant and Rev. Dr. Ray Hammond and graduated in May 2019.

Dr. Ayana is grateful for her formative years at Grace United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, PA, where she served in various capacities. After graduation from Morgan State, she moved to Maryland and joined First AME Church (Gaithersburg, MD) in January 1994; Rev. Ayana served in numerous leadership capacities at First AME Church (Gaithersburg, MD). She preached her initial sermon, “Actions speak louder than words,” in July 2001, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Charles D. Smith at First AME. She was appointed Youth Minister in 2003 by the late Rev. Dr. Barbara Y. Glenn and served in that capacity for over 13 years.  While serving at First AME, other ministries that showcased her gifts and passions were the music ministry, discipleship ministry, prison ministry, YPD, and the Women’s Missionary Society.

Rev. Newton is passionate about ministry and equipping God’s people to live out the purpose and potential that God has placed within. As she served, God expanded her territory and revealed to her the call to pastor. She was later appointed Pastor of Living Water AME Church (Stafford, VA) in April 2016 and Jerusalem AME Church (Clinton, MD) in February 2019. Most recently, Dr. Newton was appointed to St. Jude AME Church (Germantown, MD) in July 2022, where she is excited about all that God has in store. In addition to serving the Church, she is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. For her, Ephesians 3:7 (NLT) says it best, “by God’s special favor and mighty power, I have been given the wonderful privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.”