What We Believe
Rising Sun Baptist Church believes and teaches the doctrine of Jesus Christ. That God so loved the world that He sent His Son as a ransom sacrifice for our sins and by the shedding of his blood on the cross of Calvary, we received salvation.
We believe in the resurrection of Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, the forgiveness of sin, water baptism and that The Holy Bible is the true and living Word of God. We uphold the traditions and ordinances of the Baptist Church in accordance with our faith. To learn more about what we believe, read the "18 Articles of Faith".
Our Vision
The vision of Rising Sun is to be a missional, multi-cultural,
multi-generational church that meets the needs of all God's people.
Our Mission
Our mission is to revive the saved and redeem the lost through the
transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our Church History
Rising Sun Baptist Church was established in 1950, by Rev. Willie B.
Baskerville, his loving wife Grace, and a small group of friends, including Deacon Charles Bailey, Deacon John Ellis, Hattie Jett and Gertrude Minor. The small group marched from Rev. Baskerville’s home to Southern Friendship Baptist Church at 10th and M Streets, NW where Rising Sun held its first worship service.
A Recognition Council, comprised of representatives of the New Line Baptist, Carron Baptist, First Baptist and Rehoboth Baptist churches was held to recognize Rising Sun as a regular Missionary Baptist Church.
Throughout its over 60 year history, Rising Sun has had such dynamic leaders as Rev. Willie B. Baskerville (1950 – Jan. 1977), Rev. Thomas J. Blair and Rev. George W. Fox (1977 – May 1979), Rev. Ernest Stevens (June 1979 – Feb. 1984), Rev. Jesse V. Stevens (April 1984 - 1988), Rev. Samuel Mitchell Jr. (April 1989 – Nov. 2001), and its current pastor Rev. Marlow L. Mitchell (May 2002).
With his co-laborer and wife Pamela Mitchell at his side, Pastor Mitchell cast a missional vision that the church will provide assistance to God’s people locally and around the world.
To facilitate this vision, Pastor Mitchell led the church to purchase an adjoining corner property at 2407 Rhode Island Ave., NE, Washington, DC in November of 2007. The faithfulness of its members, a partnership with Yachad, and the activity of the Nehemiah Project Capital Campaign Committee allowed the property to be completely renovated by the fall of 2012.
The Baskerville–Mitchell Family Life Center, named in honor of Pastor Willie B. Baskerville and Mrs. Grace Baskerville and Pastor Samuel Mitchell Jr. and Mrs. Robertha Mitchell, serves as a parsonage from which the community receives free food, clothing, HIV/AIDS testing, education and counseling.
Through the leadership of its pastors and the dedication of its members, Rising Sun Baptist Church continues to be a place of worship and healing for all.
Want to learn more?
Download our full church history.
A native of Washington, DC, Pastor Mitchell is the proud son of Deaconess Robertha E. Mitchell and the late Reverend Samuel Mitchell, Jr. In 1982 he married his companion, love and co-laborer, Pamela Diane Moss. He is the father of two sons, Marlon (deceased) and Joshua, and one daughter, Imani.
Pastor Mitchell was educated in the Washington, DC public school system and graduated from Howard University in 1979 with a B.A. degree in Journalism. He is a graduate of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in May 2010.
Upon completing the 3-year requirements of the Lott Carey Pastoral Excellence Program that afforded him the opportunity to preach, teach, minister and be ministered to in Guyana, South America, in Jamaica, West Indies and in Pretoria, South
Africa, Pastor Mitchell was awarded a Continuing Education Diploma in Pastoral Ministry from the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe and the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention on Dec. 4, 2008.
He was ordained in May 2001 and installed as Pastor of the Rising Sun Baptist
Church on May 26, 2002. Pastor Mitchell accepted his call to the Gospel ministry
at the age of 46, preached his initial sermon and was licensed on May 28, 2000.
With his gifts of administration, preaching, teaching and music, Pastor Mitchell
loves to worship the Lord. Even before accepting his call to the gospel ministry he
made good use of these gifts and served in various capacities in the Baptist Faith.
His roles included serving as a church Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, Bible Study
Instructor, Gospel Program Radio Announcer, Music Director and Chairman of the
Deacon Board for 11 years.
Pastor Mitchell is a servant-leader whose personal testimony and ministry impacts the lives of his members and all who lend an ear. He loves the Lord and declares like the psalmist of Israel: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we reach
unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
{Ephesians 4:11-14}
Serving along side our Pastor and First Lady are our Deacons, Deaconesses, Trustees and other church officials. Although their responsibilities vary by position, they are all equally dedicated to making Rising Sun a wonderful place to worship.
Trustee Quinzell Robinson
Church Treasurer
Deacon Earthlean Brantley
Financial Secretary
Trustee Catherine Moore
Church Clerk
Deacon David Johnson
Chairman Deacon
Trustee Pamela Mitchell
Chairman Trustee
Deaconess Siatta Logan
Deaconess President
Visiting a church for the first time can be unnerving, so we want to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting Rising Sun. If it's your first time worshiping with us, please let us know when you plan to visit! We would love the opportunity to prepare for your arrival. Also, if you're new to Christianity, we have some great resources to help get you started.
The Rising Sun family is honored that you've chosen to learn more about our ministry. It is our prayer
that as you get to know us, you will be inspired to visit and share in our worship experience.
