It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Arthur Carlton Goddard on February 3, 2017. 

Rev. Goddard was born on February 6, 1922 on the island of Tobago, West Indies to Etheline Brown and Egerton Goddard; and at the age of eight years old his family migrated to the sister island of Trinidad. 

In his youth, Rev. Goddard attended Moulton Hall Methodist School and upon graduation he attended the Royal Victoria Institute graduating with honors as a Master Cabinet Maker.

Rev. Goddard was called to Christian service at an early age and was ordained in 1944 in his native country of Trinidad and Tobago by the late Bishop Gabriel Hunt.  He was commissioned in 1960 by Rev. L. Collymore, Presiding Elder of the Pentecostal United Holy Church for evangelistic work in the West Indies and Canada.

Rev. Goddard came to the United States in January 1967 with two hundred dollars, a box of cabinet making tools, his Bible and his faith in God.  His family followed three years later.  After their arrival the whole family worshipped at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Temple in Asbury Park, New Jersey.  While there, Rev. Goddard taught Bible Study, Sunday School, conducted Prayer Meetings and worked with the youth.

Rev. Goddard was called to pastor at First Baptist Church in 1977.  He was a very progressive pastor during his 38 years of service to the church.  He believed the church was a family and he enjoyed moving the ministry outside the four walls.  As a result First Baptist began taking the membership on bus trips to interesting places like the Dutch country in Pennsylvania and during the summer the members even planted a garden behind the church so that they all could have fresh vegetables to eat.  Fellowshipping with the saints was very important to Pastor Goddard.

Several years into Rev. Goddard’s tenure several church building upgrades and enhancements occurred.  The sanctuary was refurbished by the members; beautiful wood paneling for the walls, new carpeting, replacement windows and new pews were installed as well.  But it didn’t stop there, a library was also established, a Youth Choir was formed and a new organ was purchased.

Rev. Goddard was also Past President of Monmouth Bible Institute, Farmingdale, New Jersey; an alumnus of Olford Ministries at Union University, Memphis, Tennessee and a former student of Old Testament History with Trinity College and Seminary, Newburg, Indiana. He was also a member of the Belmar Council of Churches and Past President of the Municipal Human Relations Commission.  

Rev. Goddard and his wife Joy Goddard served faithfully in the Prison Ministry, Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women and the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center for over 25 years.

He and his wife traveled extensively around the world to such places as the Holy Lands, South America, South Korea, Japan, the Caribbean islands, and the European Continent to name a few.

Rev. Goddard authored three books entitled, “Walk With Me On Life’s Highway” (Volume 1& 2) and “Expressions of the Soul”.  He was in the midst of finalizing his Autobiography when God called him home.

Rev. Goddard’s life was a life of service to God and his fellow man.  He always encouraged his family and those he mentored to put God first and they will reap the rewards.

Rev. Goddard is survived by his wife Joy Marcia Goddard, sons, Michael (Elinor), Stephen (Denise), Anthony (Valerie) and Glenn Clark; daughters, Kathleen Goddard, Theresa Goddard-Dambreville (Nadu), Gail Goddard, Susan Kibler (Lynden), Alicia Pough (Luther), and Donna Clark; 17 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way”.         ~Psalm 37:23