greater friendship missionary baptist church | Through the years

Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 646 Lakewood Ave., Youngstown, is celebrating its 90th year. A banquet is planned at 6 p.m. Friday in Elm Tree in Struthers. Members who have belonged 55 years will be honored; an award will be presented to an outstanding member. A special service will be at 10:30 a.m. March 25 with the Rev. Ernest Elllis, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, Youngstown, a son of the church, as guest preacher. Corinthian Singers will be guests.

The beginning: A spiritual journey began in 1922 with a small group of Christians meeting on Alpine Street for Sunday school and prayer with the Rev. Lee. They moved to a home on Britton Street, formed a missionary group, then moved to a Poland Avenue storefront. The group increased in number; Mary Myers suggested the name Friendship because it described the membership. The mission was organized into a church.

Formative time: In 1925, under the Rev. C.R. Boyd, pastor, groups were formed including Sunday School with Rev. B. J. Myers, later pastor, as superintendent.

Church built: In 1928, a church was built at Alpine and Cypress streets. Rev. Boyd was at Friendship during the Great Depression. The Rev. Myers became pastor in 1934. Groups organized were Gospel Chorus, Silver Trumpet Choir, Male Chorus, Lydia Mission, Queen Ester Circle, Nurses Guild and Pastor’s Aide.

“Firsts”: Some of the “firsts” include the building of a baptismal pool and first members to be baptized were Johnnie Field, Bernie King and Elverna Morrison (King). One of the first marriages was Francis Ballinger and Gladys Washington.

Additions: An annex was built with carillon bells in the steeple. An organ was purchased.

Relocation: In 1948, the church hosted the Ohio Baptist State Convention. In 1958, Friendship relocated to the northwest corner of Market Street at Woodland Avenue and became Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

Sunday tradition: At noon Sundays, Pastor Myers had the bell rung and “Sweet Hour of Prayer” played as the congregation prayed. A radio broadcast was aired Sunday nights with Pastor Myers.

Current site: On June 19, 1966, the congregation marched to 646 Lakewood at Hillman. Deacon James McCoy selected a prayer room. A baptistry was built, the cross was hung over the pulpit and cornerstone laid.

First women: The Trustee Ministry had its first women members with Shelley L. English, Ida Chism, Sharon Price and JoAnn McWilson.

Leadership: In September 1984, the Rev. Michael D. Small of Cleveland became pastor. Two parking lots were extended, fences installed, an office complex built and van purchased. An audio-video recording studio was built and Hall of History added. Ministries included Wednesday Noon and Six o’clock Prayer Meeting and Bible study, deacon’s training, Mother’s Ministry and Men of Integrity Ministry to mentor boys and young men. In 1992, the church offered an afterschool tutorial program for elementary students and adopted Hillman Elementary School. A feeding program served 300-400 hot meals weekly, an emergency food pantry was offered and chemical dependency program, support group and jail visitation ministries were organized. The Endowment Fund and Rev. B. J. Myers Memorial Scholarship Fund were established and fellowship hall renamed in his honor. Improvements included an elevator.

2000 to present: The deacons were in charge of the pulpit and called various ministers. In June 2002, the Rev. Chorrethers Jenkins became pastor; he started the mime and dance ministries, reactivated Men’s and Women’s Fellowships and combined choirs. Adult Sunday School was restructured by ages. In 2004, Demetrius Cunningham and James Boyd were ordained as deacons and in 2007, Cunningham became chairman. Pastor Jenkins resigned. Elder James C. Bowie of Union Baptist Church was interim pastor and was installed pastor in April 2010. He and his wife, Judy, have four children. Ministries added and re-established are We Care, Women of Worship and marriage, bereavement and the Dress to Succeed. In 2010, the second mortgage was burned. Elder Rose Carter was added to the roster of ministers, the first woman on staff, which includes the Rev. Frank Madison and Valeria Johnson and Artis Henderson, ministers in training.