Baptist. Just not like you expect! A joyful, justice-minded church in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Our Mission
Sunday Services 11:00am ET 129 Madison Ave, New York,NY Between 30th and 31st Streets Worship With UsWatch Live Stream
Music has been in our DNA since our founding. Our music program has historically served as a focal point of our worship. From Cher to Gospel music, we’ve got it all. Music Program
We don’t just meet on Sundays! We also host numerous events throughout the year as well as volunteer opportunities. Not in NYC? No problem – we offer many ways our Global Family can be a part of our community. Get Involved
Rev. Ashley Bair Pastoral Fellow Rev. Ashley Bair (she/her) is a Presbyterian minister, made in the Midwest and currently living in Brooklyn, NY. Ashley is a graduate of Princeton Seminary and the University of Michigan Graduate School of Social Work. In 2019, Ashley was the recipient of the Emerging Leader Award honored by Presbyterians for Earth Care for her environmental activism in Standing Rock, ND, Iraqi Kurdistan, and as one of the first leaders of Sunrise Movement’s collective resolution for a Green New Deal with members of US Congress. You’ll likely find her making messy art, reading lengthy fiction, curating lots of playlists, traveling toward water, collecting (and using) the hottest hot sauces, and sitting in the back row of a movie theater for every horror film.
Jim Clifford Operations Director Jim brings over a decade’s worth of operational experience in the non-profit sector to his new role on the MABC team. As a grace-fueled leader with a passion to pursue excellence in ministry, Jim aims to utilize relational hospitality and hone team focus to create eternity- impacting opportunities for members of the MABC family and their communities both locally and globally. With an M.A. in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Planning alongside many years of faith-based organizational experience, he is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the rich history of MABC. Jim lives on Long Island with his wife Alyssa and his two daughters. In his free time you’ll find him boating on the Great South Bay, tentatively dashing down a ski slope, or being eternally disappointed by his Dallas Cowboys fandom.
Travis Dover Head Video Technician Travis Dover has served at Madison Avenue Baptist Church since 2016, beginning as a camera operator before becoming the church’s video editor during the pandemic in 2020. In 2022, he stepped into his current role as Video Livestream Manager, overseeing the church’s weekly livestream. Outside of church, Travis has spent more than a decade working as a cinematographer, contributing to documentary-style productions across the country. He is also pursuing graduate studies in social work and is passionate about supporting others along their path.
Precious Gordon Children’s Church Coordinator Precious Gordon is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology, with a focus on child and adolescent mental health. Her work centers on supporting underserved communities, particularly Caribbean children and families, through culturally responsive and evidence-based care. She has received extensive clinical training in pediatric psychology, autism services, and school-based interventions, working with children facing a range of developmental, emotional, and medical challenges. In addition to her clinical and research work, Precious serves as a Sunday School teacher at MABC, where she is passionate about helping children build a strong foundation in faith, emotional resilience, and confidence. She is committed to integrating culture, and mental health to support the holistic development of the next generation.
Troy Gordon Sexton Troy has served as the Sexton of MABC for twenty years and is a familiar face on Madison Avenue, for congregants and the community alike. Hailing from Guyana, Troy brings a passion for excellence and infectious enthusiasm to all MABC functions.
Elizabeth Pustinger Director of PR and Comms Elizabeth Pustinger is passionate about the art of storytelling, especially in the media industry. She graduated from Fordham University as a National Hispanic Scholar with a degree in Communications & Culture. She went on to become a video journalist at BBC and a content manager at both Change the Game and Fordham University. She has over eight years experience in professional media production as well as five years experience as a content and digital manager. Born and raised in the border town of El Paso, Texas, Elizabeth is also passionate about immigrant rights and environmentalism, which is shown in her video production work at BBC. She’s also an award-winning screenwriter, currently producing her first short film: “I Lost My Phone!” In her spare time, she enjoys cooking Anthony Bourdain recipes, visiting the Met, and watching movies at the Alamo Drafthouse. She lives in New York City with her cat Pearl.
Rev. Susan Sparks Senior Pastor As a trial lawyer turned standup comedian and Baptist minister, Susan Sparks is America’s only female comedian with a pulpit. A North Carolina native, Susan received her B.A. at the University of North Carolina where she was President of her Class, and a law degree from Wake Forest University. After ten years as a lawyer moonlighting as a standup, she left her practice and spent two years on a solo trip around the world, including working with Mother Teresa’s mission in Calcutta, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and driving the Alaska Highway. Upon returning home, she entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City where she earned a Master of Divinity and wrote an honors thesis on humor and religion. In May 2007, Susan was installed as Madison Avenue Baptist Church’s 15th Senior Minister and the first woman in its 175-year history. She continues in that pulpit to this day. Susan is also a professional comedian touring nationally with a Rabbi and a Muslim Comic in the Laugh in Peace Tour. Her work with humor, healing, and spirituality has been featured in O (The Oprah) Magazine, the New York Times, and on such networks as ABC, CNN, and CBS. A nationally known preacher and speaker, Susan is the best-selling author of five books and an award-winning nationally syndicated columnist. In 2018, Susan was presented with the 20th John L. Haber Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts given by the University of North Carolina. She also received the Intersections International Award for her interfaith work to promote justice and reconciliation among diverse communities. Most importantly, Susan and her husband Toby love to fly-fish, ride their Harleys, eat good BBQ, and root for UNC Tar Heel Basketball and the Green Bay Packers. For more information, check out SusanSparks.com!
Aza Sydykov Minister of Music, Education, and Cultural Programming Aza Sydykov is a concert pianist who made his professional debut at age 17 with the Russian Philharmonic, Aza is an internationally known vocal coach, conductor, accompanist, and arts entrepreneur. The recipient of numerous awards, Aza has performed all over the world, including as a solo pianist at Carnegie Hall. He is a graduate of Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Mannes Music, and New York’s New School University. He also serves as President of the Kyrgyz American Foundation in New York City, which sponsors the Eurasia Festival as well as various cultural exchange and educational activities.
Jenny Lindsey Soprano Jenny Lindsey has performed music around the world in various mediums, from opera to musical theater to classical concerts. Career highlights include two Grammy awards with Chicago Symphony Chorus, a choir tour after college that included performances at Nôtre Dame cathedral in Paris and the Frauenkirche in Dresden, a Carnegie Hall solo debut in 2023, and performing all of Mozart’s da Ponte opera heroines at various opera companies between 2015 and 2018. When not singing, Jenny feeds her Type A tendencies by working as a business operations director at a major corporation. She has been singing with MABC since she moved to NYC in 2011.
Brian Long Baritone Brian has been singing with MABC since 2009. As a singer and actor, Brian’s career has taken him to all seven continents, 48 U.S. states, and throughout Canada. In addition to performing, Brian has worked as a theatrical producer, director, and photographer.
Doug Shapiro Bass Doug Shapiro loves breakfast. He is also a singer with Madison Avenue Baptist Church for nearly 20 years. Through his career, Doug has been MC and Principal Vocalist for a touring 1940’s Big Band, sung for the workshops and cast album of FINDING NEMO: THE MUSICAL for Disney, and role-played with medical students and business leaders throughout the world to enhance their communication skills. MABC is his happy place and he’s so glad to see you there.
