Church History
In 1932, several people began meeting together for worship in the old Michigan Avenue School building, located on Michigan Avenue Road. On September 25, 1934, the Michigan Avenue Missionary Baptist Church was organized with 12 charter members. The members continued to worship in the same school building until they could construct a new building. In 1940, the members constructed a new church building across from the existing Michigan Avenue School. The building was a frame structure with stone foundation, and auditorium, including four classrooms and a full basement.
In April 1978, the church broke ground on Benton Pike to construct the present church building. The first service was on Dec. 10th, 1978. The church has a seating capacity of 230 with 14 Sunday School classrooms, offices, a library, choir room, nursery, and full basement for fellowship and additional Sunday School activities. In 2006, the church purchased 10 acres directly adjacent to the existing church building. This land now connects the church with Michigan Avenue and provides an opportunity for future growth.
The church was greatly affected by the Covid pandemic that lasted from 2020 to 2023. By March of 2023, the church was experiencing both financial and attendance struggles and found herself without a pastor. At the same time, Parkway Baptist Church (located less than 2 miles away on Meadow Lane) had overgrown their building and parking lot, and was landlocked from all sides. On April 23, 2023, Michigan Avenue voted to approve a covenant agreement between the churches and to call Bro. Joe White as the new pastor. Pastor White and his Parkway leadership team came to Michigan Avenue, along with the Parkway members. The Lord in His goodness and providence had kept Michigan Avenue from closing, answered dozens of individual prayer requests, and put the two churches together as one. On August 18, 2024, the church marked 90 years of "Making Disciples and Making a Difference."
The church was greatly affected by the Covid pandemic that lasted from 2020 to 2023. By March of 2023, the church was experiencing both financial and attendance struggles and found herself without a pastor. At the same time, Parkway Baptist Church (located less than 2 miles away on Meadow Lane) had overgrown their building and parking lot, and was landlocked from all sides. On April 23, 2023, Michigan Avenue voted to approve a covenant agreement between the churches and to call Bro. Joe White as the new pastor. Pastor White and his Parkway leadership team came to Michigan Avenue, along with the Parkway members. The Lord in His goodness and providence had kept Michigan Avenue from closing, answered dozens of individual prayer requests, and put the two churches together as one. On August 18, 2024, the church marked 90 years of "Making Disciples and Making a Difference."