On October 17, 1945, Friendship Baptist Church was organized in the home of Brother & Sister William Moore on East Monument Street with forty-two faithful saints forming the new Body of Believers. A few days later, on October 21, 1945, Friendship held its first worship service in a hall on West Colorado Avenue with the Reverend J.W. Quinn delivering the Word of God. From that day forward, by God’s Grace, Friendship Baptist Church has been on the move! On January 20, 1947, the church building was started and in 1962 a new church was erected and dedicated.

The Reverend C.A. Miller was the first pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, serving God and the people, for four years. Following Reverend Miller, the Reverend J.E. Eatmon, beginning in January 1950, served Friendship. Reverend Eatmon was called from his earthly home to be with the Lord on November 19, 1956. Reverend M.L. Williams was called to the church as pastor and served from April 1957 until February 1959; Reverend T.J. Margina of Alabama was called to the church as Pastor in June 1959. Reverend A.D. Coffey served as pastor from December 1963 through April 1965 and then the Reverend El Ray Johnson who faithfully served Friendship Baptist Church with Holy anointing for twenty-seven (27) years, from July 1965 through December 1992. The Rev. Jesse E. Vaughn was Interim Pastor from December 1992 through January 1994.Reverend Johnson came out of retirement to serve as Interim Pastor from February 1997 through February 1998.

Following the well-deserved retirement of Pastor El Ray Johnson, the church was shepherded by the Reverend Sandy Ray Fields, from January 2, 1994 until January 1997. Reverend Erie D. Fields was called to serve as pastor on March 1, 1998 and resigned on January 31, 2001. Reverend Dr. Henry F. Johnson (Interim Pastor) began serving on February 1, 2001 until August 7, 2004. On Wednesday, June 23, 2004, after a season of much prayer, the people of Friendship Baptist Church called Reverend Clarence W. Davis to be the next pastor of the people known as the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

 

The Friendship Baptist Church is affiliated with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. (www.PNBC.org)