Leadership
Michael Gardenhire
Senior Pastor
Bishop Michael Gardenhire was born and raised in Queens, New York, where he was shaped by a strong legacy of faith as the son of a pastor. From an early age, he developed a love for music, ministry, and service—passions that would guide his life’s calling. At 18, he married his first wife, Vikki Crawford, with whom he shared nearly 40 years of marriage and raised three children: Melanie, Brian, and Justin. In 2018, Bishop was blessed to marry Faye Dames.
Under the mentorship of Bishop Crawford, Bishop Gardenhire faithfully served as Assistant Pastor for 22 years before assuming the role of Senior Pastor of New Castle Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, in 2003. With over two decades of ministry experience, he has served as a pastor, minister of music, teacher, and counselor, with a deep passion for evangelism, youth ministry, and community outreach.
Bishop’s vision is for the church to be a “Spiritual Hospital”—a place of healing for the body, mind, soul, and spirit. He remains committed to serving the forgotten, visiting the sick, widows, and incarcerated, and living out the mandate to be the church beyond the church walls.
His guiding scripture is John 9:4:
“We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day…”
Mother Gertrude Crawford
Overseer
Faye Dames-Gardenhire
First Lady
Lady Faye Gardenhire is the eldest daughter of the late Pastor Jesse F. Parks and Mother Lettie Parks of Mount Moriah Community Church in Jamaica, New York. Raised in a home grounded in faith, service, and community outreach, she developed an early calling to the ministry of helps and a lifelong commitment to caring for others.
Motivated by both personal loss and a passion for service, Lady Faye pursued a career in healthcare, becoming a Registered Nurse and later earning a double Master’s degree as a Hospital Clinical Nurse Specialist. She currently practices independently as a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in diabetes management and gerontology. She is also a devoted mother of two, Dana and Daniel, and a proud grandmother to Kya and Sara.
Lady Faye previously served at First Baptist Church of Atlanta under the late Dr. Charles Stanley, where she was active in health and service ministries. She also participated in medical mission work with Samaritan’s Purse, supporting local and international outreach that meets physical needs while sharing the hope of Christ.
In 2017, she met Bishop Michael Gardenhire, and they were united in marriage in December 2018. Together, they serve faithfully at New Castle Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, ministering with compassion to families, congregations, and individuals during times of need, while demonstrating God’s love through service, presence, and care.
Cynthia Diane Narkaus
Assistant Pastor
Mother Gertrude Crawford serves as the Overseer of New Castle Baptist Church, where she provides faithful leadership, spiritual covering, and guidance to the congregation. Raised in a Christian home in LaGrange, Georgia, she later relocated to New York with her late husband, Bishop Charles Crawford. Together, they pastored New Castle Baptist Church beginning in December 1980 and were blessed with three daughters. Mother Crawford is also a grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.
Answering God’s call to ministry in her early twenties, Overseer Crawford has served as a teacher, mentor, counselor, intercessor, and pastor’s wife for over four decades. She received biblical training under Pastor Frederick Wilson and Dr. Bruce Gibson and has ministered at Eastside Community Church and Bible Crusade Church (Assembly of God). Her ministry is rooted in prayer, biblical truth, evangelism, community outreach, and a deep commitment to youth and generational discipleship.
A missionary at heart, Mother Crawford is the author of four books and leads marriage seminars and prayer revivals. She remains devoted to ministering to the sick and those in need—whether in hospitals, nursing homes, or wherever the Lord leads. At 88 years young, she continues to serve with wisdom, prophetic insight, and unwavering passion, standing as a prayer warrior and true Mother in Zion with no plans of retirement.
Scripture Foundations: Isaiah 62:6; John 10:11–18
Gary Narkaus
Deacon
Gary Narkaus is a Deacon at NCBC Ministries for over 20 years; he also serves in the capacity of an usher. He served the Newark, NJ community for more than forty years as an optometrist giving wonderful care to those in need. Deacon Narkaus has mentored youth-at-risk for more than forty years and has been a great role model to many who were fatherless. He is the husband of Assistant Pastor Narkaus and enjoys spending time with his grandchildren.
Cynthia Diane Narkaus is the Assistant Pastor of NCBC Ministries for the last 22 years. She enjoys teaching Bible Class and leading prayer weekly on Tuesday nights. Assistant Pastor studied under the tutelage of Dr. Bruce Gibson, Apostle Thomas McCamery of the Church of the Bible Crusaders AOG, and Bishop Charles Crawford of NCBC Ministries. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, auntie, and a retiree of twenty-five years in the Montclair school system.
Pastor Narkaus has served in various church departments and auxiliaries as an usher, choir director, youth leader, kitchen staff, technology and an all hands on deck servant. She loves entertaining and cooking new recipes. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to new places and spending time with her family, and grandchildren. In her quiet time, she enjoys reading, studying the Word of God, and communing with Him.
Mother Barbara Johnson
Financial Secretary
Mother Barbara Johnson is a dedicated and experienced church administrator passionate about supporting the church's mission and vision. With thirty-one years of experience in administrative roles working with various Bureau Directors and Commissioners with the New York City Department of Health, retiring in 2002, she brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to New Castle Baptist Church. Administrator Johnson is a dedicated servant of God who is committed to fostering a welcoming and organized environment for the church community. Mother Johnson has served for twenty-five years as administrator for New Castle Baptist Church. In addition to being administrator, Barbara has also served as youth leader, Sunday school teacher, choir member, and part of the ministerial staff. She is a devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, and she looks forward to being a blessing to the body of Christ.