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About our Church
Vision Statement:
Our Church will fulfill The Great
Commission by sharing the love of God in Christ with
every person through evangelism, discipleship, fellowship,
ministry and worship.
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During the 90-year history of
the church, Friendship Baptist Church has endured
many struggles, hardships, and obstacles to survive.
Through faith and God’s grace, the church has thrived
and continues to proclaim God’s gospel. As World
War I raged in Europe, conflict was taking place
in Highland Avenue Baptist Church. In November of
1914, a disruption arose over a revivalist, Rev.
Mills of Georgia. As a result, Highland’s pastor,
Rev. G. W. Boyd, and about 10 members left to form
a new congregation; this little congregation worshipped
in a storeroom in the 1500 block of 12th Street.
In 1915, on the second Sunday of June, the moderator
of the New Era District and Pastor of Pleasant Green
Baptist Church, the Rev. J. M. Booker, convened
a meeting to organize and name this new church.
Rev. Boyd was officially elected to lead the Friendship
Baptist Church. A short time later, Friendship moved
to a tent at the corner of 14th and Vine--the burgeoning
center of African American cultural, social, economic,
and religious life. Soon, the church moved a short
distance away to 17th and Tracy. In 1918, the Rev.
Boyd died; however, before his death he had asked
the members to elect the Rev. Silas Charles Doyle
as its second pastor. More than 30 members met and
elected Rev. Doyle on November 11, 1918. At this
time, the church had grown and consisted of three
Sunday School classes, a Baptist Young People’s
Department, a Deacons’ Board, Mothers’ Board, and
choir.
Under Rev. Doyle, Friendship’s membership, auxiliaries
and activities grew. Thus in August of 1926, Rev.
Doyle suggested that the church move to larger quarters.
Again, the church met under a tent, this time at
14th and Lydia. However, as the weather grew cooler,
the church sought shelter at Lyric Hall at 1729
Lydia, but by November of 1926, the first unit (basement)
of a new church was partially complete and habitable
at the corner of 17th and Tracy. On December 15,
1939, flames reduced the building to a skeleton.
Friendship was offered shelter at the Paseo Y.M.C.A.
The church made plans to buy a property at 11th
and Paseo, but before that sale was completed, it
burned. Then in 1940, Friendship purchased the old,
vacant Scottish Rites building at 1024 East Truman
Road. Rev. Doyle died on November 21, 1941, barely
two weeks before the Japanese attacked the United
States at Pearl Harbor. The church was stricken
with grief at his passing; after 23 years of service,
he was the only pastor many knew. Moreover, he was
noted for his generosity and kindness. For example,
he rejected his salary when the church was in financial
difficulty and gave of his own resources to aid
the sick and less fortunate.
Under the advise of local pastor’s, the deacons
sought the Rev. E. J. Johnson of Oklahoma to become
the third pastor. He had a reputation as an outstanding
preacher. During his one and a half year tenure,
the church was paid out of debt. Resigning so soon
after he came, his departure was traumatic.
In March of 1944, the Rev. Isaiah Hilkiah Henderson
was elected the fourth pastor of Friendship, while
in November of that same year; Franklin D. Roosevelt
was elected U.S. president for an unprecedented
fourth term, as World War II raged in Europe, North
Africa and Asia. During Rev. Henderson’s 39-year
tenure, the membership and auxiliaries continued
to grow, including scouting programs, a church library,
athletic teams, and the construction of Friendship
Village Apartments. Also, after extensive renovations,
in 1961, Friendship moved into the former Oak Park
Christian Church at 43rd and Montgall Avenue; the
mortgage was paid and burned in just two years.
Rev. Henderson died on September 17, 1983. The church
was in deep mourning for this beloved, long time
leader.
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