Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
The sanctuary of Providence Baptist Church overflowed with joy, reflection, and gratitude on Sunday, January 11, as the historic congregation celebrated the 10th pastoral anniversary of Reverend Dr. Darryl W. Aaron, marking a decade of leadership rooted in faith, scholarship and deep commitment to community.
This year’s celebration carried added significance, as his pastoral anniversary coincided with Providence’s 160th church anniversary, making it the oldest African American Baptist church in Greensboro. Providence was established in 1866 under a brush arbor (a simple, open-air shelter made from poles and leafy branches) by freed slaves, becoming Greensboro’s first African American Baptist Church, and known for building North Carolina’s first brick and mortar church for Black Christians in 1871.
The special worship service unfolded as both a tribute and a testimony. Guest sermons, soul-stirring music from the choir and heartfelt remarks from church leaders and members honored Dr. Aaron’s decade-long service, while underscoring the church’s enduring legacy as a spiritual and cultural anchor in Greensboro.
The celebration concluded with fellowship and an after-church feast in the Enrichment Center, where members gathered to share stories, laughter and appreciation.
For the past ten years, Dr. Aaron has served as senior pastor of Providence Baptist Church, one of the oldest churches in North Carolina and in Greensboro. A native of Charlotte, Dr. Aaron’s path to ministry was shaped by both artistic and academic foundations. He studied Dramatic Literature at North Carolina Central University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It was during his graduate studies at UNCG that he was mentored by the late Reverend Dr. Howard Allen Chubbs, Providence’s longtime pastor, who led the church for 50 years until his passing in 2015. Encouraged by Dr. Chubbs to fully embrace his calling, Aaron went on to earn a Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University and later a Doctor of Ministry from Drew University. His academic journey also includes fellowships at Oxford and Yale Universities.
“When you come behind 50 years, that is an anointed legacy,” Dr. Aaron said of Dr. Chubbs. “I stand on his shoulders. And it’s also the Black church. That means the Black church has carried us for 160 years. I came from them.”
During Sunday’s service, Dr. Jonathan Lee Walton, president of Princeton Theological Seminary, delivered the guest sermon, focusing on purpose and position. Walton described the occasion as a meaningful intersection of faith and higher education, praising Providence’s long-standing commitment to intellectual and spiritual excellence.
“This is a congregation known for faith, scholarship, integrity, competence, compassion and joy,” Walton said. “It is the partnership between the past and people that makes God’s word possible. This is the church that God needed.”
He also commended Dr. Aaron’s leadership style, noting that he has remained grounded in purpose rather than chasing trends.
“He trusts that God is going to take you where you need to be,” Walton added.
Under Dr. Aaron’s leadership, Providence has expanded both its ministry and its reach. The church has launched initiatives such as the Freedom School, a Grief Ministry, and a global partnership with World Vision supporting children in Rwanda. Internally, his tenure has included the appointment of women deacons, the expansion of full-time ministerial staff, and the implementation of virtual worship formats during the COVID-19 pandemic to remain accessible to congregants. The congregation has grown to over 1,000 members, supports food pantries and gives away six to seven scholarships a year to graduating high school seniors.
“I would argue that they were doing exactly what we needed to do before I arrived, which is leading with greater joy,” Aaron said, reflecting on the church’s foundation. “This church has always believed in education.”
He also emphasized the enduring role of the Black church as a center of community life.
“When people came to the Black church, that changed everything,” he said. “We didn’t know how to be free. It was in the Black church that we learned how to organize. We learned how to educate. I don’t think we can afford for it not to be the center of the community.”
That commitment extends beyond the pulpit. Dr. Aaron serves on the boards of the YMCA, United Way and The Aggie Academy at North Carolina A&T State University. In 2023, he was recognized as one of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential African Americans in North Carolina by Black Ink Magazine.
Longtime Providence member Shirley T. Frye described Dr. Aaron as both a spiritual guide and an educator.
“For ten years, Rev. Aaron has been a beacon of hope, a shepherd with a compassionate heart and a teacher who has inspired, uplifted and transformed lives,” Frye said. “His sermons have challenged us, his prayers have strengthened us, and his commitment has shaped this congregation.”
Dr. Aaron often speaks of ministry as a responsibility grounded in care of the people he serves.
“I was minted and shaped in a Black body,” he said. “My concerns will always be with Black people and the people of my congregation. As a Black preacher, I believe that you abandon your call if you do not have the concerns of the people who sit in front of you every Sunday.”
He also stressed that community building requires more than financial contributions. Investing time, love and presence, he said, is the true reward. The church’s youth programs, he noted, have strengthened Providence’s multigenerational bonds by bringing families and seniors together in worship.
“This is a multi-generational church,” Aaron said. “Every week, I truly believe it is my job to touch and speak to every single person in this building.”
The celebration concluded with Dr. Aaron receiving a framed photograph from the church, a symbol of appreciation for a decade of service. Reflecting on the milestone, he summed up the spirit of the day simply: “Blessings, blessings, blessings. The Black church is still the epitome of Black joy.”
Events are planned for each month this year to celebrate the church’s 160th anniversary and can be found at www.pbcbiglove.org.
