A Brief History
Being lead by the Lord, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan began an outreach to the Grand Rapids area in March 1969. The mission was at that time under the leadership of Missionary Tom C. Hansen.
They began meeting in a rented church building April 6, 1969 and had the attendance of 15 to 18. During the next several years the mission saw God's blessings as souls were saved, baptized and added to their number. In 1970 the work on the 36' x 72' two story facility at 5757 Madison Ave. SE was started and completed. In the next six years they would see souls saved, baptized, and unite with this assembly when finally on July 31, 1976 they were formally organized into a self supporting church with 87 charter members. Missionary Tom C. Hansen having accepted the call of First Landmark Missionary Bpatist Church of Kokomo, Indiana resigned his position with Madison Avenue MBC and on the day of their organization Madison Avenue MBC called Bro. Bobby Sparks as their pastor.
Madison Avenue MBC has affiliated from the beginning with the American Baptist Association nationally, Eastern Baptist Association regionally, and the Landmark Missionary Baptist Association of the State of Michigan. Each of these associations are made up of local, independent, fundamental, Missionary Baptist Churches that have a very active evangelistic and missionary outreach worldwide, along with Bible institutes, and various publications all under the control of local churches.
Madison Avenue MBC has continued her service at the present location for now over a wonderful 41 years. Although there have been trials and troubles at times the Lord has still remained true and the Lord's people continue to serve Him faithfully here at Madison Avenue MBC. During the years souls have been saved, baptized, added to their number; men have surrendered to the ministry and lives have been changed by the grace of God through this great church. May God continue to bless Madison Avenue Missionary Baptist Church.
Madison Avenue MBC has had these men to serve as pastor:
Tom C. Hansen......................................March 16, 1969 - July 1976
Bobby Sparks.........................................August 8, 1976 - May 1978
Charles Johnston............................April 1, 1979 - October 31, 1979
Wesley Fries................................December 16, 1979 - July 19, 1981
Ron Dorton...................................March 14, 1982 - October 7, 1984
Robert McClure............................March 17, 1985 - February 15,1987
Joseph Culberson.............................March 8, 1987 - November 1999
David Wright..............................January 23, 2000 - August 28, 2011
Nathaniel Lowe..........................................January 8, 2012 - Present
They began meeting in a rented church building April 6, 1969 and had the attendance of 15 to 18. During the next several years the mission saw God's blessings as souls were saved, baptized and added to their number. In 1970 the work on the 36' x 72' two story facility at 5757 Madison Ave. SE was started and completed. In the next six years they would see souls saved, baptized, and unite with this assembly when finally on July 31, 1976 they were formally organized into a self supporting church with 87 charter members. Missionary Tom C. Hansen having accepted the call of First Landmark Missionary Bpatist Church of Kokomo, Indiana resigned his position with Madison Avenue MBC and on the day of their organization Madison Avenue MBC called Bro. Bobby Sparks as their pastor.
Madison Avenue MBC has affiliated from the beginning with the American Baptist Association nationally, Eastern Baptist Association regionally, and the Landmark Missionary Baptist Association of the State of Michigan. Each of these associations are made up of local, independent, fundamental, Missionary Baptist Churches that have a very active evangelistic and missionary outreach worldwide, along with Bible institutes, and various publications all under the control of local churches.
Madison Avenue MBC has continued her service at the present location for now over a wonderful 41 years. Although there have been trials and troubles at times the Lord has still remained true and the Lord's people continue to serve Him faithfully here at Madison Avenue MBC. During the years souls have been saved, baptized, added to their number; men have surrendered to the ministry and lives have been changed by the grace of God through this great church. May God continue to bless Madison Avenue Missionary Baptist Church.
Madison Avenue MBC has had these men to serve as pastor:
Tom C. Hansen......................................March 16, 1969 - July 1976
Bobby Sparks.........................................August 8, 1976 - May 1978
Charles Johnston............................April 1, 1979 - October 31, 1979
Wesley Fries................................December 16, 1979 - July 19, 1981
Ron Dorton...................................March 14, 1982 - October 7, 1984
Robert McClure............................March 17, 1985 - February 15,1987
Joseph Culberson.............................March 8, 1987 - November 1999
David Wright..............................January 23, 2000 - August 28, 2011
Nathaniel Lowe..........................................January 8, 2012 - Present